Before You Start Saxophone: 10 Things You Must Know!

Watch these 10 essential tips BEFORE you start learning saxophone!

- LINKS MENTIONED IN VIDEO -

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Are you about to purchase your first saxophone? Before you take the plunge, it's important to know these 10 essential tips to get the most out of your new instrument and set yourself up for success!

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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:32 Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Baritone?
1:44 What's the best brand of saxophone?
2:53 What reeds should I use (strength / brand)?
4:05 Avoiding saxophone lung
5:11 How does transposing work?
6:19 Is saxophone "beginner friendly?"
8:11 How much practice?
9:17 Creating a dedicated practice space
9:49 Find yourself a champion
10:41 You need a teacher (or a course!)
13:11 Conclusion

Questions about anything in this video? Please leave them in the comments section below.

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#saxophone #saxtuition #tutorial

[upJoker]

Thank you for making this video I'm 53 and going for it!

[HahnJames]

Whoops! I've been putting in 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day, at least 5 times a week. I'll admit, some of that is just horsing around to see what kinds of songs I can pull from memory and put to the soprano or just making things up. I am having a lot of fun with it.

[joshuafarlow-wolgast]

I just got a tenor saxophone from a local shop. I used to play in high school (in the 90's), but never had my own sax. I'm excited to start playing again. It has been a dream for decades now.

[senseishikakaibutsu]

I am a highschool band student trumpet player, and in 3 months of playing i am phenomenal with trumpet. And then i came across the bari sax in the band and i was like "wow!!!!" So when christmas break is over i am going to learn the bari sax at school, and its my first sax ever. Oh, and as a trumpet player, I WISH I HAD AN OCTAVE I have to tighten and loosen my lips and it squeaks at me sometimes and gets annoying. I am so thankful for this video ❤❤❤
Music never dies 🎶🎺 🎶🎷

[Just_Call_Me_Tim]

I’ve been away from sax for 25 years, and I’m thinking about renting one for a couple of months to see if I really can keep a practice schedule, before going through with buying my own.

[tim-]

I inherited a Conn 10m tenor sax. my grandfather would teach me to play but unfortunately never got around to it due to his health. your videos help a lot to learn to play the sax!

[toffygaming]

When I started playing at age 5-6, I used Vandoren 2.5 reeds now after 10 years I use Vandoren 3.0 V12, and 3.5 plastic French cut reeds.

[Greebstreebling]

Some good points made. Learning Sax can be (is) very frustrating because a consistent embouchure is vital, and personally I found that really difficult. My advce is not to experiment too much. Find a place for your bottom lip on your reed that gets a sound out tof the sax and stick with it. I've watched lots of stuff on line from professional sax players and the conclusion I've come to is they're good because they have aptitude, and I don't :( Anyone can develop skill with persistence, but it only gets you so far.

[meggokayzee]

You have a great smile buddy and a cheerul disposition. I love that... that's awesome!

[sensitivegrl]

This is so helpful because I am a middle school student and I have been playing tuba for 2 years now, but I decided I wanted to switch to bari sax for jazz band because I've been wanting to play saxophone for a while and this is my first saxophone, and this video is so helpful for me.

[larissameek]

I play flugelhorn for 16 years and going to start learning tenor sax. I'm both excited and scared 😱😍

[sherrygalloway]

I Wana learn to play the alto sax. I love the sound. Considering my age I should perhaps leave my love for it, to listening. I want to give it a go and see how I do though.

[wekryqn]

I love the Sax! This Video is very helpful! I'm planning to Start Saxophone in December after I hopefully get an Alto for my Birthday or Christmas. I'm coming from the Clarinet. I've never played the Saxophone before, but I'm excited to try 'er out hopefully in December. And, while I like to teach myself stuff, and I plan to do the same with Sax, I want to take in-person lessons as well.

[davidclaro]

Great down to earth and “fair dinkum” video. Easy to understand and fun to watch. Cheers!

[lospopularos]

Wonderful video and a magical, warm, and friendly voice! A wealth of knowledge. Thank you!

[mr.pillowplays]

I'm not new, I've played the sax for about ten years excluding any hiatuses and I never heard of saxophone lung

[rachelw]

I used to play the trumpet in high school. While watching the part when you were talking about the hidden key, I actually exclaimed 'YES I AGREE. That key would have been nice to have on a trumpet'. 😂

[TradIrishHarper]

I am so very wanting to start playing saxophone but am leaning towards the tenor. Mainly because that was my grandfather’s instrument of choice back in the 1930’s and he loved it. However, I am finding that a used quality tenor saxophone is tough to come by and in a nice price point. Many I am finding are frankly junk. I really am not interested in a cheap quality instrument. I am in it for the long haul and want to invest my cash wisely into something that will last and not develop issues. Conversely, alto saxophones are flush in the market and there are many really great ones. They are, as you stated, more affordable. So I am torn. Full disclosure I have been out of school for 35 years and never was given a chance to take up a band instrument

[plank_length_architect]

Hello thanks for the video first. If you don’t mind, I am wondering why people don’t start on the Baritone Sax. I am thinking about starting out and a lot of my Favourite players and cover artist are playing the Baritone Sax so it came to the thought in my mind to think about learning to play this instrument my self. Now the question for me is if this is an option or an good idea. BTW I want to learn the saxophone in order to gain a hobby that helps me taking off my head from work, I work as a cgi artist and having something to get my head off would be great. If some one could give me some advice on those thought that would be great. Have a great day everyone cheers.

[bozhidarpetrov]

I connect saxophone with sophistication, melancholie, vibing, relaxing, enjoying some good dinner with wine, suit and night driving reteo motorcycle or a car