How to Assemble the Saxophone

Okay, so now I'm going to show you how to put the saxophone together. Very often what happens is I'm at home teaching. My student comes in, and we've both got our instruments in the cases. I turn around, and their instrument is fully assembled, while I'm still halfway through putting mine together.

I usually say to them, "Why do you think, you know, I've been playing this instrument for 40 years, and you've put your instrument together in about half the time it takes me?"

They kind of sheepishly admit that it's because they didn't really spend enough time paying attention to putting it together.

The Importance of Careful Assembly

The reason it takes me longer than some of my students is because I take great care about putting this together; it needs to be done very precisely.

1. Wetting the Reed
   The first thing I do is wet the reed. I put approximately half the scraped-out part, the blade of the reed, in my mouth. While I'm putting the saxophone together, that reed stays in my mouth. Clearly, I'm not going to keep it in my mouth now, because if I do, I can't talk to you properly.

   So you have to imagine that while I'm putting the saxophone together, that reed stays in my mouth like a thermometer. This is because, as I explained earlier, the reed really needs to be thoroughly moist in order to play properly.

   When you first wet a reed, sometimes it actually warps slightly out of shape, meaning it's not a completely straight line. While that reed is warped, it won't play properly. It's not ready to play until, when you look at the reed, that line is straight.

   So, the first thing I do is pop the reed in my mouth and leave it there. By the time I finish putting the instrument together, it's ready to play.

2. Attaching the Strap
   Next, I'll put my strap on and hook the saxophone onto the strap.

3. Inserting the Crook
   Now, before you insert the crook, make sure the screw on the right-hand side (not the one on the left) is untightened. The crook should go in very easily with a gentle pushing and slight twisting movement.

   Please make sure that you don't stress this part of the mechanism. Don't yank it from side to side. I'm doing this very gently, avoiding putting pressure on here. It should go in very easily. If it doesn't, here's a little trick:

   • Get a tissue and clean this surface with it.
   • Clean the inside surface with the same tissue.
   • Run your hand down the side of your nose to collect a little facial grease, which you then smear onto this surface.

   This works like a dream! Then you just pop that in like that, and it should go in smoothly.

Lining Up the Crook

Line the crook up with the neck strap rim. You see, the bell is kind of pointing in one direction, and people often think that they should have the crook pointing the same way that the bell is pointing. But actually, if you do that, you need to twist the saxophone to get it to come into your mouth.

If you line it up with this ring, it should come into your mouth at the right angle.

Once you've put the crook in, you can then tighten this screw here.

1. Pushing on the Mouthpiece
   Next, I'm going to push the mouthpiece on. How far you push the mouthpiece on is determined by the question of tuning. In other words, the further I push the mouthpiece on, the sharper or higher my note will be. The further off it is, the lower or flatter my note will be.

   I know from experience roughly where the right place to put this particular mouthpiece is, and you'll find out from experience where the right place to put your mouthpiece is.