How to Learn to Use a Soprano Saxophone
A lot goes into learning to play the saxophone. It's not simply a matter of pressing the right keys while blowing into the mouthpiece. Every aspect of playing this instrument involves technique and requires a lot of practice. The soprano saxophone, one of the smallest members of the saxophone family with one of the highest octave ranges (second in both cases to the tiny soprillo sax), is particularly challenging to learn to play well because of its diminutive size and higher tones.
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Instructions
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Learning Correct Embouchure
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1
Soak the flat part of a newly purchased reed in water for at least one hour to make it more pliable and able to produce a better tone. Allow it to dry completely before you begin.
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2
Assemble the mouthpiece by placing the flat side of the reed against the flat part of the mouthpiece. Looking at it from behind, a thin sliver of the reed should be visible just above the tip of the mouthpiece. Hold the reed in place as you slip on the ligature and tighten the screws.
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3
Fold your bottom lip over your bottom teeth. The teeth should not come in contact with the reed. Using only the mouthpiece, place it in your mouth and practice blowing without puffing out your cheeks.
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4
Adjust the tension in your mouth as you blow until you produce a clear tone. Correct tension should produce a concert D-flat tone, consistent with two octaves and one half-step above Middle C on a piano. Practice until you can produce this tone consistently.
Position, Fingering and Tuning
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5
Assemble the rest of the saxophone. Practice holding it in the correct position. If the sax is straight, hold it out from your body at about a 45-degree angle. A curved saxophone may be held closer to the body.
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6
Download a fingering chart from SaxophoneInstrument.com. Practice holding the saxophone at the correct angle while placing fingers in the correct position for each note on the chart.
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7
Locate Middle C on the saxophone. Using the tuner, tune this note to a concert B flat. Adjust the position of the mouthpiece on the cork until the tone matches the tuner's B flat, and mark this position on the cork with a pencil.
Breathing and Technique
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Practice playing scales up and down the keys. As you play, experiment with breathing into the saxophone. Harder breaths produce a louder tone, while softer breaths produce a quieter tone. Practice controlled transitions from soft to loud and back again.
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9
Practice tapping the tongue against the reed as you start each note to produce a staccato rhythm.
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Practice putting all of these elements together on a daily basis.
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Tips & Warnings
For beginners, the alto saxophone tends to be the easiest member of the sax family to learn. If possible, consider starting out on an alto sax and moving up to a soprano sax as your skills advance.
Learning to play the soprano sax on your own is a great way to pick up bad habits that will limit how well you are able to play, no matter how much you practice. It's a good idea to start out by taking at least one or two professional lessons to ensure that you learn correct techniques and develop good playing habits.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit hands of the musician image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
