[Saxophone] Recommended practice songs for saxophone beginners: Famous tunes you’ll want to try playing

Let’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu

Let's Become a Family – Alto Saxophone Selmer Series III Mouthpiece Concept

This piece is often performed at weddings.

It also features many wide interval leaps.

To play it well, you’ll need to practice arpeggios.

Depending on the fingering, some notes may flip or crack, so take care with those passages.

The high notes won’t speak properly unless you really support them with air, so be sure to blow firmly.

SpainChick Corea

Spain

This piece is classified as jazz.

However, while based on jazz, it weaves in elements of bossa nova, rock, and classical music, and you can feel Latin rhythms in various sections.

When performing it, it’s important to breathe more on the offbeats and keep the offbeats in mind.

The Girl from IpanemaGilberto

The Girl from Ipanema (Alto Sax Solo) WMS-13-011

It’s a classic by Gilberto from Brazil.

The lyrical vocals and beautiful melody are striking, and it’s a piece that lets you fully experience the charm of bossa nova.

It was included on the 1964 album Getz/Gilberto by Stan Getz and João Gilberto and became a worldwide hit.

In 1965, it also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

The lyrics, which portray a bittersweet longing for a girl walking along the seaside in Rio de Janeiro, are lovely as well.

If you’re practicing it on saxophone, try to play with a graceful atmosphere, riding a relaxed rhythm.

moonlightLudwig van Beethoven

Moonlight Sonata for Saxophone Quartet

Even on the saxophone, when you get tired of jazz or pop, it might be fun to play classical pieces like Beethoven on the sax.

As you get used to it through practice, you’ll find joy in savoring the beauty of Beethoven’s melodies not just on the piano, but on the saxophone as well—so give it a try.

Love’s GreetingEdward Elgar

Ai Okumura – Salut d’Amour

This piece is frequently performed in many settings and is often played on the violin.

Because it contains many wide intervals, it is also a difficult piece for violinists.

Within classical music, it’s a well-known work, and it sounds impressive on the saxophone as well—without becoming as technically demanding as it is on the violin—something performers appreciate.

Part of Your WorldAlan Menken

Alto Sax – Part of Your World – Disney’s The Little Mermaid – Sheet Music, Vocal, & Chords

Alan Menken, a master of musical and film music, moved audiences around the world through the song “Part of Your World” from the film The Little Mermaid.

Born in 1949, he has contributed numerous beloved songs to classic Disney animations, and the success of The Little Mermaid marked a major turning point in his career.

This song movingly portrays Ariel’s deep longing for the human world that everyone dreams of.

For beginner saxophonists, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn about beautiful melody and expressive phrasing.

By taking on the piece with an alto saxophone, you can fully appreciate its appealing mid-range while also building fundamental playing skills.

There are many beginner-friendly sheet music editions available, so give it a try!

ButterflyKimura Kaera

Butterfly – Kaela Kimura (Full)

It’s a song that singer Kaela Kimura wrote for a friend’s wedding, and it’s still performed at many weddings today.

Used as the theme for Recruit’s “Zexy” commercial, this track pairs beautifully with saxophone and is sure to make listeners feel happy.