| Sax can be embarrassing and awkward, especially if | | | | better using what you've got. Practice. |
| you are just starting. It can help to have someone | | | | As for what you should practice, that's really the trick, |
| experienced guide you through the first steps. In time, | | | | isn't it? Everybody says long tones. That is a good |
| anyone can become proficient at sax. | | | | idea, but it doesn't just mean play a few long notes until |
| Hmmm... | | | | you get bored or your lip hurts. Long tones will help you |
| Puns aside, while being one of the most versatile and | | | | build strength and control, but they are also the ideal |
| interesting instruments, saxophone ranks up there with | | | | way to figure out how your instrument even works. |
| violin on my personal list of annoying instruments to | | | | Play notes high and low, loud and soft, and make them |
| listen to a beginner play. All reed instruments are | | | | sound good. Listen really hard and change what you |
| challenging to learn to control, but saxophones are | | | | are doing until they do sound good. Don't be |
| made of metal so they tend to be a lot louder. Plus | | | | complacent about the process. Also, keeping a tuner |
| there are a huge variety of acceptable saxophone | | | | going while you do this is a very good idea. The |
| sounds and you might not be sure what to shoot for. It | | | | saxophone is not a perfect instrument and many |
| just doesn't sound good when someone picks up the | | | | notes will be out of tune if you don't learn to adjust. |
| horn for the first time and starts honking and bending | | | | That will improve your tone, now you need articulation. |
| notes like they're in some kind of bad fifties rock band. | | | | The main thing is to learn to start and stop a note |
| If you are just starting out and having trouble, the first | | | | cleanly. That will give your sound definition and make |
| things I would recommend are: | | | | everything much more musical. One problem some |
| 1) Have someone who knows what they are doing | | | | people develop is: they get the hang of tonguing and |
| check out your horn. It might not be your fault. | | | | then they do it way to much. Learn the difference |
| 2) Another common problem is that beginners play on | | | | between legato and staccato tonguing and when |
| too soft a reed. You do want to start out on | | | | something should be slurred, let it. You don't want to |
| something pretty soft, but rank up as fast as you can. I | | | | sound choppy. |
| don't mean you should try and make playing a 5 your | | | | There are a lot of nifty things you can do on a |
| goal, that's a terrible idea, but if you stick with a | | | | saxophone: vibrato, bending notes, overtones, |
| 1½ on a normal mouthpiece your tone will be thin | | | | enharmonic fingerings, growls, altissimo. The list goes |
| and whiny forever. | | | | on. But get the hang of the basics first, especially when |
| That said, don't stress out about the hardware. | | | | it comes to bending notes and vibrato. It won't sound |
| Everybody wants to own the fanciest looking ligature, | | | | good if you don't already have good tone and good |
| and that can make a difference, but you can get | | | | intonation. |