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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 Play along with audio samples on the CD-ROM

Denis Gbel Michael Villmow

Chapter 1

Saxophone Basics
In This Chapter
Saying hello to Adolphe Sax Discovering the different parts of the saxophone Buying or leasing your first saxophone

Meeting Mr. Sax

If Adolphe Sax, the nineteenth century Belgian thinker and inventor, could visit todays world, he would be amazed at the saxophones popularity. This imaginative and risk-taking inventor was obsessed with the idea of attempting a kind of musical genetic engineering. He created his namesake instrument the saxophone to unify the best features of the trumpet and the clarinet.

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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 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.

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Dont get overwhelmed by choice. For beginners, an alto or tenor saxophone is probably best, because these two are of medium size and widely available. After youve mastered the instrument (which you no doubt will), youll have plenty of time to explore the high notes of the soprano sax or the low tones of the baritone.

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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 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 different names. How do you choose?

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Meeting the saxophone family: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

The invention of the saxophone

The saxophone was born in 1842. Adolphe Sax, the father of this new wind instrument, was a clarinet and flute player. The son of an instrument maker, crafting and tinkering with musical instruments ran in his family. But Adolphe was also an inventive and imaginative guy. During his lifetime, he invented many wind instruments such as the sax horn, the sax tuba, and the sax trombone remarkable hybrids that unfortunately did not survive into our millennium. And thats not all. Mr. Sax also invented a steam organ, medical instruments, and even a cannon called the saxocannon! But the saxophone was his greatest and most enduring invention. 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. The saxophones inclusion in military music opened the door to many opportunities for other people to play and hear the new horn. The saxophone quickly became very popular among musicians. However, the saxophone sound also had its foes. Some instrument manufacturers resisted the saxophone, and they threatened to go to court to put a stop to Mr. Sax manufacturing the instrument. Even today, a saxophone is rarely part of a symphony orchestra. Unfortunately, Adolphe Saxs final days were rather sad. He died in Paris in 1894, completely bankrupt.

The saxophone goes mainstream

When Henri Selmer took over manufacturing the saxophone, things really took off. Dance bands established the sax in the field of light music. In the 1930s, many radio stations played the song Petite Fleur, by soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, who became the first world-renowned player. 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

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.

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Getting to Know the Saxs Components and Their Functions

You might be surprised to know that the saxophone is a woodwind, not a brass, instrument. This fact can be hard to believe, because the saxophone is, after all, made mostly of brass. The saxophone is considered a woodwind instrument because the part that creates the actual sound, called the reed, is made out of wood, or more specifically, cane (similar to bamboo). This section familiarizes you with the important components of the saxophone, by describing how they fit together and how the whole system works.

Parts of the saxophone

The saxophone is made up of the following parts (Figure 1-1 shows what they look like): 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.

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Body: This is the most important resonance chamber of the saxophone. The sound vibrates within the body and is amplified. By holding down the keys, which are located on the body, you change the length of the air column to create a different pitch or note. The longer the air column, the lower the corresponding note; the shorter the column, the higher the note. Neck strap: More of an accessory, this is a strap that is looped through an eyelet on the back side of the horn and worn around the players neck. The neck strap lets the player carry the saxophone and supports the instrument so the fingers can move freely over the keys. Thumb hook: The right thumb sits in the thumb hook, which is a hooked-shaped piece of metal or plastic, to balance the saxophones weight. Thumb rest: The left thumb sits on the thumb rest (located below the octave key) to balance the saxophone. Dont be all thumbs! You support the saxophones weight using the neck strap, and you balance the saxophone using the thumb hook and thumb rest.

Mouthpiece

Reed Ligature

Neck

Key Body Bell

Thumb rest (left thumb) Eyelet for Neck strap Thumb hook (right thumb)

Figure 1-1: Front and back views of a saxophone and its parts.

Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics

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How the saxophone sings

You produce language mainly through your mouth and by the position of your tongue, and chances are you do so without even thinking about it. With a saxophone, a smart system consisting of a resonance body, tone holes (the holes in the body of the saxophone), and keys (the mechanisms that open and close the tone holes to change notes) modulates the thin, and not necessarily gentle, sound of the reed into various deep and high tones. 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.

Finding the Right Sized Sax

An entire saxophone family exists, with members that differ mostly with respect to their sizes and sounds. A saxophone with more volume and a longer air column produces deeper notes, for instance. This, of course, has physical reasons. For example, you expect a deeper, fuller sound from a hippo than a hummingbird. (See Chapter 2 for more details.) 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.

Meeting the saxophone family

The saxophone comes in nine different sizes. Here they are from smallest to largest, which corresponds with the highest pitch to the lowest pitch: Soprillo Sopranino Soprano

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Alto Tenor Baritone Bass Contrabass Subcontrabass Saxophones are transposing instruments, meaning that a note played on the saxophone sounds different on the piano. Thats because instruments are made in different keys (systems of notes that are related to each other, based on a single main note). For example, if you play the written note C on a soprano or tenor saxophone, which are in the key of Bf, that note will sound as a Bf on the piano. Or if you play a C on an alto or baritone saxophone, which are in the key of Ef, that note will sound as an Ef on the piano. (Chapter 2 covers transposing in more detail.)

The fabulous four: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone

Soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones (see Figure 1-2, from left to right) were named according to the corresponding vocal register, and approximately match the pitch of the human voice: Soprano saxophone: Usually built in a straight form, the soprano produces a light nasal sound and the highest pitch of the fabulous four. Alto and tenor saxophones: These two have the typical U-shaped saxophone form. The alto saxophone often sounds lighter and brighter than the slightly larger tenor saxophone, which has a deeper, darker, fuller sound. Both are the most popular members of the saxophone family. They can produce a wide variety of sounds and are used for many musical styles and instrumentations. Baritone saxophone: Due to its large size, its tone is deep and luscious. Starting at the mouthpiece, the upper part of the instrument initially makes four 90-degree turns sort of like a musical roller coaster. Depending on the way its played, it can have a very special, slightly growly tone. Seldom played as a solo instrument, it has a fixed place in saxophone quartets and in the sax sections of the big bands. 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

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Figure 1-2: The four most popular saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone.

Other members of the saxophone clan

Other types of saxophones exist, but are rarely played: Soprillo and sopranino: Similar to a soprano, these usually have a straight shape. They are smaller than a soprano and therefore their pitch range is higher. They never became popular and are still fairly rare. Bass and contrabass saxophone: Nobody would voluntarily drag around these huge and bulky saxophones, especially those who walk to band practice. Apart from that, their sounds are seriously low, and very few of us have the lung capacity to fill these large instruments. Subcontrabass saxophone: This is the lowest of the low and has never been produced in large quantities. Thats probably fortunate, because youd need a trailer to transport it and the lungs of a horse to play it. Nonetheless, the subcontrabass saxophone is still sometimes used in concert.

Deciding on your perfect match

Now, youre probably wondering which member of the saxophone family suits you best. Consider your own height and size. A slender 12-year-old girl might not be thrilled with a tenor or baritone sax, neither for playing nor transporting. But she might be quite pleased with smaller, lighter soprano or alto. In the case of a well-built, six-foot-five man with fingers like sausages, a sopranino or soprano would disappear in his hands. He might be better off choosing the tenor or baritone. Admittedly, these are extreme examples. An average-sized adult is usually fine with any size of sax. 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.

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Following your favorite sound

Your musical goals, such as the style of music you want to play and favorite sounds, are crucial when selecting an instrument. For example, a soprano saxophone is rarely used for rock. Playing your favorite style of music can make learning the saxophone even more fun, and encourage you to keep going even after a difficult practice session. 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.

Matching the saxophone to musical styles

Not every type of saxophone can be used for all music styles. One factor in choosing an instrument is the music that you would like to play. Here, we give you a short overview of the different styles. (Part III of this book includes more detailed information.)

Classical, serious, and contemporary music

If you listen to a lot of classical or contemporary music, and this is the sound youd like to play, an alto saxophone is a good choice. Many composers have now written solo pieces for alto sax and accompaniment, from piano to symphony orchestra. 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.

Rock, soul, R&B, funk, and pop

If you like to play rock, soul, or funk, the alto or tenor saxophone is your horn. In general, these two saxophones equip you well for most areas of pop music. 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

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.

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Jazz and big band

If you love jazz and big band music, great musicians played in these styles using all four popular saxophones: 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 section. However, its also used as a solo instrument.

Switching between saxes

Switching to another saxophone after you can play well is usually not so difficult. (For example, switching from an alto to a baritone sax is quite simple, because the fingerings the key used to make a given note are basically the same.) Depending on the size of the instrument, youll have to make small adjustments in how you play. But after a while, youll get used to the challenge of the new key height, slightly different embouchure, and greater or lesser air supply.

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Master one saxophone at a time. Changing saxophones too soon could interfere 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. Experienced saxophonists can switch between two saxophones, depending on the sound the music calls for. Because many saxophonists appreciate the special tones of the soprano saxophone and like to use it for developing a repertoire (the collection of pieces a musician can play), the usual combinations are soprano/alto or soprano/tenor. 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.

Buying: New or used?

If the saxophone is the instrument you were meant to play, and youre ready to make the commitment, youre likely prepared to buy.

Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics

When buying a saxophone or any important accessories consider asking an expert, such as your future saxophone teacher or an experienced saxophonist, to be your personal sales consultant. Getting an expert opinion is worth the peace of mind and it almost guarantees that youll find the right saxophone for you. 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 previous 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.

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The importance of intonation

The intonation, that is, the tuning of an instrument, is very important in a saxophone. Poor intonation makes some notes sound too high or too low compared to other notes on the instrument. However, you can adjust the intonation on most saxophones using the embouchure. This is normal and is simply part of the instruments design. However, if an instrument is just too difficult to tune, dont bother with it. An expert (your saxophone teacher or someone who plays the saxophone) can let you know if youre looking at a lemon. Decent, playable instruments are available that will give you great musical pleasure at a low price. Go to Chapter 2 for more about the intonation of your sax.

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Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Starting with a quality sax

Only beginners would play an instrument that has a bulky build, feels awkward in the hands, and requires finger acrobatics to play. Dont let this kind of instrument be forced on you if you can get another for only a few dollars more thats equipped with more solid mechanics. 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! Amateurs in particular need a good instrument, because poorly made or worn-out saxophones are hard to play and certainly not fun to play and can make you want to give up pretty darn quickly. A pro may be able to get a good tone from a piece of junk, but a beginner barely has a chance. A beginner needs good tools to start, because you have plenty of fundamentals such as notes, keys, sound production, and rhythm to master, and these are what a beginner should focus on. To ensure youre buying a high-quality instrument, ask yourself the following questions: 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.)