The Website for the Saxophone Beginner

Welcome to Sax Basics – The site for the Saxophone beginner.

Introduction:.

Before I move on to the site details, let me tell you a little about myself:

I started to learn the Saxophone in the summer of 2007 at the age of 47. I had no prior musical training or knowledge, just a passion and an interest in learning to play. I guess that my main inspiration was the great Tenor Sax player, Stan Getz, closely followed by Charlie “Bird” Parker, Courtney Pine and Candy Dulfer to name but a few.

I have always had a great love for music with a very eclectic taste. I enjoy all genres from Classical through to Jazz, Blues, Indie, Pop and Rock. This has caused me some issue in deciding which genre I should play. So I just simply try a bit of everything.

I am not, nor do I claim to be a musician in any sense of the word, just a novice who hopes that one day I will be able to play this fantastic instrument to give as much pleasure to those listening as I get from playing.

I started with a rented Alto Sax and took the option of buying it after 6 months.

It took over a year for my teacher to convince me to switch to the Tenor Sax. It turned out to be the best move I could have made. If I had been wiser at the start point or had sought the correct advice at the decision stage, I would have started with the Tenor Sax. I will expand on this in the Startup section of the site.

Initially I spent a lot of time looking for relevant information on the Internet and found that many of the sites were just too advanced for me, and after a month of attempted ‘self learning’ using DVD’s, books and the Internet, then trying to figure out how I was ever going to be able to play more than a few notes, I was very lucky to have found an excellent teacher, who has patiently taught and guided me well. I still have lessons from him and intend to do so for many years ahead.

To date, I have found the whole experience to be an enjoyable and fulfilling journey, with a lot of hard work and dedication required. The rewards make it more than worthwhile.

Saxbasics Website:

This site is aimed at the novice or anyone considering taking up the Saxophone. I have tried to keep it as informative as possible whilst maintaining a simplistic approach, covering all Saxophone basics. The main focus will be on the Alto and Tenor Saxophones though the basic theory is the same for all.

The site structure is as follows:

The Saxophone - Covering:

· History

· Design and Component Parts

· The Saxophone Family – Sopranino in Eb to Contra-Bass in Eb

· Manufacturing

· Maintenance

Start up Advice - Covering:

· Find a Saxophone Teacher

· Find a Recommended Saxophone Supplier

· Select your Instrument

· Recommended Equipment – Reeds, Cleaning Kit, Cork Grease, etc…

· Assemble your Saxophone

· First Notes – Posture, Embouchure, Breathing and Tuning

· Recommended Media - Books, DVDs, Sheet Music, etc...

Music Theory – Covering:

· Music Fundamentals– Notes and Duration, Rests, Bars, Staves, Clef, etc

· Scales and Arpeggios

· Glossary of Terms

· Reading Music – First Stages

Fingering Chart:

A downloadable, printable fingering chart in an easy to follow format

Useful Links:

Links to other sites for more advanced and useful information

In addition to the above there will be a page for feedback so please feel free to comment on what you do and don’t find useful on this site. The intention is to keep the site as fluid as possible and I’ll add and delete content as necessary. I will also include a Forum Page for you to post Hints & tips, so feel free to contribute.

If this site is of help to just one person, then I will have achieved what I set out to do.

Enjoy!