You’re not going to get very far in an all-saxophone band without your saxophone!
You can get a good idea if your saxophone is in good working order by playing a chromatic scale. If your saxophone has been hibernating in a cupboard for over a decade, it’s a good idea to have it serviced before you start blaming yourself for any strange noises! You can take your saxophone to any woodwind repairer and book it in for a service. Check out our recommended saxophone repairers:
Reeds are essential and you won’t be able to play your saxophone without one! Make sure you have a decent reed that’s not chipped, split, or going mouldy. Reeds are a very personal thing, you need to find a brand and strength that works for your saxophone setup.
The most popular reed brands are Vandoren and Rico. You can also get synthetic reeds which are more expensive but last far longer. Popular synthetic reeds brands are Légère and Venn. Avoid unbranded reeds at all costs!
With regards to reed strength, beginners usually start on the softest reed, 1.5. Intermediate saxophonists typically use strength 2.0 or 2.5. You definitely won’t need anything harder than a strength 3.0 reed in a band setting.
You will need to bring your own sheet music, either printed or digitally.
If you have an iPad/tablet, you can download PDF files of the sheet music and view in an app such as ForScore (iOS) or Mobile Sheets (Android). Ensure your tablet screen is large enough or that you have your reading glasses with you (or both).
You can find the sheet music on Sax HQ (along with some instructions). If you run into any issues we have some printed copies you can use on the day.
Check the most recent set list to see which songs we will be playing:
Not all music stands are made equal! If you’re using printed sheet music we’d highly recommend investing in an orchestral music stand (preferably with a solid desktop – no holes), rather than a flimsy ‘wire’ music stand. Some of our sheet music spreads across 3 pages so you will need the support. You will also be able to use magnets to stop your music flying off (ideal for gig scenarios).
K&M and Hercules are popular premium music stand brands, whilst Stagg, Tiger, and B&M offer more affordable options. You can also find cheaper unbranded items on Amazon.
If using an iPad/tablet, we’d recommend getting a dedicated tablet stand, rather than balancing your expensive bit of tech on the edge of an ordinary music stand – it would be an expensive accident if it fell off!
This K&M tablet stand is our favourite as it securely holds a range of tablet sizes, as well as the larger iPad Pro’s.
A saxophone stand is a worthwhile investment to avoid unnecessary trips to the repair shop due to your saxophone balancing in awkward places and getting knocked.
We love this stand by Hercules as it’s very affordable, folds down to a compact size, and grips your instrument securely. This design is super sturdy because the legs sit flat to the floor and lower to the ground, unlike the more common ‘umbrella’ tripod design.
Hercules also do similar saxophone stands for Soprano and Baritone.
You may want to upgrade your simple sax strap to a harness, which spreads the weight and provides more support – ideal for anyone who struggles with back pain (or wants to avoid getting it).
There are many styles of saxophone straps/harnesses but our favourite is the Jazzlab Saxholder. Despite looking a little unusual it’s very affordable, lightweight, folds down to a compact size, and is extrememly effective at taking the weight of any sized saxophone – even the bari! This harness works by transferring the weight evenly to both shoulders and alleviating any stress on the neck.
For ultimate support, there is also the Vandoren FNH100 harness. It’s very pricey but it is extrememly effective if your posture is a priority!
It can sometimes be hard to hear yourself when you’re playing in a room alongside 20+ saxophones…
These sound deflectors are a simple design which clips onto the bell of your saxophone and reflects the sound back at you – they are surprisingly effective and quite affordable!
A pencil is a useful tool to have to hand at band sessions, for annotating important directions, reminders, and changes on your sheet music. It’s practical to mark things on your sheet music as you come across them because you’re unlikely to remember them the next time you see them.
The problem with pencils is that they have a habit of going missing. These magnetic pencil holders are dirt cheap and can be attached to your music stand.
You might want to bring a water bottle and your own mug/flask for hot drinks during the interval. This helps to keep the washing up to a minimum for the person providing refreshments!
It can sometimes get loud at band sessions so you may want to take precautions to protect your hearing!
We always have free disposable foam ear plugs available but you may want to invest in some non-disposable ones for yourself.
You can get affordable ear plugs with a range of filters so that you only remove the frequencies you don’t want to hear. However, if you’re serious about your hearing you can get custom moulded ear plugs from companies such as ACS and Ultimate Ears.
If you’re viewing your sheet music on an iPad/tablet, a foot-controlled bluetooth page tuner can be a very handy accessory. Use your feet to turn the page and avoid missing anything on those tricky page turns!
We recommend this iRig page turner as it’s simple to use, compact, and the battery last ages!