How to Play the C Major Scale on Sax
The C major scale is often the one that we learn the first. Conceptually, it’s the easiest, no sharps, no flats. But it’s actually not the easiest to make sound good.
You can click on the image to see a larger version.
All of the major scales are on Saxophone Tribe.
It’s written out for just one octave here, but you should move into the full range of the saxophone when you’re able to do that.
Moving from C to D is probably the hardest transition within this scale. You’re moving from using a small section of the tube to most of it with the octave key, so those are two fairly different situations. You might want to spend some extra time going between those two notes to make sure it sounds good.
Let me know if you have questions.
you have more scales? I.E.-D,D#/E,Eb
F,F#/G,G
All of the major scales are on Saxophone Tribe. http://saxophonetribe.com
Might be a stupid question, but isnt there more “holes” on a saxophone than the D tone shows?
It’s an all right question. Basically, when you press some keys more than one thing is closed. Like the bis key tone hole closes when you finger an ‘A’, etc.
Okay maybe this is a stupid question but I am an absolute beginner and know nothing about scales on a sax, but this diagram doesn’t show the other C? I’d assume scales on the sax are the same as piano, right? I have no idea how to play the notes and maybe it implies that you don’t play any keys but that doesn’t sound right to me, I’m sorry if this is stupid but I’m trying to learn
Yes, you would have another C at the top. You play it like a middle C, but with the octave key. You can play multiple octaves also.
I want to learn Saxophone
Hi Neil, do you have a saxophone? And do are you interested in lessons?