How to Read Saxophone Music

Reading musical notes for the saxophone is easy even without formal lessons. Learning to read saxophone music is about memorization and playing the instrument as much as possible, so that after a while reading the music becomes second nature.

Instructions

1. Memorize the basic notes, which include A, B, C, D, E, F. Notes are either found on the treble staff lines or in the spaces of the treble staff. Notes in the spaces of the treble staff spell FACE. Notes on the treble staff lines spell EGBDF. Treble lines are counted from the bottom of the staff to the top.

2. Find the low F note in the space between the first and second treble lines.
   Find the high F note on the fifth treble staff line.
   Find the low A note in the space between the second and third treble lines.
   Find the C note between the third and fourth treble lines.
   Find the high E note between the fourth and fifth treble lines.
   Find the low E note on the second treble staff line.
   Find the G note on the second treble line.
   Find the B note on the third treble line.
   Find the high D note on the fourth treble staff line.

3. Learn the 4/4 time signature. The signatures are placed after the treble clef and tell you how many beats are in the bar (in this case, four beats to a bar).

4. Learn the half note, which has two beats. Half notes have lines with an open circle at the end. Quarter notes are similar in shape and have a solid circle (quarter notes have one beat).
   Memorize the half rest, which indicates two beats of silence. The half rest is a rectangle located between the third and fourth treble lines (it is touching the treble line).