Saxophone for Dummies

The fun and easy way to learn saxophone!

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