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Saxophone For Dummies PDF
Saxophone For Dummies PDF
Making Everythin
Saxophone
Learn to:
Choose the best saxophone for you:
soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone
Perform a variety of musical styles
Clean and care for your saxophone
Denis Gbel
Michael Villmow
Chapter 1
Saxophone Basics
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In This Chapter
Saying hello to Adolphe Sax
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Discovering the different parts of the saxophone
Meeting the saxophone family: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone
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Buying or leasing your first saxophone
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S o your dream is to learn how to play the saxophone one of the coolest
musical instruments around. Picking up this book is a great start, but
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now comes your first big decision: Which type of saxophone do you want to
play? Saxophones come in different sizes, make different sounds, and have
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the baritone.
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Besides helping you answer the question Which saxophone suits me best?
this chapter also introduces you to its inventor, Adolphe Sax. It gives you tips
on buying a saxophone so you can make an informed choice, and helps you
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decide whether to lease your first saxophone or buy a used one. And so you
can get to know the sax a little better, this chapter also gives an overview of
the saxophones parts and what they do.
Rumor has it that when Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone, he wanted
to create a wind instrument as flexible and light as the clarinet, for playing
melodic structures, but that could also stand up to the power and assertiveness
of brass instruments such as the trumpet and trombone. He brought his
saxophone prototype to the royal court in his home country of Belgium and
gave a persuasive performance. He suggested to the royals that his instrument
be used in military music, and they accepted.
Unfortunately, Adolphe Saxs final days were rather sad. He died in Paris in
1894, completely bankrupt.
Then came the big bands, led by famous bandleaders such as Count Basie
and Duke Ellington. They showed off their large sax sections with as many as
five sax players, usually in the first row. Their sax sections set the air on fire!
Some of the early pioneers of the saxophone were Lester Prez Young,
Charlie Bird Parker, and Coleman Hawk Hawkins. Jazz flourished, and
even today the saxophone is a critical element of this style. The melody of
one of the most famous jazz compositions, Take Five, was composed and
played by Paul Desmond, with his lyrically magnificent alto sax sound.
Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics 11
Even rock n roll incorporated the saxophone. Can you imagine Bill Haleys
Rock Around the Clock or See You Later, Alligator without the sax parts?
Mr. Saxs horn also became an essential part of pop music, including disco,
funk, soul, and R&B. Saxophonist Maceo Parker enriched the sound of
James Brown, and the hit What a Difference a Day Makes was shaped by
the expressive sound of alto saxophonist David Sanborn. Thanks to Grover
Washingtons tenor sax sound, Just the Two of Us became a skin-tingling
love song. The famous songs Baker Street and Careless Whisper were
blessed with musical immortality through their catchy saxophone phrases.
Today the sax continues to strongly influence the sound of many musical
styles.
This section familiarizes you with the important components of the saxophone,
by describing how they fit together and how the whole system works.
Reed: The sound generator, which has the same function as human
vocal chords. Its fixed onto the mouthpiece by a ligature.
Mouthpiece: When you blow into the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates.
Without the aid of the other parts of the saxophone, it produces a high,
shrill sound.
Neck: The mouthpiece is attached to the neck, which is the joint
between the mouthpiece and the body. The sound generated by the
vibrating reed enters the body through the neck. If you compare the
saxophones neck with your own, and with your voice, the saxophones
neck works the same way.
12 Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone
Mouthpiece Reed
Ligature
Neck
Thumb rest
(left thumb)
Key
Bell
Body Eyelet for
Neck strap
So whats the saxophone players role? You provide the controlled airflow
and sound quality. Your mouth and neck, as well as your breathing and the
resonant space within your whole body, determine the sound of each note.
The notes are shaped by your embouchure, which is the position of your
teeth, tongue, lips, jaw, and relevant muscles. (See Chapters 3 and 4 for more
details.) This might sound dangerously complex, but with practice this will
become a natural process. After all, the goal is to fuse player and instrument.
The saxophone produces the deepest tone when all the keys are held down
to close all the tone holes. Inversely, if you open more and more keys, the air
column becomes shorter and higher pitches are produced.
Think of pipe organs. To cover the necessary pitch range, they have many
different sized pipes. The largest pipes produce the lowest notes. The lower
the note should be, the larger the pipe. The inverse is also true: the higher
the note, the smaller the pipe.
Soprillo
Sopranino
Soprano
14 Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone
Alto
Tenor
Baritone
Bass
Contrabass
Subcontrabass
The note range for all saxophones is almost identical. By using the regular
playing technique, a saxophone can cover two and a half octaves.
Listen to the audio tracks that accompany this book to hear the difference
between a soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. In precisely this order, you can
listen to a short sound sample for the song A Family Affair on Track 2.
Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics 15
Figure 1-2:
The four
most
popular
saxophones:
soprano,
alto, tenor,
and
baritone.
Consider your figure and size when selecting a saxophone. Usually, an alto
or tenor saxophone is suitable for an adult. If you have doubts, a saxophone
teacher can advise you.
16 Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone
Do you have any musical role models? Do you know any famous saxophonists?
Do you have a favorite recording that features a saxophone? Thanks to the
Internet, libraries, and music stores, you have access to unlimited audio
samples. Just do some research, and youll discover all kinds of sounds.
Listening to a variety of saxophone music will help you decide between a
soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone sax.
A lot of sheet music is available for the sax, including edited works of music
composed before the saxophone was invented. So you can play the beautiful
melodies of Bach and Mozart, who didnt have a chance to write for the
instrument.
If you prefer something special and you mostly enjoy the baritone sax phases
of Doc Krupka by the band Tower of Power, consider becoming a baritone
saxophonist.
You can even hear the lyrical sound of the soprano saxophone in pop music.
A few years ago, Branford Marsalis introduced a new sound with Sting.
Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics 17
Moreover, Kenny G worked with some famous people in music, such as
Whitney Houston, and his own sweet sound has been heard worldwide, even
in hotel elevators in Asia.
The soprano saxophone had its fans with Sidney Bechet and his
Singing Soprano Song, and John Coltrane used the exotic sound of the
soprano for elaborate improvisations on the songs My Favorite Things
and Afro Blue.
The alto saxophone became famous thanks to such great musicians
as Charlie Bird Parker and his bebop improvisations, and Julian
Cannonball Adderley added to the groove. Paul Desmond made his
mark with a lyrical and gentle alto saxophone sound.
The tenor saxophone was a favorite of many great names in jazz. Lester
Prez Young had an elegant, swinging style. Ben Webster and Coleman
Hawk Hawkins were known for warm, quiet ballads. John Coltrane
revolutionized the tenor saxophone with his fast tempos, incredible
technique, and strong, spirited sounds.
The baritone saxophone, though less popular, had its great players.
Gerry Mulligan captured the cool West Coast sound and Pepper Adams
played powerful hard bop.
Saxophonists who play baritone are more rare and, therefore, in
high-demand. This could be a good reason to play the baritone sax,
although theyre more expensive and harder to lug around!
Without the full baritone sound of Harry Carney, Duke Ellingtons
saxophone section would sound only half as beautiful. Since then, a
big band almost always includes a rich baritone in the saxophone
section.
Usually, big bands have two alto and two tenor saxophones, but only one
baritone saxophone. Together they form the saxophone section. The soprano
is used in big bands to provide its unique tone color to the saxophone sec-
tion. However, its also used as a solo instrument.
Master one saxophone at a time. Changing saxophones too soon could inter-
fere with your musical progress. The only exception is if your first choice of
sax isnt the right one for you. In that case, try switching to another one.
Beginners who try to learn more than one saxophone at the same time, such
as an alto and tenor, risk never actually getting good at either one. Advanced
players usually learn to switch from one saxophone to another, no problem.
But that comes later.
Acquiring a Saxophone
Whether you choose the soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone saxophone,
another decision remains: Should you buy a saxophone or lease one? (Dont
worry, youre not alone on this your wallet has something to say here.)
Each option has its pros and cons, and in the following sections, we help you
choose the option thats right for you. (Check out Chapter 16 for information
about saxophone manufacturers and brands.)
Leasing
Are you still dabbling in dreams of being a saxophonist? If youre unsure
about whether the saxophone suits you, and youre not ready to spend a lot
of money, leasing is a good idea. Many music stores and dealers offer this
option. You can get a decent instrument and pay for it month to month. If,
later, you decide to buy it, some retailers will credit what youve already paid
toward the purchase price. And if you decide that the saxophone isnt your
musical match, simply return it.
Many people choose to buy new instruments, but some used saxophones are
available in good or very good condition and are ready to play. Perhaps the pre-
vious owner didnt play much, or the instrument was recently reconditioned.
Some vintage horns are real classics. For example, most pros would only sell
their old Selmer Mark VI over their dead bodies. These old instruments can
sound beautiful and their value often doubles in price compared to a new one.
A well-maintained saxophone can last a long time. For example, the pads (the
leather on the underside of the keys) can remain intact for six to ten years,
depending on the quality of the pads, maintenance, and usage.
With a used saxophone, pay special attention to the condition of the instrument:
What condition are the pads in? Is the leather still smooth, dark, and
hard, or is it cracked and moldy?
Do the pads still cover the tone holes perfectly?
Do the mechanics run clean? Can you press down on all of the keys
comfortably and simultaneously?
If you answer no to the above questions, the sax in question might need a
general overhaul. And if its in really bad shape, repairs could cost more than
the instrument is worth! Get advice from an expert if youre concerned.
A general overhaul, including adding new pads and adjusting the saxophones
mechanics, costs a lot of money. So consider more than just the initial cost
when purchasing a used saxophone.
Perhaps youve heard someone say, Oh, its good enough for a beginner.
That kind of thinking assumes a good instrument isnt necessary, and
grandpas moldy old horn is just fine for a budding saxophonist. Well, its not!
Do I like the sound? Does the sound fit the music that I like to play?
Does the instrument sit comfortably in my hands?
Do all the notes, from lowest to highest, respond well? Can I blow into
the saxophone easily?
Does the saxophone feel and sound right to me? (Check out the sidebar
The importance of intonation to help answer this question.)