How to make your first sound on saxophone

Reed, assembly, neck strap, and holding position, then your embouchure and first notes B, A, and G, plus what to check when the first notes don't work.

A saxophone makes sound when your air makes the reed vibrate against the mouthpiece. A lot of first-day trouble comes from the setup: a dry or chipped reed, a strap at the wrong height, or too much mouthpiece. Go one step at a time: reed, assembly, strap, holding position, embouchure. At the end you'll play B, A, and G.

Your saxophone

Sound examples play on this saxophone. Fingerings and written notes are the same on all three.

Not working yet? Jump to common first-day problems

Step 1: Get your reed ready

Many beginners start on a strength 2 or 2½ reed, but your teacher may suggest a different one. The strength is printed on the box. The numbers aren't the same from brand to brand, and the right strength also depends on your mouthpiece. Wet the reed first: hold the thin end in your mouth, or stand it in a little water, while you put the saxophone together. A dry reed doesn't vibrate well and squeaks more easily.

Hold the reed up to the light

Smooth tip

Even edge, no marks. Ready to try.

Chipped

A nick in the tip. It often squeaks. Use another reed.

Cracked

A split running down from the tip. Throw it out.

Wavy tip

The tip ripples. Wet it a little longer. If it stays wavy, try another reed.

The thin, light part of the reed is the part that vibrates. Handle the reed by its thick end.

Step 2: Put the saxophone together

Hold here: bell and bottom bowHands off: octave key, keys, and rods

Neck strap first. Put it around your neck, then lift the body out of the case by the bell and the bottom bow, and hook the strap to the ring on the back. Now the strap takes the weight while you work. (A bari is different; see Step 5.)
Neck into the body. Take out the end plug, loosen the neck screw, and twist the neck in gently. Hold the neck by its tube, not by the long octave key on top; that key bends easily.
Line it up. The ring at the bottom of the neck's octave key should sit right over the metal lever sticking up from the body. Then tighten the screw, snug but not hard.
Mouthpiece onto the cork. Twist it on about halfway, with the flat side facing down. If it's tight, rub on a little cork grease. That's a starting spot; your teacher will help you move it to play in tune.

Step 3: Put the reed on the mouthpiece

Flat side to flat side. The flat back of the reed goes against the flat part of the mouthpiece.
Line up the tips. The reed tip sits just under the mouthpiece tip, with a hair of mouthpiece showing.
Center it, so the same amount of mouthpiece shows on both sides.
Snug, not tight. Slide the ligature over the reed and tighten the screws until the reed can't slide.

Flat side of the reed against the mouthpiece, held in place by the ligature. Tighten the screws until the reed can't slide. Cranking them much tighter can keep the reed from vibrating freely.

Step 4: Adjust the neck strap

Sit tall, with your head level. Then slide the strap until the mouthpiece comes right to your mouth. Bring the saxophone to you, not you to the saxophone.

About right: your head stays level and the mouthpiece meets your lips without reaching.
Too long: the saxophone hangs low and you duck your head to reach it. Shorten the strap.
Too short: the mouthpiece sits high and your chin tilts up. Lengthen the strap.

Step 5: Hold the saxophone

Left hand on top. Your left thumb rests on the thumb rest on the back, angled so the tip can roll up onto the octave key. Your fingers go on the top three pearl buttons, skipping the small key between 1 and 2.
Right hand below. Your right thumb goes under the thumb hook, and your fingers go on the lower three pearls.
Let the strap or stand hold it. Your thumbs balance the saxophone; they don't carry it. Keep your fingers curved and close to the keys.

Tap a group to light it up

Left hand 1 2 3: Left index, middle, and ring fingers on the top three pearl buttons. Skip the small key between 1 and 2.

Your fingers' home keys. Tap a group, or a key on the diagram, to light it up.

Where it sits. Sitting down, rest an alto against the outside of your right leg. Once you're tall enough, it can go in front of you, between your knees, instead; follow your director. A tenor goes at your right side. A bari goes at your right side too, and it's heavy, so it needs support made for its weight. That can be a sturdy neck strap or a shoulder harness with a secure, closed hook that locks onto the ring, or a floor stand that holds the saxophone for you. Adjust a strap or harness so it feels comfortable and doesn't press into your neck. Your director may have a support the band uses. However you sit, the strap, harness, or stand holds the weight, and your right thumb pushes the saxophone slightly forward, away from your body.

Step 6: Set your embouchure

Your embouchure (say "AHM-bah-shur") is the way you shape your mouth around the mouthpiece.

Bottom lip over your bottom teeth, just a little. The reed rests on it.
Top teeth on top of the mouthpiece, about half an inch (1 to 1.5 cm) from the tip to start. The paper test under the diagram below finds that spot on your own mouthpiece.
Close your lips around it as if saying "oo," with the corners in and no air leaking out.
Flat chin, no puffed cheeks, and no biting. The bottom lip is a cushion, not a clamp.
Almost straight in. Start with the mouthpiece angled down only slightly, less than a clarinet. The best angle depends on your teeth, your mouth, and how the saxophone sits, so ask your teacher to check it.

To find the line on your own mouthpiece, slide a sheet of paper between the reed and mouthpiece until it stops. Your top teeth go right about there. That's a starting spot. Adjust it a little at a time while you listen, and ask your teacher to check it.

Step 7: Play B, A, and G

Take a comfortable, full breath. Let your ribs and stomach expand, and keep your shoulders relaxed. To start the note, touch the tip of your tongue to the tip of the reed, start blowing, and let the tongue go as if you're saying "too." Hold each note for 4 slow counts.

These are written note names, the ones in your saxophone music. A piano or tuner shows a different name because saxophones are transposing instruments: written B sounds concert D on alto, concert A on tenor, and concert D an octave lower than alto on bari. See concert pitch.

Start with B (left 1), then add one finger at a time for A and G. No octave key yet: keep your left thumb on the thumb rest. Tap a note or fingering to hear a short example of its pitch on your saxophone.

Tap a note or fingering to hear it

Left hand only: 1 for B, 1 2 for A, 1 2 3 for G. Press the pearls with the fleshy part of your fingertips.

Tap a sound to hear it

Computer-generated examples

Each example is meant to be written B on the middle line, played on alto sax. The squeak jumps to a much higher note partway through. The octave jump moves up an octave partway through. The computer makes these sounds, so a real saxophone won't sound exactly like them.

A clear sound, then three sounds many beginners make at first: airy, a squeak, and a jump up an octave. These are computer-made illustrations. Your own sound may be different, and so may its cause.

Common first-day problems

Each row lists things to check first. They aren't the only possible causes, so change one thing at a time and listen for the difference.

Problem	Check first	Try this
Only air, no note	Is the reed wet? Is enough mouthpiece in your mouth? Is the air moving steadily?	Wet the reed, take a little more mouthpiece, and blow a steady stream of air.
Squeaks	Is the reed chipped or crooked? Is too much mouthpiece in your mouth?	Check the reed, then take a little less mouthpiece.
Airy, fuzzy sound	Is air leaking at the corners? Does the reed feel too hard to blow?	Bring the corners in. If it stays airy, ask your teacher about the reed strength.
Note jumps up an octave	Is your left thumb touching the octave key? Is your jaw tight?	Rest the thumb on the thumb rest, below the key. Relax your jaw and play a little softer.
Thin, pinched sound	Are you biting? Is too little mouthpiece in your mouth?	Drop your jaw a little and let your bottom lip cushion the reed.
Honking, wild sound	Is too much mouthpiece in your mouth?	Take a little less, so your teeth sit near the line.
Sore bottom lip	Are you biting down?	Use less pressure from your jaw, and firm corners instead.
Neck or shoulders hurt	Is the strap too long or too short? Is the strap or stand taking the weight?	Sit tall and readjust the strap. If it still hurts, ask your teacher about a harness or stand.

Squeaking on every note, or only on some? See why your saxophone squeaks and how to fix it.

Your first week

Keep it short. About 10 to 15 minutes a day is plenty at first. Here's one way to spread out the first week. Go faster or slower depending on how the notes feel.

Days	What to practice
1–2	Put it together, set the reed and strap, and play B, A, and G. Hold each for 4 counts.
3–4	Add C (left 2 alone). Hold each note for 8 counts, keeping the sound even.
5–7	Add the right hand for F, E, and D from the saxophone fingering chart.

After each session, take the reed off and store it flat in a reed guard, pull a swab through the body and the neck, and put the end plug back in.

Then try Play the Note in Woodwind Trainer, set to your saxophone. You see B, A, or G on the staff, play it, and the microphone checks the pitch you played. It can't judge your tone, so keep listening to your sound too. Next, see how to get a better sound on saxophone.

For directors

Check reed placement, strap height, and mouthpiece depth for every student on day one. A strap that's too long is easy to miss: students duck to reach the mouthpiece, which can lead to biting and a thin sound. Check that each bari player has a support made for the instrument's weight, with a secure hook, and that it fits comfortably.

For the mouthpiece alone, played loud, Eugene Rousseau gives reference pitches of concert A on alto (B♭ for some players), G on tenor, and D on bari. What you hear varies with the mouthpiece, reed, and player, so treat it as one check among others. Well below it, look at how much mouthpiece is in and how firm the embouchure is; well above it, check for biting. When notes jump up an octave, check the left thumb first, then a tight jaw or a leaking pad.

Assign a Play the Note round on B, A, and G for the first week to check pitch.

Practice thisWoodwind Trainer: keys and tone holes

Alto sax: play your first notes Tenor sax: play your first notes Bari sax: play your first notes

From Band Trainer · bandtrainer.net/guides/first-sound-on-saxophone