Choosing a Beginner Saxophone

Congratulations – you have decided to take the plunge and start playing saxophone!  If you have never played any wind instrument before then it can be very confusing knowing where to start.  Here are a few tips to hopefully help get you off in the right direction as a beginner saxophone player.

Types of saxophones – which one is right for me

There are four standard sizes of saxophones that you are likely to come across.  Ranging from smallest to biggest they are:  

Soprano, 

Alto, 

Tenor 

and Baritone.  

There are smaller ones too (Sopranino) and bigger ones (bass) but these really are specialist instruments for the more advanced player. 

As a general rule if you are an absolute beginner saxophone player then either the Alto or the Tenor is the best choice for you.  All saxophones use the same key system so the “fingerings” or the way you play notes, is the same with all of them.  However, the alto and tenor are the easiest to get a sound out of when you are a new player.  The tenor is larger and heavier than the alto so is best suited to adults or taller students.   For beginner saxophone players up to the age of 13/14 an Alto is the best choice. 

If you want to hear how each of these sound check out some great saxophone players online.

Which brand should I go for?

There seems to be an endless number of instrument manufacturers these days.  In addition to the long established major players like Selmer, Yamaha , Yanagasawa and Keilworth, there are now several Chinese manufacturers  that are making good quality instruments for beginner saxophone players.  The main consideration is really price.  Expect to pay from up to £800 for an entry-level instrument from an established brand or as little as £200 for a newer manufacturer.  Bear in mind that even the major players manufacture their entry-level instruments in the Far East (China  / Indonesia).   Although considerably cheaper, many instruments from newer manufacturers will still provide many years of good service if regularly maintained.  As you progress from being a beginner saxophone player to a more advanced musician you will probably want to move on to a more advanced instrument anyway. 

If you are unsure about the quality of instruments from a less well recognised brand then a few minutes searching Google for reviews should help you to decide.

What other equipment do I need?

So you have bought your new instrument – what else do you need to get started as a beginner saxophone player?  The good news is that most instruments come with everything you need.   The sound on a saxophone is produced by the reed which is very fragile. You will probably need to replace these quite frequently when you are getting started, so a box of these would be a good idea.  There are many different brands of reeds but Rico size 1 ½ are great for beginner saxophone players.  Your new saxophone should be supplied with a neck strap although more comfortable ones are available.  You will probably also enjoy having a saxophone stand so you can keep your new instrument out of the box (because it looks so cool!), and a music stand.

I hope these tips have been useful to you.  For more information please check out www.mcgillmusic.com.

Beginner Saxophone-Great Sax Players

Great Sax Players


One of the best ways to and create your own playing style when you are a beginner saxophone player is to check out some of the great saxophone players. By taking the time to listen to as many great recordings as possible you will start to get an idea of what style of playing you like. The next step of course is to try to imitate their style and . Here are just a few great players as a starting point:

Charlie Parker
August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955
Charlie Parker was one of the most influential saxophone players of all time. Parker played a leading role in the development of Bebop style which came about in the 1940’s.
Horn: Alto Sax


Mouthpiece: Brilhart Tonalin
Runyon Modele 22 and metal Berg Larsen
Albums to check out:
Now's the Time - The Quartet of Charlie Parker – Verve
Great track: Kim
Dial Records: The Complete Master Takes – Spotlite Records 559 859-2.
Great track: Lover Man

Cannonball Adderley
September 15, 1928 – August 8, 1975
A very exciting and energetic player, Cannonball Adderley was famous for playing with the Miles Davis sextet and on the immortal album Kind of Blue. Adderley also had great success with his own Sextet featuring his brother Nat on trumpet.
Horn: Alto Sax (King Super 20 / Selmer Mk VI)
Mouthpiece: Meyer #5
Albums to check out:
of Blue - Blue Note
Somethin’ Else - Blue Note

Coleman Hawkins
Nov 21 1904 - May 19, 1969
Coleman Hawkins is often credited as the first really important musician to play saxophone. He has a beautiful lyrical style with an amazing swing feel. Checkout his playing on Body and Soul for a masterclass in melodic playing.
Horn: Tenor Sax by SML
Mouthpiece: Otto Link Metal
Albums to check out:
Body and Soul
Genius of Coleman Hawkins

John Coltrane
September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967
Probably one of the most famous and influential saxophone players of all time, John Coltrane changed the direction of jazz with his approach to improvisation and jazz harmony. Coltrane played and recorded with Miles Davis in the 1950’s then further developed his own modal free style through the 60’s with his own group. There really are loads of amazing albums to check out here - get comfortable!
Horn: Tenor Sax - Selmer Mark VI / Soprano Sax
Mouthpiece: Otto Link 5* Metal
Albums to check out:
Blue Trane (Blue Note)
Kind of Blue
A Love Supreme

Stan Getz
February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991
Although Getz developed his playing style performing throughout the 1940’s with Nat King Cole, Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, his Bossa Nova recordings from the 1960’s are by far his most famous. Getz won Grammy awards for his tracks Desafinado and The Girl from Ipanema which were massive million selling hits and are have become standard jazz tunes played everywhere.
Horn: Tenor Sax - Selmer Mark VI
Mouthpiece: Otto Link 8* Metal
Albums to check out:
Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio
Jazz Samba (Verve)
Getz/Gilberto (Verve)

Paul Desmond
November 25, 1924 – May 30, 1977
Paul Desmond is probably most famous for his playing with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and their greatest hit “Take Five”. Desmond had a distinctive airy smooth sound on his alto which stood him apart from his contemporaries and helped to define the “West Coast Cool Jazz” style of the 1960s. Desmond is a "must check-out" player for  beginner saxophone players.


Horn: Alto Sax - Selmer Super Balanced Action
Mouthpiece: Gregory 4A
Albums to check out:
Time Out (Columbia)

King Curtis
February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971
King Curtis is often thought of as the first R&B or Rock and Roll sax player. His raw and energetic playing have been the influence for many great players who followed him. Check out his amazing playing with Aretha Franklin on her Live at Filmore West album.
Horn: Tenor Sax - Selmer MKVI
Mouthpiece: Berg Larsen Metal
Albums to check out:
Soul Twist and other Golden Classics Memphis Soul Stew
Night Train

Sam Butera
August 17, 1927 – June 3, 2009
Sam Butera was most famous for being Louis Prima’s sax player for many years. He is one of the best players to check out for the 1960’s R&B / rock and roll style of playing. A wonderful musician and a great entertainer - a "must check out" for any beginner saxophone player.
Horn: Tenor Sax
Mouthpiece: Berg Larsen Metal Duckbill 110/2
Albums to check out:
Ultra-Lounge: Wild, Cool & Swingin' - Artist Series Vol 6
The Wildest (With Louis Prima)

Michael Brecker
March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007
There would be few young saxophonists these days who isn’t influenced by Michael Brecker. He is regarded as perhaps the most influential saxophonist since John Coltrane. Brecker’s playing spanned the jazz and pop worlds. He was a prolific pop session player and appeared on more than 700 albums. Brecker also left behind a massive catalogue of jazz albums and his sound and incredible technique inspired a generation.
Horn: Tenor Sax - Selmer MKVI
Mouthpiece: Dave Guardala Studio
Albums to check out:
Michael Brecker (self titled)
Two Blocks from the Edge (check out Delta City Blues)
with Steps Ahead “Live in Tokyo 1986)
Now you See It Now You Don’t
“The Birthday Concert” with Jaco Pastorius Big Band

Plas Johnson
July 21, 1931
No list of players to check out would be complete without the man who recorded “The Pink Panther”! Plas Johnson. Since the 50’s Johnson has been a prolific session player in Los Angeles and has recorded with innumerable stars. The Pink Panther theme though is one of the most widely know sax solos, and always a favourite with beginner saxophone players.
Horn: Tenor Sax - Yanagisawa
Mouthpiece: Berg Larson 160/2
Albums to check out:
Rockin’ with Plas (Capitol)
Mondo Hollywood Ultra Lounge (Pink Panther / It Had Better Be Tonight)

Grover Washington Jr
December 12, 1943 - December 17, 1999
Widely considered the founder of the Smooth Jazz movement, Grover Washington Jr wrote and recorded some tracks that have become lasting hits. Grover was a great melodic player. He had great commercial success with his albums - Just the Two of Us from the album Winelight reached number 2 in the US charts.
Horn: Couf Gold Plated Tenor Sax
Mouthpiece: Berg Larsen 130/0
Albums to check out:
Winelight (Just the Two of Us)
Mister Magic
All My Tomorrows

Kirk Whalum
July 11, 1958
Kirk Whalum was Whitney Houston’s sax player for many years recording the sax solo on her song “I Will Always Love You” featured in Bodyguard. Kirk has a huge sound and his expressive soulful playing has in my opinion set the standard for commercial pop and smooth jazz playing. He has recorded a load of his own albums that are a must to check out for this style of playing.
Horn: Keilworth Black Nickel Tenor Sax
Mouthpiece: Sugal Metal / Vandoren hard rubber
Albums to check out:
The Promise
Joined at the Hip (With Bob James)
Roundtrip
Gospel According to Jazz Vol 3

David Sanborn
July 30, 1945
Sanborn defined the sound of cross over jazz / pop in the 80’s. He is another seriously influential player. Although often thought of as one of the first Smooth Jazz players, Sanborn is perhaps more accurately classed as a jazz/fusion player. He was one of the most commercially successful sax players in the 80’s - he played the sax solo on the “La Law” theme song (if you remember that one!) and even hosted his own music program in the late eighties.
Horn: Selmer Mk VI Alto Sax
Mouthpiece: Dukoff D7 / D9
Albums to check out:
Voyeur
Straight to The Heart

Kenny G
June 5, 1956
Kenny G is the biggest selling instrumentalist of all time with more than 75 million albums sold around the world. Impressive! Kenny G really defined the modern Smooth Jazz sound. He may not be your favourite player but definitely worth checking out.


Horn: Selmer Mk VI Soprano Sax
Mouthpiece: Dukoff D8
Albums to check out:
Duotones 1986
Breathless 1992
Heart and Soul 2010

Clarence Clemons
January 11, 1942
Since the 70’s Clemons has been a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E St Band and has also recorded the solo on “Freeway of Love” by Aretha Franklin. Clemons follows on from the style of King Curtis and is a great pop growl player to check out.
Horn: Tenor Sax Keilworth SX90R
Mouthpiece:Dukoff D9
Albums to check out:
A Night with Mr C
Freeway of Love (with Aretha Franklin)
Other players to check out:
Lester Young
Phil Woods
Ben Webster
Dexter Gordon
Sonny Rollins
Dave Koz





For more information and great beginner saxophone packages visit www.mcgillmusic.com.

Beginner Saxophone Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering starting to learn the saxophone then I’m sure you have loads of questions. Hopefully you will find some answers here:


1. How old do I have to be to start playing the saxophone?
2. Which size saxophone should I start with?
3. I have small hands - can I still play the saxophone?
4. How much do I need to spend to get a decent starter sax?
5. Will my sax need regular maintenance?
6. My sax isn’t working correctly - how can I get it fixed?
7. What size reeds do I need?
8. My sax squeaks a lot when I blow - am I doing something wrong?
9. Where can I find lessons to get me started?
10. What can I do to upgrade my sax?
11. How can I tell a good sax from a bad sax?
12. How long does sax last my child?
13. What accessories do I need to get started?


1. How old do I have to be to start playing saxophone?
Generally if you are 10 years of age or older you will be big enough to start playing the Alto saxophone. For younger students the Alto is definitely the best choice. Even though the Soprano sax is smaller it is much harder to play and requires more control in you mouth. If you are big for your age then perhaps you could start a little younger but you need to be able to hold the weight of the saxophone and have enough puff to make a sound! Some teachers recommend starting on recorder first to get the general idea of the fingering as the notes on the descant or soprano recorder are the same as low register of the saxophone.

2. Which size saxophone should I start with?
The Alto is geerally the best size saxophone to start on for the beginner player. Even though the Soprano is a smaller instrument it requires a lot more control and is tricky to make quick progress on for the beginner saxophone player. The tenor is much heavier than the Alto so is more suitable to an adult or tall teenager to start on. The great thing about saxophones though is that the fingering (or way you play the notes) is the same on all of them so once you get the hang of an Alto for example, it’s relatively easy to then switch to a tenor, soprano or baritone.

3. I have small hands – can I still play the saxophone?
I have met fantastic players who have small hands – it really just comes down to getting used to the instrument. However, you may be better starting on the Alto first as the keys are closer together than on a Tenor.

4. How much do I have to spend to get a decent starter sax?
There is a wide range of starter saxophones on the market. You can pay as little as £170 for a new student instrument up to more than £800 for some of the more established brands. Although you can expect some difference in quality over this price range, many of the cheaper instruments will offer very good service for a beginner saxophone player at a more accessible price. These days the difference in quality in this price range is minimal as most brands manufacture their instruments in this price range in China or Taiwan. The other thing to consider is that as your playing develops you will probably want to progress on to a more advanced instrument or perhaps change from Alto to Tenor so it may be worth considering a starter sax as a first step on your musical journey.

5. Will my sax need regular maintenance?
Every saxophone will need a “tune up” from time to time. Saxophones have serviceable parts like pads and corks that with regular use will require adjustment and possible replacement. If your saxophone begins to be hard to play, or some notes won’t sound properly then you will probably need to get it serviced. The good news is that getting your saxophone repaired is inexpensive (probably less than £40) and if you take good care of your instrument you may only need to do this once every year.

6. My sax isn’t working correctly – how can I get it fixed?
There are many local instrument repairers in the UK. Your local music shop can generally recommend a good repairer. If you have taken good care of your instrument then most problems that occur are easily fixed and not very expensive. 

7. What size reeds do I need?
Reeds come in a range of sizes starting at 1½ and going up in ½ steps to around 4. The numbers indicate how thick the reeds are cut and so how hard they are to play. As a beginner saxophone player you should start on a size 1½ reed and move up to a size 2 when you find blowing very easy. If you are practicing hard you will soon find that your sound is quite thin with a size 1½ reed – this is a good sign that it is time to move onto size 2. As you develop as a player you will find the size that suits you best and is a good match for your mouthpiece. Another thing to consider is that you will probably break a lot of reeds when you are just getting started – reeds are very fragile and do wear out so expect a good reed to only last around 1-2 weeks or less if you are playing regularly. 
8. My sax squeaks a lot when I blow – am I doing something wrong?
There could be a number of reasons for this. First start by checking your reed is on correctly, is wet and doesn’t have any major chips or cracks in it. Then be sure that when you play you have your bottom lip over your teeth (your bottom teeth should never touch the reed). Also, try experimenting with using less mouthpiece when you play. Sometimes too much mouthpiece can cause squeaks. And finally, if all these don’t fix the problem then there is a chance that your sax needs the care of a repairer!

9. Where can I find lessons to get me started?
There are some excellent instructional DVDs that can give you pointers to get started but perhaps the best thing is to combine this with some lessons from an experienced teacher to get the fundamental skills right. When learning an instrument it is really important to get the basic skills right at the start to give you the best chance of having success later on.

10. What can I do to upgrade my Sax?
One of the best upgrades to consider with a beginner saxophone is changing the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is the first place the sound is created on the saxophone and it’s quality can make a massive difference not only to the sound you create but how easy your sax is to play. Most saxes (even some intermediate or advanced saxes) come shipped with a basic mouthpiece. While this is ok to get you started, you will probably find upgrading it will make a big difference to the quality of your sound and how your sax feels when playing. There are loads of mouthpieces on the market. For a beginner saxophone player you might consider either a Yamaha 4C (about £30) or a Selmer C* (about £80). Both of these are made of plastic / bakealite and are widely considered as excellent mouthpieces. As your playing develops you should experiment with other brands and sizes to create your own sound. In general mouthpieces made or plastic or bakealite (black ones) are good for a more controlled, classical smooth sound, whereas metal mouthpieces (either gold or silver / chrome) will give you a much brighter and louder sound. Do some google-ing to discover what mouthpiece your favourite player uses!

11. How can I tell a good sax from a bad sax?
This is a very good question. It can be hard to know what to look for if you are new to saxophone. Bad examples of lower priced instruments generally suffer from poor build quality (as you might expect) . Have a close look at the saxophone for faults in the lacquer / plating, also look for bent or crooked keys and obviously any dents or signs of abuse. A new sax should always be checked and “set up” before delivery to you. If you are having trouble playing a new sax don’t hesitate to take it back and get an experienced repairer to check it. By and large most problems on saxophones can be easily remedied by a good repairer. To make things more complicated, price isn’t always a good indicator of quality either. These days there are some excellent lower priced saxes and some over priced instruments with issues so always look for some reveiws from friends or on the internet if you are unsure.

12. How long will a saxophone last my child?
A decent instrument that is well cared for and regularly maintained should last for several years. Many students progress right through their grades on a decent student instrument some progressing to university level. Eventually as your playing develops and budget allows you may choose to upgrade to a professional instrument and when you reach this point you will be better able to decide what is the right instrument for you.

13. What accessories do I need to get started learning?
Most saxophones will come with all you need to start playing. You will need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are easy to break. Each reed may only last a week or so with regular playing. Size 1½ is good to start with. A music stand is always useful and makes it easier to have a good posture while practicing. There are also some excellent “Learn to play” books available from music stores that would complement the instructional videos on this site.


For more information and great beginner saxophone packages visit www.mcgillmusic.com.