So, you’re thinking of taking up the sax, but you’re not sure which one to get? Read on!
It can be confusing—there are so many different types and brands, and certainly a wide range of different prices. Where to start? Well, the first thing you need to decide is which size of saxophone you are interested in playing.
There are many different sizes and pitches of sax, but just four main ones you need to know about. Those are, from smallest (and highest in pitch) to largest (and lowest in pitch): soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax and baritone sax. (Outside of these four it all starts getting quite niche.) Here is a rundown of the merits of these four types:
The highest in pitch of the four main types of saxophone, the soprano sax has a distinctive and appealing sound, slightly reminiscent of an oboe—beautifully suited to jazz but also wonderful for classical. Most soprano saxes are completely straight, although some have a slightly curved neck, and some have the classic curved saxophone shape. The small size of the soprano saxophone means it can suit small hands, although it is notoriously challenging to play in tune, and they also tend to be rather expensive, meaning it is not the most popular choice for beginners.
Suggested listening: ‘Englishman in New York’ by Sting (soprano sax played by Branford Marsalis); ‘My Favourite Things’ by John Coltrane.
The alto sax has more what you might call the ‘classic’ saxophone sound, and also has the classic curved shape. It has a relatively sweet, light sound—again, very well suited to both jazz and classical music, and it is also used extensively in horn sections in pop, funk, R&B and suchlike. Still relatively small, and not too heavy, it is well suited to beginners, and there is a beginner model available which is designed specifically for small hands. The alto saxophone is the most economical and widely available of the main four types, and is by far the most popular choice for beginners.
Suggested listening: ‘Take Five’ by The Dave Brubeck Quartet (alto sax played by Paul Desmond); ‘Just the Way You Are’ by Billy Joel (alto sax played by Phil Woods).
The tenor sax very much has the archetypal seductive saxophone sound, and is used on countless recordings—jazz, pop, funk, soul, R&B and so on. Deeper than the alto, it can be very smooth and mellow (Stan Getz), or very bright and edgy sounding (Michael Brecker). The tenor sax is to the alto sax as the male voice is to the female voice: deeper and huskier. The tenor saxophone is noticeably larger and heavier than the alto, but no more difficult to play, so it is still an excellent choice for a beginner, provided they are physically big enough to play it.
Suggested listening: ‘A Remark You Made’ by Weather Report (tenor sax played by Wayne Shorter); ‘Giant Steps’ by John Coltrane; ‘Smooth Operator’ by Sade (tenor sax played by Stuart Matthewman).
The largest of the big four, the baritone saxophone has a very big, powerful, bassy sound. Not heard all that often as a solo instrument, the baritone sax can normally be found holding up the low end in horn sections and big bands. Baritone saxes are very big and heavy, and also tend to be incredibly expensive, and for that reason not normally favoured by beginners. Beyond that, however, there is no technical barrier to starting on baritone if you have your heart set on it. Somewhat ironically, it is the baritone sax that Lisa Simpson plays in The Simpsons.
Suggested listening: “Moanin’” by Charles Mingus (baritone sax played by Pepper Adams); ‘Anything Can Happen’ by Leo Parker.
The alto sax is by far the most popular option for beginners, with the tenor coming in a not-very-close second. This is probably largely due to the alto being smaller (and thus much more appropriate for children) and cheaper, but if neither of these are an issue then the tenor makes just as good a choice for a new beginner. My suggestion is that if you have a strong preference for any one of these four, then go for it (assuming size and weight are not an issue). Otherwise, if it’s for a child then choose alto (unless they prefer the sound of the tenor and can physically manage it). If size and weight are not an issue, and you have no preference between alto and tenor, then I’d suggest alto, simply because it will be easier and cheaper to get hold of, and probably easier to sell if you decide it’s not for you. If size and weight are a consideration then I suggest you visit a shop such as Dawkes Music (in Maidenhead) and ask to try some saxes out for size.
There are three options here: buy a new saxophone, buy a used one, or rent one. Which option you choose should depend on your budget, and level of commitment.
On the whole, the most economical option is likely to be to buy a used one. It should be a great deal cheaper than buying a new one, and if you decide that the sax is not for you, then you can hopefully sell it for something close to what you bought it for (if you get a good brand). There is, of course, however, the risk of ending up with a sax that needs significant repair work (for example, one with significantly worn action, or in need of a re-pad). You can often find saxes that have had very little use, either because they are ex-rental, or because someone has taken up the sax and then decided it is not for them; getting one of these would be ideal. Ebay and Facebook Marketplace are good sources of used instruments, and if you’re having lessons with me then I’ll be happy to advise on specific listings. If you do buy a used sax privately, I would advise getting it checked by a technician straight away, just to make sure it is in good working order; unless significant work is needed, then it should still be much cheaper than buying a new sax. Another good option is to get a used instrument from a reputable retailer with a workshop on site (like Dawkes Music), so you know that it is good working order.
Another very popular option for beginners is to rent a saxophone. Many music shops provide a rental scheme, typically with a monthly payment plan whereby after a set period, some of your money goes toward the cost of purchasing an instrument. Ultimately, this won’t save you money compared to buying a sax, but is a great option for those wanting to try the sax out out without the upfront cost. Typically rental would cost around £30 per month for an alto sax, and around £35 per month for a tenor.
Lastly, if you want to buy a sax, and would rather not risk buying a used one, then you can of course buy a brand new saxophone. This way, you know you should be getting something free of significant technical issues, and in mint condition. However, even with a brand new instrument, I would recommend taking it to a technician to make sure it is in full working order. Unfortunately, even very expensive saxes can come from the factory without having been set up properly, and in need of tweaks in order to get them to perform properly. As with buying a used sax, if you go to a reputable dealer with a workshop then you know you're getting an instrument in top condition (assuming they check over all new instruments—which they should).
I always recommend Yamaha saxophones to beginners; their beginner instruments are always of excellent quality. In fact, there are professional saxophonists that use Yamaha student model saxophones for heavy touring, in order to preserve their expensive main instrument (and I use an old Yamaha student alto for my school teaching).
The Yamaha alto/tenor student models are the YAS-280 (alto) and YTS-280 (tenor), although any of their predecessors—the YAS-275/YTS-275 or the YAS-25/YTS-25 models—will do just as nicely too, if you’re looking for used instruments (assuming they’re in good condition). Any of these can easily take you up to grade 8 standard and beyond. Brand new, the YAS-280 costs around £860, and the YTS-280 around £1350. Used, you can typically find the predecessor models (YAS-275 and YTS-275) for £400–£600 and £600–£800, respectively.
Soprano and baritone saxes are slightly more complicated: since they are not generally considered to be beginner instruments, there is considerably less choice. Yamaha make intermediate level models, the YSS-475 (soprano) and YBS-480 (baritone), which would more than likely be appropriate, although I have not tried either myself.
If you are shopping for a young pupil who would struggle with a full-size alto sax, then a good option is the Trevor James Alphasax. This is an alto saxophone which has been designed specifically for young beginners; it is lighter than a normal alto, has fewer keys, and the keywork has been designed for small hands. It retails for around £550. Note that pupils starting with the Alphasax will inevitably need to upragde at some point, at the very least because the Alphasax doesn’t have the full range of a normal saxophone (a few of the very highest and lowest notes are missing).
Now, a quick web search will reveal that you can buy new saxophones much cheaper than those I have listed here. Over the last twenty years or so there have been a lot of cheap Chinese-made saxophones that have come on the market. Initially, the quality was very questionable, although by all accounts they have got better and better, and there are now some very good ones. The difficulty is in knowing which ones are good; there are many different brand names, and not always a great deal of consistency. It may be tempting to save money and buy a cheap saxophone, and actually a Chinese one might be a good option for many buyers, but I would caution against buying one on the internet. As always, going to a reputable dealer like like Dawkes Music is the best option.
When you do get a saxophone, I also recommend you get some cleaning accessories—namely, a pull-through swab for the body, and a smaller cloth one for the neck and mouthpiece (you can just use a cloth for this, but something with a cord on it is easier to use). Your sax might come with a swab for the body (and if you’re renting, they should supply one), but probably won’t come with one for the neck and mouthpiece. You can get a body pull-through swab for alto/tenor for around £5–£10, and one suitable for the neck for about the same. Note that for soprano sax, you only need the latter type, and it can be used for both the body and the neck. Baritone is a more complex affair, although there are swabs you can get specifically for cleaning the top bow (which is the main bit that needs cleaning). For cleaning and maintenance tips, see my FAQ page.
Lastly, there is the ongoing cost of reeds. Reeds come in different strengths, normally numbered from 1 to 4 (1 being the softest), and can normally be bought individually or in boxes of five (for tenor) or ten (for alto). Typically individual reeds cost around £3.50 for alto, and £5 for tenor, and a box of ten would cost £25–£30 for alto, and a box of five would cost around £20–£25 for tenor. How often you would need to buy new reeds depends on a number of factors, but a box should last you a few months.
