![[Saxophone] Recommended practice songs for saxophone beginners: Famous tunes you’ll want to try playing](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/GMLcyk9mVCM/maxresdefault.webp)
When it comes to star instruments that shine across genres from jazz and classical to pop, the saxophone surely comes to mind.
Whether it’s the tenor sax or the alto sax, many people have been inspired by the sight of someone masterfully playing sax in a band or ensemble and thought, “I want to give it a try too.” Some may first encounter the instrument after joining a school wind band.
In this article, we introduce recommended practice pieces for brand-new saxophonists who are ready to start working on songs, regardless of genre.
These are all famous tunes with plenty of beginner-friendly sheet music available, and if you can perform even a bit of a melody everyone knows, you’re sure to bring down the house with applause! Take a look.
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[Saxophone] Recommended practice pieces for saxophone beginners. Famous songs you’ll want to try playing (1–10)
Carrying YouNEW!Hisaishi Joe
If you’re looking for a piece that even beginners can play, how about “Carrying You,” the theme song from Studio Ghibli’s masterpiece Castle in the Sky, released on August 2, 1986? Composed by Joe Hisaishi with lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki, this song is now sung around the world.
It’s highly well-known, and there are many arrangements and tutorial videos for beginners, making it easy to practice.
The melody is easy to grasp, with sections to sing out fully and sections that build in excitement.
It’s perfect for practicing: play the A section gently, and use the climactic parts to work on leaps and strong, lyrical phrasing.
If you play tenor sax, try finding a Bb chart and give it a go.
Fly Me to the MoonNEW!Frank Sinatra
This is the jazz number “Fly Me to the Moon,” which became famous as the ending theme of the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, aired from 1995 to 1996.
Once people start playing the saxophone, many of them want to try jazz as well.
Since “Fly Me to the Moon” was used as the anime’s ending theme, it’s probably one of the best-known jazz tunes in Japan.
In the world of jazz, there are performance techniques like “fake” (embellishment) and improvisation, but the introduction video doesn’t feature complex improvised solos, so if you’ve only recently started playing the saxophone, aim to be able to play the notated parts in the video accurately.
At the same time, gradually learn the chords and other basics so you can bring out that jazz flavor in your playing.
Aino Katachi feat. HIDENEW!GReeeeN
For saxophone beginners looking for a famous song to try, GReeeeN’s “Ai no Katachi feat.
HIDE” is recommended.
Since the saxophone is a melodic instrument, practicing with songs you like and already know is a shortcut to improvement.
Nowadays, there are many videos for sax beginners that include live demonstrations along with melody sheets, so it’s a great environment for sticking with your practice.
Pay attention to note lengths and the occasional rests, and practice so that you lock solidly into the tempo.
As the song builds, there are more high notes, so it’s good to practice long tones in parallel to ensure each note speaks clearly.
The solo in the interlude is a section to drill intensively, but once you can play it, it sounds really cool—so follow the score carefully and commit to the practice.
YesterdayNEW!Paul McCartney
Once you can play a wind instrument, many of you probably start wanting to perform a masterpiece at least once, or to play famous songs you know, and go looking for sheet music.
There are likely quite a few people who want to try playing “Yesterday,” included on the Beatles’ fifth official UK studio album, Help!, released in the UK on August 6, 1965.
“Yesterday” has a slow tempo and many passages that climb the scale, so with careful, thorough practice you’ll be able to play it soon.
If you consider dynamics to avoid making it too monotonous, it will come together musically, so it’s also recommended as a practice piece even for those who don’t know the song.
You Raise Me UpNEW!Rolf Løvland
This is “You Raise Me Up,” a piece by the Irish–Norwegian duo Secret Garden.
In Japan, it became famous when figure skater Shizuka Arakawa used it at the 2006 Turin Olympics, where she won the gold medal.
Many people may feel it resembles “Londonderry Air” or “Danny Boy,” and in fact this song is based on “Londonderry Air.” Its gently soaring lines make it a perfect match for the saxophone, a melodic instrument.
When it’s a well-known song you already recognize, you’ll improve faster.
Give it a try as a practice piece.
OvertureNEW!sugiyama kouichi
In recent years, more and more people have wanted to perform video game music on live instruments, and the field has developed to the point where there are even dedicated ensembles.
One indispensable piece is the “Overture” from the beloved national RPG series Dragon Quest.
In some installments it’s also called “Loto’s Theme,” and a hallmark of the piece is that the arrangement varies by title.
It’s powerful, and many people feel their excitement rise when it starts to play.
When Koichi Sugiyama took on the music for Dragon Quest, he envisioned compositions rooted in classical music, with the possibility of orchestral performance.
As a result, the pieces are well-suited to instrumentalists, and the music of Dragon Quest can be considered an ideal collection for practicing on instruments.
Channel your inner hero and perform these bold, stirring pieces with gusto.
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisNEW!Satou Hidetoshi
Here is “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime Japan proudly shares with the world.
If you’re a saxophone beginner who loves anime, you’ve probably wanted to be able to play this piece at least once.
On the score, you’ll encounter many tricky rhythms, but since it’s such a famous song, many people already know it—and many can even sing the lyrics without mistakes.
First, follow the sheet music while learning the fingerings, and try producing the notes the same way you would sing them.
If you can sing it, the rhythms are likely already in your head, so if you practice to align your fingerings with the melody, you should be able to play it quickly.
By the way, the video uses a tenor sax, so you can play it as-is on soprano sax, but alto and baritone players will be in a different key, so the audio won’t match the video.
It’s best to find sheet music arranged specifically for your instrument and practice with that.