How to Play Scales on a Baritone Saxophone

The baritone saxophone is an essential blues and jazz instrument. The unique sounds of the different scales on the instrument give it its unique and recognizable quality. Practicing scales are the best way to become a better musician. Practicing saxophone scales is the best way to get ready to play challenging and fun music on the saxophone.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Practice bass and treble clef major and minor scales by going up and down on each note on the baritone saxophone in each of the major keys. Major scales are C major, G major, F major, B flat major, E flat major, A flat major, D flat major and C sharp major. C and G have no flats, F has 1 flat, B flat 2, E flat 3, A flat 4 and D flat 5. C sharp major has 5 sharps.

2. Practice each scale to the full range of your instrument.

3. Play a chromatic scale in each key on your saxophone. Chromatic scales include all sharps and flats moving up and down your instrument in half steps.

4. Use a Pentatonic 5-note scale for jazz improvisation. As in any scale, practice the pentatonic scales in the full range of your saxophone in all 12 keys.

5. Increase scale speed only when you've mastered the notes in the scale. Only play as fast as you can play well.

Tips & Warnings

• As you learn your scales you'll notice how they repeat themselves in many of the pieces you play. The more you play the more your ear will pick up patterns and similarities in melody lines you've learned from all the daily scale work.