Saxophone Frequently Asked Questions
What type of saxophone is best for a beginner?
When a person starts to learn the saxophone they start learning on an Alto Saxophone. This is the case because the alto saxophone fits the fingers of a child better. There would be little point is giving a seven year old a tenor saxophone to learn on because they wouldn’t be able to handle it. If you are an adult learner however, you can pick any saxophone you like! It is best to get advice from a teacher first if you are planning on taking instruction from an expert.
What type of reeds do I need to use?
Again this is based on person preference but if you are a beginner, you won’t have a person preference! Many people start to learn on Vandoren reeds and usually on a Grade 1 reed as it is softer and doesn’t need as much blow power to get a sound out of it. You may also want to consider looking at plastic or synthetic reeds as these can be played straight out of the box. They are usually made of some type of fibreglass and don’t require wetting like a normal reed and therefore can be played straight away without any preparation.
How much practise should I do as a beginner?
When you start to play the saxophone, the key to successful practise is to practise little and often. If you practise for 15 minutes a day you will soon see a difference in your standard and will get better and better. It is also a good idea to focus on one small part of music a day. Just playing through your pieces for fun is not practising! Also, when I say do a small amount of practise every day I mean it, if you do all of your weeks practise in one day then you will get bored after 20 minutes and the rest of the practise time will be futile as you won’t be learning anything.
Should I buy a used saxophone?
Yes, buying a used saxophone is a good idea when you are just starting out to play as it will help you to get used to the instrument. A used instrument is a good idea as it means that you won’t be scared to be a little rough with it and try out new techniques and passages without worrying about damaging your new and expensive instrument. If you have had a used saxophone for a number of years and enjoy playing the sax, why don’t go on to a new saxophone?