Saxophone For Dummies

Want to play the saxophone? No problem! This hands-on guide teaches you all the techniques you need to play this popular instrument. You'll begin by learning how to properly hold a saxophone then move on to getting a consistent sound, reading music, and playing songs in a variety of styles, including blues, funk, pop, and jazz. No matter what kind of sax you want to play — soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone — this book has you covered.

• Get to know the essentials — learn to read music notation, and investigate the foundations to successful saxophone playing, including good posture and relaxed breathing

• Stay in practice — establish a rewarding practice routine with a helpful warm-up and fun and challenging exercises that will keep you improving

• Polish your skills and sound — develop a full range of notes, from the lowest lows to the highest highs, and fine-tune your sound with articulation and vibrato

• Build a repertoire — play a wide range of catchy songs, from low-down blues to cool jazz to sizzling rock'n'roll and rhythm and blues

• Care for your instrument — get to know how to maintain your sax, and equip yourself with all the gear you need, including different reeds, neck straps, and cases

Audio CD-ROM

Listen to and play along with musical examples in the book

Please see the CD appendix for details.

Open the book and find:

• Tips on buying a new or used saxophone

• Suggestions for selecting the right mouthpiece, reed, and ligature

• Warm-ups, scales, and studies to develop your skills

• Fingering charts

• Step-by-step instructions for mastering a song

• How to improvise your own melodies

• Latin and Caribbean music for an international flair

• Ten essential sax recordings you must hear

Learn to:

• Choose the best saxophone for you: soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone

• Perform a variety of musical styles

• Clean and care for your saxophone

Play along with audio samples on the CD-ROM