The strap & accessories
With
John O'NeillJohn O'Neill shows the neck strap he prefers and what to look for when buying one, plus the accessories he always carries: cork grease, a screwdriver and a reed case.
What's in the course
25 lessons (2h 10m) · 1 free
01. Posture
13:20
02. Fingering
4:10
03. The breath
4:12
04. Breathing exercise #1
3:24
05. Breathing exercise #2
4:34
06. Breathing exercise #3
2:29
07. Breathing exercise #4
1:27
08. Breathing exercise #5
2:27
09. Embouchure & your first note
9:46
10. Troubleshooting your first note
9:34
11. Developing your sound
3:43
12. Tonguing exercise #1
4:36
13. Tonguing exercise #2
6:49
14. Final thoughts & practising
1:57
Lesson transcript
Important Equipment for Saxophone Playing
The Strap
Another really important piece of your equipment is the strap.
This strap is made by a company called Cebula. I really like it because it has a very comfortable, padded neck piece.
Features of a Good Strap
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Easy to Adjust: It doesn't slip and it doesn't strangle me either.
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Comfort: Some straps, due to their wide band, can feel constrictive around your neck if raised too high.
- Having a piece of cord here at the side makes it feel much more comfortable.
- This is really important for me.
Alternative Strap Options
- Harness Straps: Small children often find a harness strap much more comfortable. A harness strap distributes the weight over your shoulders. Even adults often favor using a harness strap, so don't feel that your strap has to be of a specific type.
Caution on Strap Types
I advise against buying elasticated straps.
-
Misconception: Some straps on the market are elasticated and are marketed on the basis that they make the saxophone feel lighter. However, it's pretty obvious that whether something's suspended by elastic or not, it will weigh the same.
-
Why I Dislike Them:
- It's important to anchor your teeth on the top of the mouthpiece. The issue with elasticated straps is that as you nod your head down onto the saxophone, the elastic gives, causing the saxophone to feel like it's moving. I believe it's vital to have the saxophone stable.
Additional Features of the Strap
Another thing I like about this strap is that it has a clip. This is really important because:
- Sometimes, if your strap only has a hook, it can easily unhook from the little ring, leading to situations where the saxophone falls on the floor.
- A clip helps prevent this.
Essential Accessories
A couple of other important accessories to have in your case:
-
Cork Grease: This is used to apply to the cork on the crook so that the mouthpiece fits better.
-
Small Screwdrivers: Sometimes, even with a new saxophone, screws can work loose and protrude from the pillars.
- It's useful to have some small screwdrivers to attend to that.
- Important Note: When tightening screws on a saxophone, they should never be overtightened as this can damage the thread. Just tighten until you feel resistance.
By keeping your equipment and accessories in good condition, you'll ensure a better playing experience.
25 lessons
2h 10m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
John O'Neill is the saxophonist behind The Jazz Method for Saxophone - the Schott series that has taught a generation of players around the world to improvise. First published in 1991, it remains one of the best-selling jazz tutors ever written, alongside his companion methods for clarinet and flute.
He came to the saxophone at twenty, while reading French and German at Trinity College, Oxford, after hearing John Coltrane. He went on to study with British tenor great Don Rendell, and took improvisation from Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh and Peter Ind - direct heirs of the legendary teacher Lennie Tristano. A professional musician since 1979, he specialises in jazz and bossa nova and has played London's leading venues, including Ronnie Scott's, while also writing music for film, television, theatre and dance.
A qualified teacher with decades of experience, John has taught saxophone, clarinet and flute privately and in schools, on the jazz course at Trinity College of Music in London, and at summer schools in Spain and the Czech Republic. He still performs and teaches from his home in North London.
