Have you ever been to a jazz performance before? Going into the venue, you start to hear the enthralling beats of the blues. And what really steals the show is the saxophone.
You can’t help but imagine yourself behind the instrument, thinking to yourself, “Is saxophone hard to learn?” Well, the answer might surprise you!
So Really.. Is Saxophone Hard to Learn?
Good news for all you jazz enthusiasts out there; the saxophone isn’t that hard to learn!
This is especially true if you’ve already learned how to play other woodwind instruments like the flute or clarinet.
Like most things in life, learning needs practice. You can’t expect to master the saxophone in a couple of years unless you play day in and day out.
It’s all a matter of time and consistency.
How Hard Is It Compared to Other Instruments?
It’s natural to want to compare the difficulty level of the saxophone to other instruments. Taking a look at the trumpet, it’s notorious for how challenging it is to play.
The trumpet is much harder to learn than the saxophone because it requires more energy and breath control than all other woodwind instruments.
You’ll need at least two to three hours of practice per week to get anywhere with that instrument. The conical instrument will mostly bring frustration if you’re not consistent.
Looking at other instruments like the guitar and piano, they can be a lot easier to learn, but only because they produce complementary tones without as much effort as the saxophone.
While it’s easier to make good-sounding music with these instruments, getting the right rhythm with a saxophone will give you a more fulfilling experience.
Can You Learn Saxophone Independently?
In this day and age, you can master just about anything independently. If you’re trying to learn saxophone on your own, consider online videos and courses your guru, there’s plenty of free resources online.
We recommend getting face-to-face lessons with a pro if you want significant progress in a short period of time. That said, it would be more affordable to take some online lessons. It all depends on your personal preference.
A Beginner’s Guide to Learning the Saxophone
The learning process won’t be the same for every person. Some are already well-versed in the language of music, while others aren’t so experienced.
You need to decide which pace you’ll proceed with throughout your practice. Before you begin, you need to make sure you have enough time each week to schedule your practice sessions.
Here are a few basic tips to give you a better understanding of how you can learn saxophone:
Step 1: Find your Saxophone
Starting, you should know that there’s more than one type of saxophone available. Each has its specifications and sounds. As a beginner, you’re more likely to get a better experience out of a tenor or alto saxophone.
Size-wise, the tenor comes at a heavier weight, while the alto is easier to handle. Tenor saxophones register at a B-flat. An alto saxophone, on the other hand, gives an E-flat registry.
If you’re more into jazzy beats and tones, a tenor saxophone might be a better fit. Aiming for more flexible genres? An alto would be ideal since you can play R&B, pop, rock, soul, and the list goes on.
Step 2: Gather Some Equipment
After getting a saxophone, your purchases don’t stop there. You might want to invest in other aiding equipment. For starters, you might need a neck strap to prop your saxophone.
The single-reed instrument will also require a mouthpiece to give you an opening hole for the air to circulate through it and create some noise.
You’ll also need to get a reed, preferably with a 2.5 strength.
Step 3: Organize Your Learning Process
Try to make a target list of every milestone you hope to achieve on your learning journey. For instance, you can start with understanding musical notes and basic music theory. You’ll then want to apply your theoretical learning to your practical learning.
Hands-on learning would need a lot of practice as far as using your fingers correctly. You can always find some fingering charts online to help guide you.
Apart from your fingers, your breathing technique is vital. Don’t despair during the first few trials. You’ll be able to get your breathing right after continued practice.
You use your fingers and lungs, but what’s also as crucial is your mouth. Playing continuously can put a bit of strain on your mouth muscles. Not only will mouth exercises help you achieve better finesse, but also some quality tone levels.
You can move on to more challenging topics to learn, like the intonation of your saxophone’s pitch. In other words, you’ll be able to decipher what you’re hearing and improve your rhythm when playing with others.
Does It Take a Long Time to Learn Saxophone?
It’s worth considering that the amount of time you play the saxophone is exponential to how much you’ll master. You can take up to two to four years to learn the instrument. Mastering it might take more time.
If you want to schedule a proper practice plan, you can start with a simple 20 minutes per day. After going at it for roughly two to three hours per week for a couple of years or so, you’ll see some exceptional progress.
Try to keep your goals loud and clear. It’s easy to give up once you find no worth in what you’re playing.
To Conclude
The saxophone is a marvelous instrument to learn if you’re into jazzy and bluesy music. When it comes down to it, the saxophone doesn’t have to be hard to learn. It all really boils down to how you plan your practice.
Whether you’re trying out saxophone as a hobby or as a profession, we can confidently say that you’ll greatly benefit from the process. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to buying your first saxophone, you could find the dream of your first sax here!
It’s always a good idea to tackle a new musical instrument!
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