Assemble a Saxophone
If you want to know how to put a saxophone together, you're at the right page. These instructions apply to most types of saxophones. It is not necessary to do all of the steps in this exact order.
Steps
- Moisten your reed. You only need to put the thin side in your mouth, but be very careful. Moistening both ends will stop the reed from warping (bending). Also make sure not to cut your mouth as reeds sometimes have sharp edges, especially new ones.
- Put the neck strap around your neck. Make sure the hook is hanging at the front.
- Apply cork grease to the cork - where the mouthpiece connects to the neck of the saxophone. You can get this at a music store, they look like tubes of chapstick.
- Line it up. Take the reed out of your mouth and place its flat side on the flat part of the mouthpiece. The thin, curved end of the reed should line up with the thin end of the mouthpiece. Leave a small amount of room in between.
- Slide the ligature onto the mouthpiece and over the reed. Make sure that the wider end of the ligature slides on first to match the shape of the mouthpiece. The screws should be on the thick bottom part of the reed, facing you. Tighten the ligature.
- Put the fully assembled mouthpiece on the neck. If it's difficult to slide on, do not add cork grease. This a problem amongst beginners, the grease will act as glue and make small particles stick to it and when the neck goes on the body and the neck is twisted, the particles may act like sandpaper and do more damage. The best way is to use a bit of tissue and clean both contact points until they are dry and dust free. The neck should go on very easily.
- Pick up your saxophone by the bell, where there are no keys. Picking up your horn by the upper body can cause damage to the mechanisms that make your horn work properly.
- Attach the neck and mouthpiece to the saxophone body and tighten the wing nut where the two parts join.
- Do not force the neck on and be careful to not damage the octave key (on body or neck) when assembling.
- Hook the neck strap into the small loop on the back of the saxophone's body, below the octave key. The last step is to have fun playing!! And remember practice makes perfect!
Tips
- As seen in step 5, most people slide the ligature over the reed and mouthpiece. However, some people prefer to put the ligature on the mouthpiece first and then slide the reed on, for reeds are really delicate and easily damaged at this stage.
- To make a sound, put your lower lip over your lower teeth, take a big breath and blow through mouthpiece. Don't puff out your cheeks. It only blasts a loud squeaky noise.
- Don't use a lot of grease. You only need to put a little on every week.After a while it shouldn't need anymore.
- Before you assemble the saxophone, make sure there isn't a pad saver, neck saver, or mouthpiece "mouse" (or anything else for that matter) inside any of the parts. These are all long, furry-looking accessories to keep the saxophone clean and moisture-free while in storage.
- Apply cork grease or Vaseline onto the part of the neck that attaches to the body of the saxophone. This helps prevent damage to the bell and makes the neck easier to put in.
- For some corks, applying cork grease isn't necessary.
Warnings
- Tighten the screws on the ligature until it is snug. If you overtighten it, the ligature will become damaged.
- Be careful not to drop your instrument.
- Don't put on too much cork grease! Too much moisture will cause the cork to swell, and it is expensive to get it fixed.
- Don't sit or lay on your saxophone.
- Always pick your saxophone up by the bell.
- Putting on cork grease is only necessary when the mouthpiece won't go on smoothly. You don't need to put some on every time you assemble it.
Things You'll Need
- Reeds (softer reeds are preferred for more inexperienced players)
- Neck strap
- Neck of saxophone
- Body of saxophone
- Mouthpiece and ligature
- Cork grease
- Swab and/or a cloth
Related Articles
- Clean a Saxophone
- Get Started with the Saxophone
- Play Jazz Saxophone
- Improvise on the Saxophone
- Hit Altissimo Notes on the Sax
- Put Your Alto Saxophone Together
