Saxophone

Congratulations on selecting the saxophone!

Below are some drop down boxes with information to get you started as well as some great links to saxophone players who represent great sound and technique.

Daily Required Supplies

at least four good, working reeds at all times
a Reedguard
silk swab
cork grease

Assembling the Mouthpiece and Reed for Success

Before you can learn to form the saxophone embouchure, you must learn and practice placing the reed onto the mouthpiece correctly.

Place the thinner part of the reed in your mouth for about a minute (maybe more if it is a brand new reed).
Loosen the screws of the ligature a little.
Take the mouthpiece in one hand, and place the ligature on it so the screws are on the right side of the mouthpiece. Hold both mouthpiece and ligature in one hand, with the ligature over the reed shaped blowhole of the mouthpiece.
With the other hand, take the reed out of your mouth, holding it by the thicker part (bottom) of the reed. Notice that one side of the reed is totally flat, and one is not. The mouthpiece also has one flat side (with the blowhole) and one curved side.
Place the flat side of the reed, bottom or thicker side first, against the flat side of the mouthpiece, over the blowhole. Gently slide the reed down, between the loosened ligature and the flat side of the mouthpiece, until the tip of the reed is even with the tip of the reed. Do not touch the tip of the reed - just slide it down carefully, touching only the thicker parts of the reed.
Once the tip of the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece are aligned, gently slide the ligature down over the reed to the thicker (not shaved) part of the reed. If the ligature is too tight to go that low over the reed, loosen the screws. The ligature must rest on the thicker part of the reed, never the shaved part.
When the ligature is positioned over the thick part of the reed, hold the reed in place while tightening the screws. Make sure the tip stays aligned with the tip of the mouthpiece. Tighten the ligature screws snugly enough to hold the reed in place so that it cannot wiggle if someone tries to move it. But don't overtighten.
When the ligature snugly holds the reed correctly in place (a teacher should check it the first few times), you are ready to learn to form the embouchure.

Saxophone Embouchure Instructions and Pictures

These two links are for use by Hilltop Middle School students and teachers only. Those from other schools who wish to use them should purchase the Embouchure Project from Teachers Pay Teachers.

Saxophone Embouchure Instructions

Saxophone Embouchure Pictures

Forming the Embouchure

The saxophone embouchure is a natural position, nothing really strange, so keep your lips relaxed.
Hold the mouthpiece (with the reed snugly attached) sideways up to a light. Note where the reed meets the mouthpiece. That is how far you should take the mouthpiece into your mouth. Position the mouthpiece on the lower lip.
Bring your top teeth down to the top of the mouthpiece.
Bring the corners of your mouth in, and seal your lips gently around the mouthpiece.
Keep top teeth on top of mouthpiece at all times.
Take a deep breath, position your mouth and mouthpiece into correct embouchure position, and blow fast air.

Producing Correct Pitch on Mouthpiece and Reed Only

If your embouchure is correct, you should be able to produce the proper note on the mouthpiece and reed only. The mouthpieces notes for the different saxophones are listed below. Use a tuner or piano to check your embouchure pitches. If you can do so, your embouchure is correct.

- Soprano Sax - C or C# on mouthpiece and reed only
- Alto Sax - A on mouthpiece only; G# on mouthpiece and neck
- Tenor Sax - G on mouthpiece only; E on mouthpiece and neck
- Baritone Sax - D or D# on mouthpiece and reed only

If you are not getting the correct pitch, check the following:

Use faster, stronger air.
Take less mouthpiece into mouth.
Rest teeth on top of mouthpiece.
Reeds that are too soft and/or poor quality may produce sounds that are flat (or under pitch).
Ligature must hold reed correctly and snugly in place. Ligature must not be placed over shaved part of reed.

Tuning Instructions for the Saxophone

Saxophone tuning note is top line F#. Play low G, C above that, high G, all slurred, then go to F# and tune.

The goal is to get the needle to stay in the middle. Play your tuning note towards tuner. If the needle stays towards the right, your note is sharp, or too high. Lengthen the saxophone by pulling the mouthpiece out on the cork. Start by pulling out 1/2 inch. If the needle stays towards the left, your note is flat, or too low. Push the mouthpiece in. Keep pulling out or pushing in the mouthpiece and retuning until the note is in tune.

Then see how long you can play a note in tune and steady. Play "freeze the needle" - hold the note steady and in tune.

In a nutshell...

The longer the pipe, the lower the pitch. If your pitch is sharp (high), you need to make it flatter (lower).

The shorter the pipe, the higher the pitch. If your pitch is flat (low), you need to make it sharper (higher).

Keep in mind that even though you will first use these notes to tune, other notes on your instrument may not be in tune. It is the nature of instruments. The longer you play your instrument, and the better, more characteristic tone you can produce, the easier you will be able to play all notes in tune on your instrument.

You will also improve intonation as you get more advanced. Intonation means to adjust pitch on particular notes while playing (without pushing in or pulling out).

To improve intonation, you may loosen or tighten the embouchure or use alternate fingerings in particular circumstances. Adjustments for intonation help improve the pitch of different notes in action. You use your ear and make adjustments while playing.

Beginner Resources

Getting Started (saxophone video 1) - Alexandra Finnie

Tone-maker assembly AND how to make a sound (saxophone) - Alexandra Finnie

Putting your tone-maker & making a sound (saxophone!) - Alexandra Finnie

Putting your whole saxophone together - Alexandra Finnie

How to put together and hold your saxophone! - Alexandra Finnie

1st Note - G (saxophone) - Alexandra Finnie

G Practice (saxophone!) - Alexandra Finnie

2nd Note - A (saxophone) - Alexandra Finnie

A practice (saxophone!) - Alexandra Finnie

3rd Note - B (saxophone) - Alexandra Finnie

B Practice (saxophone!) - Alexandra Finnie

Hoty Cross Buns (saxophone!) - Alexandra Finnie

More Resources

Saxophone Assembly, Disassembly & Daily Maintenance

Why Ligatures Matter | It's NOT How You Think...

Saxophone Basics from the U. S. Army Master Classes

Recommended Brands

Yamaha
Yanagisawa
Selmer (for pro horns only, such as Selmer Reference, old Mark VI and Balanced Action) - Current Selmer student saxes not recommended due to awkward key positions

Recommended Mouthpieces

For beginners:

Clark Fobes Debut
Yamaha 4C

For intermediate and advanced players (concert or "classical" playing, including concert band):

Van Doren Optimum AL
Selmer S-80 C Star
Selmer C Star
For intermediate and advanced players (jazz, pop, rock playing, including jazz band):
Meyer 5M or 6M (try them out)
JodyJazz HR* (try out and compare to Meyer)