Beginner Saxophone Lesson 2-8

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Beginner Saxophone Lesson 2 : Intro to Notation

The Staff

Music is written on 5 lines known as the staff, or stave. At the beginning of the staff is a sign called
a clef. Saxophone music is usually written on the treble clef.

Rhythm

The next thing we need to understand before we get down to some playing is how to read the
rhythm.

The length of a note is measured by counting.

A quarter-note (or crotchet in the UK) lasts for 1 count and looks like this:

Four quarter-notes in a row will look like this :

A half-note (or minim in the UK) lasts for 2 counts and looks like this:

So four half-notes will look like this :

(we gave four 'counts' before the piano starts)

Finally, a whole note (or semibreve) lasts for 4 counts and looks like this:

So four whole notes in a row will look like this (again with four counts in on the audio):

Bars

Music is grouped into groups of counts known as bars. The first type of bar we will see is 4/4,
written :
which means there are 4 quarter-note counts in each bar.
Below is an example of two bars written in 4/4 time. The first bar contains 4 quarter-notes, each
lasting for one count. The second bar contains a whole note which lasts for 4 counts, and so,
occupies the entire bar.

The groups of 4 counts are separated by vertical lines known as bar-lines. A double bar-line
signifies the end of a piece.

Beginner Saxophone Lesson 3 : First Note Pieces for Alto Saxophone

The first note we are going to learn is G. This is what is looks like on the page:

To play the note you need to put your left hand on the three keys shown in the picture below:
You can see and hear all the notes we learn in our Saxophone Fingering Chart, available from
the Saxophone Home Page Here's what G looks like in the chart:

Now we'll play a first very simple piece, using the note G, and two of the rhythms we learned about
in the Introduction to Notation lesson. Click the next button above to see and hear how it
sounds,with four counts before you start playing:

Now try playing it yourself. Press play to hear the click track:
Here's another piece using the note G:

Beginner Saxophone Lesson 4 : New Note A

Now it's time to learn our second note: A

To play an A use your index and middle fingers as shown:

Once again, here's how it looks on our Saxophone Fingering Chart, available from the Saxophone
Home Page

This piece uses G and A, and we've given it a simple rock backing for you to play along with:

And now here's the back track for you to play along to. Don't forget there are four counts before
you start:
Another piece using G and A, with a jazzy backing track this time:

And now here's the backing track for you to play along to. Don't forget there are four counts before
you start:

Beginner Saxophone Lesson 5 : Three Note Tunes

The next note we will learn is B:

B is played using just the index finger as shown below:

Here's a simple tune using the three notes we've learned so far:
And another 3 note tune, this time with a strings and harp accompaniment for you to play along
with

And the backing track by itself:

 Beginner Saxophone Lesson 6 : New Note C

Next we'll learn the note C:

Which is played by using the following key with your middle finger on the left hand:

In the next piece we'll also come across this sign:

That's a repeat sign, it means repeat the music one more time.
This piece is an old French song, known popularly as 'The Clown'

Try playing along now with the accompaniment:

Now here's another piece using the four notes we've learned so far.

This sign above or below a note indicates an accent:

It means the note should be played slightly louder, with added emphasis.
Try this piece that includes accents. The tune starts on the first beat of the bar, which is known as
the downbeat. The accents here fall on the downbeat and on the third beat of the bar
To understand the importance of accents, try this tune, which is almost the same as the one above,
but it has accents on a different note.

Notice how this tune does not start on the first beat of the bar. When a tune starts on the last beat of
the bar it is known as starting on the up-beat.

Beginner Saxophone Lesson 7 : Dynamics

The volume we play music at is called the 'dynamics'. When you see the letter f like this:

It means play loudly (The f stands for forte is Italian for loud. It is a historical convention that most
indications are given in Italian)

When you see a letter p like this:

It means play softly (p stands for piano, which is Italian for soft)

In most cases, you should continue playing at the same dynamic level until you see the next
indication.
Try this piece. The tune repeats but the first two lines are marked 'forte' (loudly), and the second
two lines and 'piano' (quiet).

Don't forget the dotted minim rhythm which stands for three beats:
Now try playing along with the accompaniment:
Here's a tune we've called 'The Bells' as it sounds a little bit like church bells ringing. Again, the
same phrase is repeated, first forte (loud) then piano (soft)
 Beginner Saxophone Lesson 8 : New Note F

Time for a new note, F

For the first time we'll be using both hands to finger this note. Hold down the three keys with the
left hand, just like you do to play the note G, but now also add the index finger of the left hand as
shown below:
We're now starting to have enough notes to play some famous tunes.

Try the popular childrens song Merrily We Roll Along

And now try playing along yourself:

And another famous tune - Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's famous 'Largo' from the New World
Symphony. You can come back to this tune once you've learned a few more notes and play the full
version on 8notes here.
And again, with just the accompaniment playing: