THE SAXOPHONE GUIDE FOR

PARENTS AND BEGINNERS

Flute and Music Academy 2014

What is saxophone?
Although saxophone is made mostly of brass, it is a woodwind instrument as it
uses reed to direct the air into the instrument and produce sound. Saxophone
has conical bore. It is the contrary of flute and clarinet where their bore is
cylindrical (the diameter of the bore stays the same throughout the entire
length). The diameter of conical bore gets wider and wider as one reach the end
of the instrument. Generally, instruments with conical bore have warmer and
mellower tonal qualities. There are several saxophones in the saxophone family:

Figure 11: The Saxophone Family

Sopranino Saxophone in Eb:

o Highest pitched saxophone.
o Play one octave above the alto and two octaves above the
baritone.
o Available in both straight and curved body.
Soprano Saxophone in Bb:
o Tone similar to oboes tone.
o Play an octave above tenor saxophone.
o More common in straight body.
Alto Saxophone in Eb:
o Most popular member of saxophone family.
o Easiest to play and master.
o Play a fifth below soprano saxophone and an octave below
sopranino saxophone.
Tenor Saxophone in Bb:
o Very common in Jazz.
o Play an octave below soprano saxophone.
Baritone Saxophone in Eb:
o Deep and warm tone. Sound close to the cello and human voice.
o Play approximately an octave below the alto saxophone.
Bass Saxophone in Bb:
o Tone similar to bassoon.
o Play an octave below the tenor saxophone.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Saxophone is a transposing instrument. For example, alto sax sounds a major

sixth lower than written.
Saxophones can be divided into few main parts:

Reed: Reed is attached to the saxophones mouthpiece by using a ligature

and vibrates to create sound.
Mouthpiece: The place where the reed is fixed on and where the players
blow air into the instrument to produce sound.
Neck: The neck is the joint between the mouthpiece and the body. It is a
metal tube that allows the sound generated by vibrating reed to enter the
body.
Body: The sound vibrates within the body and is amplified. By pressing
different keys, the length of air column in the saxophones body can be
changed. The longer the air column, the lower the pitched, and vice versa.

Figure 2: The Saxophone Parts.

Additional tips

Do not lift the saxophone by its neck. The sound

produced will be affected if there is any dent on the
neck. Always hold the saxophone by the bell.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Is it difficult to learn the Saxophone?

Saxophone is actually quite easy to learn at the early stage of learning. The
notes respond easily even with the undeveloped embouchure and breathing
techniques. What stopping a young child to learn saxophone is the size and
weight of saxophone. Saxophones, in general, are big and heavy, which means
some strength is actually needed to support the instrument while playing. Big
hand is needed to reach the key too, as saxophones are quite wide for a childs
small hand. Besides, due to the size of the instrument, it requires a certain lung
capacity from the players so that sound can be produced easily. Thus, it is usually
recommended for a child to start saxophone lesson around 9 years old.
Saxophone is a conical bore instrument, thus the pitch stability is not there. It is
difficult to control the intonation of the saxophone at the early stage of learning
but with hard works and guidance from a good teacher, it is definitely possible.
The recommended saxophone for a child to start learning on will be the alto
saxophone, due to its smaller key layout and the need for lesser air. It is not a
must though; parents can choose to let their children to start on a different
saxophone, as with proper guidance, repertoire and techniques can be adapted
to all of the saxophones. Besides, the fingerings for all the instruments are the
same.

How to choose Saxophone?

Similar to flutes and clarinets, there are three levels of saxophones in general:
student (entry level), intermediate and professional. The difference between the
various levels of saxophones is the quality of materials used and the quality of
craftsmanship put into the making of the saxophones. Student saxophones are
usually machine-made, while professional saxophones are handmade.
Beginners will feel comfortable enough if they are playing on a good student
saxophone, as sound can be produced easily. If one is still uncertain about
saxophone, a student saxophone manufactured by reputable company will be a
good idea. Intermediate saxophones will usually have key work and action
similar to a professional saxophone, but they will not produce the same fullness
of tone as the professional saxophones. There are usually a lot of handworks on
the professional saxophone. The materials used are of the highest quality, which
results in advanced playability with full expressiveness.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Body Construction

Saxophones have either ribbed or non-ribbed construction. Every key is

suspended up from the body of a saxophone by no fewer than 2 posts. These
posts can be attached to the saxophones body via two ways:
1. Post to Body Each post is soldered individually onto the saxophones body.
2. Ribbed Body A group of posts are soldered together to a large plate of brass,
which we call rib. This rib is then soldered on to the body.
The extra piece of metal, i.e. the rib, will make the instrument much heavier.
However, ribbed saxophones will have warmer sound due to the added weight.
Student saxophones usually are non-ribbed, as the tone production will be easier
apart from the lighter weight.

Materials:

Saxophones are the only woodwind instruments that are made out of yellow
brass. The brass can be polished or brushed. Saxophones are also made from
materials such as copper, bronze, silver, plastic and gold. The body of the
saxophone is usually finished with some protective coating, such as spray
applied lacquer and metal plating. This is to protect the saxophones body and
parts from oxidation and tarnishing.
Whether or not the coating is affecting the tone of the saxophone is a big debate
among saxophone lovers. The tonal difference is minimal across various
materials used. Thus in general, the coating is mainly for appearance purpose
and to protect the raw base material from oxidation.
Perhaps it is the roughness or smoothness inside the bore that affects how sound
wave vibrates. The vibrations will contribute additional harmonic content to the
resulting sound that we are hearing. A saxophone with more harmonic content
will sound brighter. Usually, student saxophones will sound brighter and edgier
as they are made of lightweight metal. On the contrary, the heavier and softer
the metal is, the lower the harmonic content, and the warmer and darker the
saxophones will sound.
The keys are usually made of brass or nickel and touch plates are often covered
with real mother-of-pearl (usually plastic pearl for student models)

Geometry of the Saxophones:

The geometry of the saxophone will affect the saxophones sound more than the
material. Small-bore saxophones (for example Selmer Paris Serie III, Yanagisawa
and Yamaha) have a brighter sound. For soprano saxophones, curved designs
have a darker and throatier sound while straight designs have more pure
sounding.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Mouthpiece:
As we mentioned before,
mouthpieces
make
the
biggest impact on producing
a sound. For beginners, the
mouthpieces role is simply
to get a sound easily. For
intermediate players, the
mouthpiece needs to serve
the purpose of developing
ones own style of playing;
while for the professional
players, the mouthpiece
needs to be able to produce
refined sound and able to
bring out the different
characteristics of sound that
the players want.

Mouthpieces are made from

all types of materials these
days:
plastic,
ebonite,
rubber, glass, wood, metal and so on. Most professional mouthpieces are made of
hard rubber or metal. Hard rubber tends to dampen higher-pitched sounds
hence the sound produced will be warmer. Metal mouthpiece will produce
brighter sound. Plastic mouthpieces (usually acrylic), are usually made for
beginner student and are generally more free-blowing and cheaper. However do
take note that there are exceptions too as one need to take into account the
different size or cuts of other parts of the mouthpiece that will also has impact on
the sound produced:
Figure 3: The Saxophone's Mouthpiece

The Chamber:

The chamber is the internal volume of the mouthpiece. A large chamber will has
lower air pressure and therefore darker sound will be produced. A smaller
chamber on the other hand has higher air pressure and brighter sound will be
produced.

The Facing Curve:

The face of the mouthpiece is the part where one attach the reed too. The face
needs to be curved and has even surface, as it needs to give the precise space for
the reed to vibrate freely. If the facing curve is uneven closer to the table, it will
be more difficult to produce low sounds. On the other hand, if the facing curve is
uneven closer to the tip of the mouthpiece, it will be more difficult to produce
higher sounds.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

The Table:

The table is the part where the back of the reed is held by using a ligature.
Different mouthpieces might have different length of table. Longer table means
there is more contact between the reed and the mouthpiece, which means the
reed will vibrate less, hence producing a darker and warmer sound. On the
contrary shorter table allows more vibration from the reed, hence leading to a
brighter sound.

The Baffle:

The baffle is the part behind the tip rail of a saxophones mouthpiece. In general,
the closer the reed to the baffle, the higher the air pressure, the brighter the
sound and vice-versa.

The Tip Rail:

The tip rail is the part of the mouthpiece that goes into the mouth. Thicker tip rail
is generally easier to have more stable and softer playing. Thinner tip rail is
much difficult to control, as it has lesser resistance. The sound produced will be
edgier and brighter.

The Tip Opening:

The tip opening refers to the distance from the tip of the reed to the tip rail. A
smaller tip opening allows harder reed, which will produce brighter tone while a
larger tip opening allows softer reed, which will produce darker tone.
Most mouthpieces for student saxophones are made of plastic, with a small tip
opening and no baffles.

Other parts of the Saxophone:

1. Additional Keys
Most modern saxophones have a high F# key. Some of the soprano saxophones
will offer a high G key as well. However, those notes are actually playable as well
even without those additional keys.
2. Rods (steel)
The rods support and facilitate all of the movement associated with playing the
instrument. A weak rod will not stand up to long hour or rigorous playing.

Flute and Music Academy 2014

3. Pads

Pads cover the holes on the

saxophone so different sounds can
be produced. It is important for
the pad to cover the holes
completely;
otherwise
the
saxophone will not be able to play
properly. Generally, pads should
be soft to touch, and will
commonly have metal, brass or
plastic discs on them called
resonators. The material and
shape of these resonators will
determine the characteristic of the
sound.

Figure 03: Saxophone Pads

Why buy from Flute and Music Academy?

As a woodwind specialist, Flute and Music Academy provides saxophones and
accessories of all ranges and top brands at reasonable prices. We do not carry
cheap but unplayable saxophones that would be better off as lampshade-stands.
We take our core values integrity, respect, expertise and excellence seriously.
Buying unknown brand of saxophone from a music shop that has limited support
and/or knowledge of winds will be at ones own risk.
We are also affiliated with WindWorks Singapore to ensure that all our
instruments are checked by professional technicians.

How much am I looking for?

These are the Saxophone brands that are available at Flute and Music Academy:
Student Range Alto Sax (from $1000 - $2200)
Jupiter 567GL
Yamaha YAS 26
Yamaha YAS 280/280S
*Model Number is accurate in 2014

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Intermediate Range Alto Sax (from $2200 5000)

Yamaha YAS 480
Yamaha YAS 62
Yanagisawa AW01
Yanagisawa AW02
*Model Number is accurate in 2014

Professional Range Alto Sax (from $5000 and above)

Common brands (Selmer Paris, Yanagisawa, Yamaha, Buffet)
Yamaha YAS 875EX
Yamaha YAS 82 Z
Selmer Paris Series II
Selmer Paris Series III
Yanagisawa AW01O
Yanagisawa AW02O
Buffet Crampon Senzo
*Model Number is accurate in 2014

Essential Accessories for Saxophonists

Reeds

By choosing the correct reed, sound can be produced with lesser effort. There is
a need to replace the reed regularly, as a chipped reed will make the instrument
more difficult to play. Same as clarinet, there are different strengths of clarinet
reed, indicated by numbers. Typically there will be numbers like 1-5 in steps
1, 1 , 2. 2 and so on up to 5. Usually 1 is the softest and 5 is the hardest. A
harder reed typically gives a heavier, thicker and fuller sound. However, it is also
more difficult to play low pitches softly with a hard reed. On the other hand, a
softer reed makes playing easier but the sound produced is generally lighter and
brighter. The strength needed depends on the individual player and the players
mouthpiece. The teacher will help deciding which reed strength works the best
for oneself. Beginner student typically starts with a strength 1.5 to 2.5 reed.

Reed Case

Having a good reed case can ensure longer lives for the reeds. A good case has a
flat surface which the reed rest on, so as to reduce warping (wavy tip).

Ligature

Ligature holds the reed to the mouthpiece. It is important that the ligatures is a
good fit for the mouthpiece and is holding the reed firmly. Ligatures can basically
be divided into 2 main types: metal and fabric. The fabric type is more suitable
for beginner as it is easier to put on and forms readily to the shape of the
mouthpiece and reed.
Flute and Music Academy 2014

Neck Strap

A good neck strap helps to support the saxophone in a position that is

comfortable for the neck, wrist, and hands. It is important to choose a material
that is comfortable, as the strap will be around the neck for a period of time.

Cork Grease

Cork grease lubricates the neck corks so that the cork will not be damaged in the
process of putting on the mouthpiece. It also helps to keep the corks from drying
out and crumbling. Use cork grease sparingly. Remember to wipe clean your
hand before touching the saxophone.

Saxophone Stands

Saxophone stands are typically designed to hold the saxophone on the bell in an
upright position. This is to reduce unnecessary stress on the keywork.

Additional tips
Avoid leaving the Saxophone on the floor or
chair as it might incur pressure on the keys and
bent the keys. In addition, someone may
accidentally step and kick the saxophone.

Tuners/Metronome
Tuners to check on the pitch of the saxophone (modern pitch A=442Hz).
Saxophone Tuning is achieve by pulling out (flatten) or pushing in (sharpen) the
mouthpiece on the neck.

Saxophone Case

The saxophone case is important for the protection and transport of the
instrument. Always ensure that the case is properly latched or zipped up before
lifting up the case.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Cleaning Supplies
Neck brush (optional)
Swab
Mouthpiece brush (optional)
Polishing cloth (Microfibre for general wipe down and lacquered
saophone, Silver Cloth for Silver Plated saxophone)

Flute and Music Academy 2014

Additional Tips
1. Brush your teeth before you play. This helps to keep the instrument free
of acids and sugars, as these substances might damage the metal and the
pad.
2. Moisten the reed in your mouth while assembling the saxophone.
3. It is good to have two swabs for ones saxophone: one for the neck and
one for the body. Ensure that the Swab is free and not tangled before
inserting. Wash these swab with detergent and dry it well every few
months.
4. Swab your instrument every time after you play. Also, remember to
always swab it from the bell to the top. The top of the saxophone will
be the wettest part after playing.
5. Rinse your mouthpiece with running tap water after playing. Never
use hot water for cleaning a hard rubber mouthpiece. That will warp and
damge the mouthpiece.

Flute and Music Academy 2014