It’s easy to learn to play saxophone badly
Private sax lessons can be very effective, but also cost a bit. They can be worth it if you find a good teacher, which isn’t always easy.
Shorter lessons that you can try out immediately and then ask questions and revisit can be very effective. I feel like it works better to get a simple lesson, have some space to practice it and figure it out for yourself, and then be able to talk to the instructor and play around with it after spending time on it.
First, you can ask questions about topics for classes as well as possible upcoming classes.
Here you can purchase or check out samples of the classes on Sax Station.
Saxophone Foundations
Level: Beginning, Just Starting
Just starting to play the saxophone? Want to play saxophone, but feeling lost and not sure how to get started?
Check out this beginning class.
In this online/downloadable class you will see methodical lessons in a sequence and you can get feedback and ask questions at any point.
Saxophone Scales Class (Flexibility Across Keys)
Level: Playing 1 Month+
Have you heard you are supposed to practice scales, but you are not sure why?
Scales allow you to quickly become comfortable in the different keys that you will play music.
Once you can play a scale in a particular key, music in that key becomes easier.
Saxophone Tribe (Structured Feedback)
Level: Playing 1 Year+ And Willing To Practice Consistently
Want to take your playing to the next level?
You’ll learn fundamental saxophone skills, building past the basics. Master rhythms. Learn about phrasing, tone, and more.
Here you will get feedback which is crucial to developing good habits.
Saxophone Tuning Guide (How to Play in Tune)
Level: Beginning–Intermediate
Do you notice that you’re sometimes out of tune, possibly only on certain notes and would like to fix that?
Because of the way the saxophone is built, tuning one note (even perfectly) does not ensure that all other notes will play in tune.
This guide will walk you through adjusting the various parts of the saxophone so that you can play in tune with others.
Saxophone Wavelengths (Advanced Saxophone Playing)
Level: Beginning/Intermediate, Playing 2 Years+
Have you ever become lost practicing the saxophone?
Have you gone through the motions of practicing the saxophone but seen little progress? Have you been unsure of what to work on?
Go past the basics and learn about how music can be broken down and how to develop your playing.
Navigating Chord Changes
Level: Playing 1 year+
Get lost in the chord changes? Want to feel more comfortable when you solo?
Navigating Chord Changes is a system to understand the harmony of songs and how to play over changes. Understanding the changes will help you feel more comfortable and confident as you take a solo.
Saxophone Improvisation Class
Level: Playing 1 month+
Learning how to improvise isn’t something that can be done overnight or even in a week though.
Are you still struggling, have more questions, and want some help and guidance?
Learn how a solo using just the chromatic solo can sound good. Learn an easy blues line that you can throw into your solos. Hear about how to set up a simple groove and how that will make audiences enjoy your solos more. And learn a jazz standard, something you can play that most jazz musicians also know.
Big Ear – Saxophone Ear Training
Level: Intermediate, Playing 3 Years+
Feel lost without sheet music?
Reading music is very important, but it’s equally important to develop your ear in playing saxophone. A better ear will help you take better solos and be able to learn all sorts of music that would have only been available through written music without this ability.
Don’t stay handcuffed to sheet music!
Saxophone Zoom/Skype Lessons
Level: Any
Feedback is fundamental to learning saxophone.
With Video Lessons using Zoom, Skype, etc you will get personal attention via video—so that I can hear what you’re doing and offer feedback as well as playing examples for you.
Video Lessons
There are 60+ free video lessons on Sax Station.
The lessons are organized into two sections: The first few videos will help those who are are just starting to explore the Saxophone. The next section consists of beginner/intermediate level videos. Some of these may be somewhat advanced.
For some things, I have done videos on both alto and tenor. Others I have done on one or the other, but often times I’ll write the notes for the other beneath the video.
And there are always levels of the music, you can ‘basically’ play something or you can really master it. You can do that with any melody, any piece of music. To master something requires a lot more.
In addition to the video lessons, there are actually hundreds of posts that you can read on Sax Station too. There is a search bar on the right side of the website.
If you would like feedback working on these lessons, check out Saxophone Tribe.
Thanks
Beginning/Intermediate
Jazz
How to Play Take Five on Alto Sax (First Phrase) Alto Saxophone
How to Play Saxophone – Nature Boy – First Phrase on Tenor Sax
How to play Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, First Phrase on Saxophone
Bye Bye Blackbird – How to play first phrase on saxophone
How to play first phrase of Harlem Nocturne on Saxophone
How to Play Saxophone – Blues for Alice (Charlie Parker), First Phrase of A Section on Tenor Sax
Popular Melodies
How to Play Batman on Saxophone – Tenor Sax, First piece, Danny Elfman version
How to Play Pink Panther on Tenor Saxophone
How to Play Pink Panther on the Alto Sax **Original Key – First part
How to Play Skyfall (Chorus) by Adele on Tenor Saxophone (alto notes below video)
How to Play Star Wars Force Theme on Alto Sax
How to Play Tequila on Tenor Sax – Tenor Saxophone
How to Play Crystalize by Lindsey Stirling on Sax – Tenor Saxophone
How to Play Dynamite (Taio Cruz) on Alto Saxophone – Alto Sax
How to Play Epic Sax Guy on Sax – Alto Sax
How to Play Fireflies Alto Sax – Alto Saxophone
How to Play Game of Thrones Theme on Alto Saxophone, Alto Sax
How to Play Game of Thrones Theme on Saxophone – Tenor Sax
Saxophone Lesson – Scottish Bagpipes – Scotland the Brave – Tenor Sax
How to Play Mr Saxobeat Tutorial – Alto Saxophone
How to Play No Diggity, Blackstreet, on Tenor Sax
How to play Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on Alto Sax – Tchaikovsky
How to Play Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy on Tenor Sax – Tchaikovsky
How to play Tetris Theme Song on Saxophone – Korobeyniki – Tenor Sax
How to Play the Force Theme from Star Wars by John Williams on Saxophone – Tenor Sax
How to Play Thrift Shop on Saxophone
Learn Saxophone Music – Für Elise – Alto Sax
Saxophone Lesson – Jamaica Farewell – Tenor Sax
How to Play Baker Street Alto Sax – Saxophone Music
How to Play Careless Whisper on Alto Sax. Inspired by the Sexy Sax Man Sergio Flores
How to Play Careless Whisper on Tenor Saxophone
Lines for soloing
How to play a ‘digital lick’ on saxophone – tenor sax
How to Play a Blues Line on Tenor Sax – Stanley Turrentine Line on Saxophone
Blues Line on Alto Sax – Stanley Turrentine Line #2, Alto Saxophone
Blues Line on Tenor Sax – Stanley Turrentine Line #2
Blues Saxophone Line for Alto Sax – Simple Two Bar Phrase for Alto Sax
How to Play First Pieces of Tenor Madness Sonny Rollins Solo – Tenor Sax
Alto Sax Lesson Jackson 5 Bass Line on Alto Saxophone
Jackson 5 Bass Line on Tenor Saxophone
Saxophone Lesson – Latin Phrase for a Solo – Tenor Sax
How to Play The Lick on Sax – Alto Saxophone
Saxophone Blues Line – Tenor Sax
How to Play a Charlie Parker Line on Tenor Saxophone – Bird Line #1 on Tenor Sax
How to Play Sax Solo from Your Latest Trick by Dire Straits (first part)
Technique
Saxophone Lesson – Overtones, Harmonics, amd the Foundation of Sax Altissimo
Saxophone Lesson – Transcribing can be a beast
Saxophone lesson shakers timing
Sax Lesson – Finger Technique and Tone
What is Saxophone Schmutz?
Working on Rhythm – St James Infirmary – Saxophone Tribe Sample Lesson
Saxophone Breath Experiment #1 How long can you play a note on saxophone?
Ear Training
Saxophone by Ear – It Don’t Mean a Thing
Sax Lesson – In the Hall of the Mountain King for Saxophone | Ear Training
Sax and Trumpet Jam at NAMM (2013) + Learn how to play it
Saxophone Lesson – Simpsons Theme Riff on Sax – by Ear
Saxophone Lesson – Music By Ear – Dimensions & Context
So What Solo, game
How to Play Godfather Theme by Ear on Saxophone – Ear Training
