The saxophone otherwise referred to as the sax for short, is an instrument that has become increasingly popular over the years. There’s no doubt that you’ve heard it being played before, whether it be a part of a song, an orchestra, a tune from a game or movie, or anything else of the sort which comes to mind.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
While it is certainly a beautiful sounding instrument in the right hand, developing said right hands for the sax is a very difficult thing to do. Getting used to playing the instrument takes lots of time as well as practice, and we’re here to tell you all about the best ways to do so without the help of a teacher.
How To Learn Saxophone Without Teacher
One of the most recommended methods of learning any instrument is using online courses related to said instrument. This is the case for the sax as well, which anyone can easily learn with the help of online saxophone lessons. These are available on hundreds of different sites, all with their own perks and advantages.
There are many great ones to make a pick from too, and there’s not a high chance of making a wrong choice as every single online course is good in its own way.
But even with that in mind, any learner always wants the best out of the best when starting to learn an instrument such as the sax as they’d like to start off with the best guidance possible. One of the online saxophone lessons that can provide such guidance is the one available at ArtistWorks, which we’ll be discussing more directly below.
One of the most informative and well-designed courses you’ll be able to find anywhere online is the one that ArtistWorks has created in collaboration with saxophonist Eric Marienthal.
This course is great for many reasons, with one of the main ones being that it’s capable of teaching just about anyone how to become so much better at playing the sax. There are well over a hundred different topics discussed in the lesson, all of which users can choose to go over at their own pace.
These different topics become increasingly difficult, but not so that learning becomes too difficult as well. You’ll keep improving at a very good pace, eventually becoming a very good saxophonist in a few months’ time.
You’ll also be able to provide video submissions thanks to this course. These submissions will be viewed by Eric Marienthal himself, who’ll then tell you about your strengths and weaknesses, along with where you need to focus on improving.
2. Sheet Music
Another option when it comes to learning without a teacher is using sheet music. Now one thing about this specific method that you need to know is that it cannot be tried out straight away if you’re a beginner, even if you already have sax sheet music by your side.
The reason for this is pretty simple. You can’t get started with this method as an inexperienced sax player because you won’t be able to understand any of the instructions that the sheet music has to give you.
That said, this is still one of the best methods to learn without a teacher as it is pretty easy to understand sheet music for the saxophone. All you have to do is grab your instrument and start becoming a bit familiar with all of its notes and how they’ve played.
Now you need to learn what the symbols on the sheet music mean, and the ways that you can read them. After you do both of these things, you can use sheet music to play all kinds of songs and start improving more and more.
3. Listen to Others Play
If learning how to play through sheet music isn’t a preferred option for you, there is another similar and arguably just as effective method that can be used to learn the saxophone without a teacher. This method also involves you becoming familiar with the sax and every basic detail that there is to know about playing it.
Once this is done, you can hear some popular saxophonists play the instrument. It is preferable that you choose videos rather than audio to do so, as you’ll be able to see them play as well through the former option. This will not only allow you to get a good idea of the different notes you’re supposed to be playing, but also the way that you should be blowing and holding the instrument too.
4. Instructional Saxophone Books
Another option similar to online lessons for the instrument is instructional saxophone guides. These can be found both online and in some stores as well, allowing you to study them as either hardcopy or softcopy depending on whichever option out of the two you prefer. These guides feature detailed info on the instrument, including lots of great ways that you can improve with it.
There are many great tips for beginners and advanced players alike. Studying these instructional saxophone guides is a highly recommended option as they can help you with all of the above-given methods as well.
What’s even better is that you can find hundreds of these completely free of any cost online, allowing you to access them at any moment with just a quick search through your internet browser.
The Bottom Line
The saxophone is certainly not the easiest instrument in the world to master. While there’s absolutely no disputing this, the instrument isn’t impossible to master either. It is very possible to become a great saxophonist even without any help from a personal tutor.
While many might tell you otherwise, the methods listed above can easily prove them wrong. Just use any of the 4 given above and you’ll be able to see yourself develop into a great player of the instrument with just enough practice and patience.