Chris's Saxophone Site

Moisten the reed in your mouth. Be careful not to damage the tip.
Lay the reed on the mouthpiece table. Level the tip of the reed with the top of the mouthpiece.
Hold the reed in place with your thumb and lower the ligature over the mouthpiece and reed. When past the cut section, or the heart, tighten the screws to keep the reed in place.
Slide the mouthpiece onto the neck. (Reed side down).
Curl your lower lip slightly over your lower teeth. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. (Reed side down). Rest your upper teeth on the mouthpiece. Close the corners of your mouth around the mouthpiece.

Now blow!

After the first squawks and squeals try to "catch" the sound and hold it steady. Begin taking deeper breaths.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST SOUND. Start as you mean to continue. and make it sound as musical as possible.

Place the sling around your neck.
Loosen the screw at the neck of the saxophone body and insert the neck (with mouthpiece attached) into the body of the sax.
Hook the sling through the ring on the back of the sax.
Let the sling take the weight of the sax. Place your right hand thumb under the thumb rest on the back of the sax. Place your left hand thumb on the thumb plate.
Place your left hand index finger on the 2nd pearl button from the top. (At the front of the sax).
Place the mouthpiece in your mouth and blow as you did when making your first sound.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST NOTE. It's called "B". Make this note sound as beautiful as you can!