| Saxophone, one of the best instruments to learn (in my | | | | The temperature and the environment affect intonation |
| opinion)! You will soon come to find that playing the | | | | too- if it's hot outside the air will move faster and the |
| saxophone is not only fun, but it also teaches discipline | | | | sax will be sharper, if its cold- it will tend to be flat. |
| and the sense of achievement is priceless. | | | | And a saxophone in tune on one note will not |
| Note about Equipment | | | | necessarily be in tune on another note, if not |
| Some sax players spend an inordinate amount of time | | | | adjustments are made by the player. With practice, |
| thinking about equipment... | | | | you'll develop control and these things will happen |
| Tiger Woods would still beat you at golf if he used | | | | subconsciously. |
| crappy clubs. | | | | Ligature |
| But maybe not if he used a baseball bat and a | | | | The ligature holds the reed on the saxophone |
| volleyball. | | | | mouthpiece. It makes some differences. But you |
| So have make sure your saxophone, mouthpiece, | | | | probably don't need to spend ridiculous amounts of |
| reeds, etc are functioning. But DO NOT spend more | | | | money on a diamond encrusted ligature. |
| time worrying about your equipment than actually | | | | Saxophone |
| playing & practicing. | | | | There are four 'big' brands of saxophone: |
| The saxophone itself has a body and a neck. The | | | | Selmer, Keilwerth, Yamaha, and Yanagisawa. |
| mouthpiece goes on the neck and has a reed held on | | | | They all make professional horns. |
| by a ligature. The mouthpiece, reeds, and ligature | | | | The Selmer Mark VI is the most famous type of |
| matter sometimes more than the horn itself. | | | | saxophone, they stopped making them, so the Mark |
| Saxophone Reeds | | | | VI's can be very pricey these days. But many |
| The reed makes the sound in your saxophone through | | | | professionals swear by them. Not every Mark VI is still |
| its vibration. | | | | in great condition though. |
| Saxophone reeds are made of a special cane that | | | | There are some other brands that make decent horns. |
| grows in only a few parts of the world. It is expensive | | | | Be careful if they are imported and have soft metal. |
| and wears out in a few weeks. There are synthetic | | | | And try them out before you buy them. |
| alternatives, but they don't sound as good. | | | | Saxophones have features such as rolled tone holes |
| Start with a softer reed (lower number). And you'll also | | | | and a high F# key. In general many of the |
| want a softer reed if you have a mouthpiece that is | | | | advancements in instrument making have been |
| more open. Beginners can start with number 2 and | | | | adopted by most saxophone companies. |
| experiment from there. | | | | Types of Saxophone |
| Saxophone Mouthpiece | | | | When you're starting off, play an alto or tenor. Alto's a |
| The basic idea of mouthpiece position on a sax is that | | | | bit smaller and easier for a child to carry. |
| pushing the mouthpiece farther down on the cork will | | | | Soprano is smaller than alto, but its tone is harder to |
| make your intonation higher while pulling it out will make | | | | control. |
| your intonation lower. | | | | And baritone is larger than tenor. |
| To quote Jimmy Haag, "You are basically playing a | | | | Tenor saxophone is what most famous saxophone |
| long tube when you play a saxophone. Saxophone is | | | | players favor although some preferred alto and there |
| all about the speed of the air like any wind instrument. | | | | are a handful of saxophone players who mostly play |
| The length of the tube determines its harmonics. Since | | | | soprano or bari. |
| EVERYONE has a different throat, mouth, teeth, and | | | | Musicality! |
| tongue, it is a truly individual journey to find out what | | | | Remember that you need to play music on your |
| works for you. I meet a lot of people who are looking | | | | saxophone, not just have nice equipment. |
| for a standard but in fact there is only one way that | | | | A bad driver in a Ferrari is not impressive. |
| will work for you." | | | | Sometimes problems you have with playing are |
| So it's not as simple as pushing the mouthpiece on | | | | actually because of the instrument, reed, etc. But more |
| farther or pulling it out more. | | | | times they are not. |