How to Braid a Saxophone Neck Strap
If you can braid hair then you can braid any fabric. The basic concept is the same in all braiding. You will need to decide how many rows you want to braid. The basic French braid uses three rows of hair. Braiding a neck strap for a saxophone is more about comfort than style. The weight of the saxophone rests on the neck of the player. If the braid is uncomfortable, the weight of the saxophone pulls down and can cause severe headaches. Select a fabric for braiding that is soft and absorbs perspiration.
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Things You'll Need
- Cotton fabric neck strap
- Rubber bands
- Leather shoe string
- Saxophone
- Coat rack
Instructions
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1
Take cotton fabric measuring 3 feet in length and 2 inches wide. Cut 3 pieces of fabric at that length and width. Twist a rubber band around one end of the 3 pieces of fabric. Place the fabric in the rubber band over a peg on a coat rack. This will allow you to braid tightly, since you can pull the fabric without it moving with you as you pull.
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2
Pick up 2 pieces of fabric and cross one over the other, pulling gently on them to make the knot tight. Take the third piece of fabric and cross it over and into the middle of the knot created by the first and second piece of fabric. This is the first knot in the French braid.
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3
Split the first and second pieces of fabric wide enough to apply pressure on the previous knot. The tighter the knots are as you braid, the smaller the strap will be in width and the longer it will retain the appearance of a French braid. Repeat the process of making the first knot from Step 1 until you have 3 to 4 inches of fabric left.
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4
Tie off the end of the braid with a rubber band. You can make the fabric braid into a saxophone neck strap by using a leather shoelace to tie the 2 ends of the braided fabric together. Make sure that when you tie the 2 ends of the braid together, the opening fits easily over your head.
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5
Make a knot in the leather shoelace so that the base of the knot holding the 2 braids together can attach to the strap ring on the back mid-section of the saxophone.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The softer the cotton fabric, the more comfortable the neck of the player will feel.
If you braid the fabric too tight, the braid will be too small to comfortably hold the weight of the saxophone on the back of the player's neck, and chafing will occur.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit saxophone image by TEA from Fotolia.com
