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

Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone 7

Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics 9

Chapter 2: Assembling and Tuning the Sax 21

Chapter 3: The Body Saxophone Connection 33

Part II: Getting Started: From First Notes to Special Effects 45

Chapter 4: Notes, Intervals, and First Melodies 47

Chapter 5: The Language of Music: Articulation and Intonation 83

Chapter 6: Have You Got Rhythm? 99

Chapter 7: Scaling New Notes and Expanding Your Range 117

Chapter 8: Special Rhythms and Techniques 139

Part III: A Variety of Styles: The Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Classical 153

Chapter 9: Getting Down with the Blues 155

Chapter 10: Jazz Practice Makes Perfect 171

Chapter 11: Rock n Roll and Rhythm and Blues 185

Chapter 12: Getting Your Groove On: Soul and Funk 201

Chapter 13: Latin Music 213

Chapter 14: Pop Saxophone: To the Point and Straight to the Heart 231

Chapter 15: Classical Music: The World of Bach, Ravel & Co 251

Part IV: Saxophones, Accessories, Maintenance, and Practice Tips 271

Chapter 16: The Right Tools for the Job: Saxophone and Accessories 273

Chapter 17: Cleaning and Maintenance 293

Chapter 18: Practice Makes Perfect (Saxophonists) 303

Part V: The Part of Tens 309

Chapter 19: The Ten Greatest Saxophone Players You Should Know 311

Chapter 20: The Ten Most Important Sax Players and Their Best Recordings 317

Appendix A: Reading Music 323

Appendix B: Fingering Charts 333

Appendix C: About the CD 341

Index 347

Michael Villmow teaches at the Rhein Music School in Cologne, Germany, and is also a seasoned performer, bandleader, and composer.