Saxophone Accessories Explained in Plain English

There are thousands of accessories made for the saxophone player.

Here's a list of the Seven we recommend, and why!

1. Reeds                               

Normally made from sugar cane stalks, reeds put the "wood" into "woodwind".  All saxophone sound comes from the vibration of the reed between the lower lip and mouthpiece.  Reeds come in a variety of thicknesses, and are usually measured on a scale of 1 to 5. We recommend 2, 21/2, or 3 for beginning players. Thinner reeds are easier to play softly, but they lack durability and "punch" for the more advanced saxophonist. A single reed can last from about a week to a month of daily practice (You are practicing daily, aren't you???) Our advice is to start off with whatever reed can make a good sound, then move up as your sax chops develop. Most adult players settle in at about a 3 and stay there for life.

2. Neck Strap              

Saxes were designed to be played with a neck strap. Unlike a trumpet or clarinet, there is no way to safely hold a sax while playing it. The strap should be comfortable (I use a neoprene padded model) and must be  adjustable to the correct length. Let the sax dangle on the strap without touching it.  The mouthpiece should remain at mouth level, without having to point your chin down. The sax is hard enough to learn...let a good strap do some of the work for you!

3. Swab                             

Making music may sound pretty, but the inside of a saxophone can get pretty gross!  If you're playing correctly, there will be some amount of saliva travelling across the reed, through the mouthpiece, neck, and into the body of the saxophone.  Unlike brass instruments, saxophones don't have a "spit valve" to drain them after you're finished playing. That's what swabs are for. The "stuff-it" style swabs are like a giant feather duster that you push down the neck. Absorbant fibres soak up the spit, and prevent it from gumming up the works. "Pull-Through" swabs have a special cloth attached to a weighted string. Simply drop the weighted string in the neck, turn the sax over, and pull the string out of the bell. The string then pulls the cloth through the saxophone and wipes the inside clean. Get in the habit of swabbing out the body and neck of your sax after each playing, and you'll save quite a few trips to the repair shop.

4. Polishing Cloth

Most saxes are laquered at the factory. Each time you play, however, the oils from your hands accumulate on the outside, and should be wiped off. This is mainly a cosmetic issue, and almost any non-abrasive cloth will help.  There are specially formulated polishing cloths for silver plated or laquer finishes. If you're spending all this time learning to play, at least let your horn look good as well!

5. Sax Stand                         

If you're like me, you'll find any excuse not to practice! Without a sax stand, there is a 3 minute ritual of unpacking the case, assembling the horn, etc. A sax stand keeps your instrument off the floor, in an upright position, and ready to be picked up (and played) at a moment's notice. If you're playing with a band in public, the sax stand is essential to hold your horn during breaks. One accidental drop of your sax will cost 5 to 10 times the price of a sax stand.

6. Music Stand                     

Sure, you can put a music book on the kitchen table and practice, but you'll be hunched over, your neck will be constricted., and you'll have trouble blowing out a free and powerful sound. A music stand is designed to adjust to the correct height, and to hold the music securely at a comfortable angle. Is a music stand essential? Maybe not. Will it help you play better music faster? Yes it will.

7. Tuner                        

The sax is tuned by pushing the mouthpiece further up the neck cork (sharper, higher pitch) or pulling it away from the neck (flatter, lower pitch). There's a lot to learn when playing the sax, and unfortunately, many students master the notes and scales without developing an ear for pitch. A chromatic tuner has a built-in microphone, and a small display with a needle that swings to the right or left if you play a note too sharp or flat. Most tuners also display the note being played. If you're playing alone, you may not notice that you're a little out of tune...but once you join a band or orchestra, your peers will let you know right away! Practicing with a tuner will keep you on the straight and narrow, and help you to "hear" slight differences in pitch.

What's All This Going to Cost?

 Relax! At McClellan we've put together a "Sax Starter Basket" that includes all of these items--Cheap!

Here's what's included: