Saxophones

Created to fill the tonal gap between the clarinet and the flute, the iconic sound of the saxophone is second to none. It really is no wonder that the great sax players have entire albums dedicated to their signature playing style. Choosing the one that’s right for you all depends on how dedicated you are to perfecting your practice. Saxophones come in 9 keys, from sopranissimo all the way down the scale to subcontrabass, the most common key being alto and tenor saxophones. Within each key there are student, intermediate and professional grade styles that can provide you with the exact features you need to be successful, depending on your skill level. If you’re just starting out, student saxophones like the Etude EAS-100 are made with the beginner in mind. The metalwork on the bell brace and keys is more durable to stand up to any rough handling common among younger players, while the easy tuning feature is quite basic to ensure the new player isn’t confused by more complex and professional tuning options. Once you’ve got a good handle on the all the basic breathing, music theory and embouchure, you’ll want to fine tune your sound and performance. This is where intermediate sax styles are useful. Options like the Yamaha YAS-480 offer extras like improved and tunable mechanisms, higher quality construction and adjustable screw cap stoppers for technical adjustments. Being able to tweak and tune your sax to your liking gets you one step closer to being a professional saxophone player. Professional-grade saxophones are even more customized. Options like the Yanagisawa A9935 or the Keilwerth SX90R are made with the highest possible quality materials, such as sterling silver, and are built to last a lifetime. They also include rocking table mechanisms so you can speedily change pitch, indented keys for easy playing and durably constructed braces for the bell. All of these considerations for the pro models make these saxophones ideal for players who know everything there is to know about the sax. The saxophone is a great instrument to try out, master and impress everyone with. They look complicated to the naked eye but once you have an understanding of them you can they aren’t too hard to play. Whatever your interest and skill level, there is a sax out there that will showcase your own personal style and talent.