A Guide For Beginner Saxophone Players
Saxophone, otherwise known as sax, is a woodwind instrument made of metal. It is similar to clarinet but it has sexier tone. Saxophone uses a vibrating reed attached to one end of the pipe which widens along the length, ending into a bell-like structure. The pipe is usually S-shaped, but in few saxophones, usually the small ones, the pipe is straight.
It is easy to learn saxophone. In fact, anyone aged 12 and above can do so. For beginners, it is easier to learn saxophone if smaller versions are used. It is recommended to use the B-flat tenor saxophone or the E-flat alto saxophone which are quite portable.
Parts of the Sax
The first thing to do to learn saxophone is to familiarize oneself with the instrument’s parts. The body of the instrument resembles the letter J. The bow is found at the bottom, while the opposite end is the bell. There are holes that line the length of the instrument. These holes are covered by pads. When pressing and controlling the pads, you produce the sound and notes that you desire. Other major parts of the saxophones and important accessories are as follows:
· Mouthpiece – This is the pointed tip where the reed is attached. It can be made of plastic, rubber, crystal or even metal. The mouthpiece is where you put your mouth to breathe air into.
· Reed – This is a piece of cane that produces the vibrations.
· Ligature – This is a clamp made of metal or leather which connects the reed to the mouthpiece.
· Crook or neck – This is a metal tube that leads to the mouthpiece. A cork fills in the mouthpiece on one end.
· Neck strap – This is hung around the neck as the saxophone is too heavy to carry on hands.
· Bung – This covers the hole on the top of the saxophone when the instrument is disassembled, thus preventing damages.
Holding the Instrument
Carry the sax in front of you, with the main part held in a vertical position away from your body. Most of the weight should be carried by the strap. Make adjustments on the strap so that the mouthpiece is directly pointing to your mouth. Your head should not bow to meet the mouthpiece.
Producing a Sound
To learn saxophone, focus on blowing and playing the keys. Cover your teeth with your lower lip, which should be pressed against the reed halfway up. Clamp your top teeth on the top part of the mouthpiece. Close your lips so that they cover the entire area of the mouthpiece. Keep your cheek muscles a little tight to maintain your lip position.
Now, you can practice blowing on the mouthpiece. Press the pad below your left index finger, but keep your other fingers still as they lie on other pearly keys. Place the tip of your tongue onto the tip of the reed. When blowing, shape your mouth as if you are saying “taw”. The “t” sound gives a crisp beginning to the note, which is called tonguing. You can still produce notes without tonguing but the sound is of lesser quality, so better just follow the standard technique.
Metal Version of Epic Sax Guy
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