Learning to play the Sax

[marlinspike]

I'd look for a cheap used one on ebay. There are probably a few tuition videos on You Tube. See how comfortable you feel with it, learn a few basic riffs and tunes, then book a few lessons.

I play guitar but really regret not having lessons.

 

[pedrobedro]

The music shop I went to for guitar strings used to hire out saxophones. You had to buy your own mouthpiece and reeds. I don't think the shop is there any more but the idea was good. Just looked and there is an online equivalent which might be handy.

 

[James1979]

My mother plays sax. Has done for 30 odd years. She attended this place in the early years.

West Norfolk Music Centre

Music lessons and groups in King's Lynn

wnmc.org.uk

There may be an equivalent near you.

Suggests you take lessons at least to start with to get the technique right. Playing with others (no giggling ) helps also. Pushes you a bit as well apparently.

I am the most unmusical person ever. I don’t really like it much. Have no idea why anyone would do it! Thought id ask her for you - I know nothing so if you’ve further questions pm me or put them here and I can put them to her.

 

[Ross365]

Thanks for all the replies. As I head rapidly for my dotage, I have to say that I've never played any musical instrument in my life and certainly cannot read music. But I do enjoy long sax solos, esp on things like Steely Dan albums. I suspect I would be hopeless at it; it seems to me that even the things I used to be quite good at have now become quite disappointing, even the Prozac doesn't seem so good .

 

[marlinspike]

Never too old to have a go at learning something new. Just be prepared to practise every day.

 

[badabec]

Never too old to have a go at learning something new. Just be prepared to practise every day.

And never put it back in its case

 

[pedrobedro]

Thanks for all the replies. As I head rapidly for my dotage, I have to say that I've never played any musical instrument in my life and certainly cannot read music. But I do enjoy long sax solos, esp on things like Steely Dan albums. I suspect I would be hopeless at it; it seems to me that even the things I used to be quite good at have now become quite disappointing, even the Prozac doesn't seem so good .

I would suggest buying a nice harmonica before you splash out. You can get a tune out of it quite easily once you grasp the basics. £25 will get you a couple of Fender in A and C, much easier to carry and you can say, "I play a Fender"

 

[graffian]

for some reason I started thinking of the chases on the Benny Hill show,

Say sax and I think Nik Turner.

 

[snowcat]

Im a string player, I don't know anything about the sax except Its a bit of challenge to play fluently in all keys, there naturally in b flat iirc, and play more easy around the C scale.

It will be like all instruments no easy quick way to play just dogma determination that takes years of practice.

 

[marlinspike]

And never put it back in its case

This is so true. It's called the strategy of convenience. If my guitar is in an open case next to the sofa I play it all the time - just for ten minutes a time. If it's in a zipped case in the front room, it never gets played.

If anyone fancies learning a wind/brass instrument, as others have said a harmonica, recorder, or even a tin whistle is a good way to have a go without the expense of committing to something bigger. A tin whistle is £6 upwards and there are beginner videos on You Tube.