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

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.

Playlist

[Saxophone] Recommended practice songs for saxophone beginners: Famous tunes you’ll want to try playing
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Carrying YouHisaishi Joe		The Laputa theme song is suitable for beginners.
2	Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra		Eva's ending theme 'Fly Me'
3	Aino Katachi feat. HIDEGReeeeN		Practice methods for songs for beginner saxophone players
4	YesterdayPaul McCartney		A performance guide to famous pieces for beginner instrumentalists
5	A Cruel Angel’s ThesisSatou Hidetoshi		How to play the Evangelion theme song on the saxophone
6	Overturesugiyama kouichi		The Dragon Quest Overture is ideal for live/acoustic instrument performance.
7	You Raise Me UpRolf Løvland		Saxophone practice piece of You Raise Me Up
8	Look up at the stars in the nightizumi taku		How to Choose Practice Pieces for Saxophone Beginners and Tips for Improving
9	Please give me wingsMurai Kunihiko		Perfect for practice, please give me wings
10	The Do-Re-Mi SongRichard Rodgers		Do-Re-Mi Song is a practice piece for beginners.
11	strollHisaishi Joe		How to play Totoro’s theme song, “Sanpo”
12	My favoriteRichard Rodgers		"My Favorite Things" is a waltz in three-quarter time
13	Beauty and the BeastAlan Menken		Beauty and the Beast: The Allure of Saxophone Performance
14	Green SleevesInguranndo min’yō		Let's master the 6/8 time of Greensleeves
15	My Neighbor TotoroHisaishi Joe		The theme song of Totoro is a well-known, easy-to-sing classic.
16	Tanjiro Kamado’s SongShiina Go		Explain the songs featured in Demon Slayer for beginners
17	EverythingMISIA		Tips for playing saxophone on MISIA’s famous songs
18	Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach		Performing a famous piece by Bach on the saxophone
19	Stand By Me STAND BY MEBen E. King		Performance advice for songs by American singers
20	Amazing Grace		The hymn Amazing Grace. A message of salvation and hope.
21	The Pink PantherHenry Mancini		Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme is popular.
22	Lupin the Third Theme / Theme From Lupin III ’78Ōno Yūji		How to practice playing Lupin the Third on the saxophone
23	Love is overŌyō Fifi		The charm of saxophone performances in songs by Taiwanese singers
24	Left AloneMal Waldron		A moving and memorial tone for the saxophone
25	EnglishmanSting		The Allure of the Saxophone in Sting’s “Englishman”
26	Detective Conan Main ThemeŌno Katsuo		The Detective Conan theme song is a piece that saxophonists aspire to play.
27	PythagoraSwitch Opening ThemeKurikōdā Karutetto Kurihara Masaki		An Enchanting “PythagoraSwitch” with Recorder Performance
28	The Splendor of YouthCarpenters		Carpenters classics, standard saxophone pieces for beginners
29	Moon RiverHenry Mancini		The moving emotion of 'Moon River' that stirs the soul
30	Treasure IslandT-SQUARE		Takarajima is a popular piece for wind ensemble.
31	Hey JudeThe Beatles		A classic Beatles song known for its encouraging lyrics
32	Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach		Bach's music lives on today
33	Swing Low, Sweet Chariot		A spiritual sung by slaves about hope and freedom
34	Rhapsodic FantasiaBernhard Heiden		Haydn's works are fantastical and suitable for beginners.
35	You’ve Got A Friend In Me / You Are My FriendRandy Newman		Best classic songs for saxophone beginners
36	Careless WhisperWham!		Tenor sax, a nostalgic Wham! song
37	Memory from the musical CatsAndrew Lloyd Webber		Saxophone playing suits the twilight.
38	LibertangoAstor Piazzolla		Piazzolla’s piece famous from the Suntory commercial
39	CanonJohann Pachelbel		Pachelbel’s Canon is a masterpiece for wind instruments.
40	Dead LeavesJoseph Kosma		An inspiring jazz masterpiece that portrays an autumn scene
41	Silent Night		A Christmas carol that prays for peace
42	In the MoodJoe Garland		A famous jazz classic known as a signature piece of the Glenn Miller Orchestra
43	Mambo No. 5Perez Prado		Mambo No. 5 is a repeatedly enjoyable piece of music.
44	Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Yuki-daruma TsukurouTony Awards		Iconic songs from Frozen are suitable for beginner saxophonists
45	Moonlight SerenadeGlenn Miller		Glenn Miller’s famous song, with beautiful saxophone playing
46	Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō		Let's play 'Etopirika' on the saxophone
47	you would be so nice to comehome to.Art Pepper		The allure of jazz played on the saxophone
48	Entertainer The EntertainerScott Joplin		A ragtime piece composed by Scott Joplin
49	Titanic’s theme, “My Heart Will Go On”Céline Dion		The moving melody of the Titanic theme song
50	Ave MariaFranz Schubert		Schubert’s Ave Maria is moving.
51	Fly Me To The MoonBart Howard		The classic song “Fly Me To The Moon” is a symbol of adventure.
52	The night fog stings my eyes.Jerome Kern		Play the piece “Night Fog,” paying attention to the lead
53	ConfirmationCharles Parker Jr		Charlie Parker's classic jazz saxophone piece
54	Take FivePaul Desmond		A masterpiece in an odd time signature featuring impressive saxophone
55	what do you mean?Justin Bieber		An engaging saxophone piece with an appealing tempo
56	I’m in love with your eyes.Bob Gaudio		The classic song 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' is loved around the world.
57	A-TrainBilly Strayhorn		A dynamic, lively piece that depicts the sounds of a train
58	A Whole New World, from the movie AladdinAlan Menken		Aladdin song, difficult B notes saxophone performance
59	Stand By MeBen E. King		A horror film depicting boys' journey along the railroad tracks
60	CsárdásMonti		A difficult multi-instrument piece by Monti
61	Dear DukeStevie Wonder		A groovy hit by Stevie Wonder
62	Galaxy Express 999Godiego		Galaxy Express 999, a masterpiece rich in arrangements
63	My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane		Jazz songs are fun to play.
64	SonataDavid Maslanka		Famous as a standard piece for saxophone practice.
65	Jingle BellsJames Lord Pierpont		Christmas music is fun and easy to understand.
66	This roadYamada Kōsaku		Kósçak Yamada’s music is simple and deeply tasteful.
67	Over the RainbowHarold Arlen		Beyond the rainbow, a classic filled with dreams and hope
68	Mickey Mouse MarchJimmie Dodd		The Mickey Mouse theme song is hard to understand.
69	Paradise Has No BorderToukyou Sukapara Daisu Ookesutora		A captivating collaboration between Sakana-kun and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
70	Theme of Super Mario Bros.Koji Kondo		The Super Mario theme is famous.
71	Wish Upon a StarLeigh Harline		Pinocchio’s theme song, perfect for saxophone practice
72	Beauty and the BeastCéline Dion		Saxophone performance of famous songs from Disney movies
73	HallelujahLeonard Cohen		Canada’s classic song “Hallelujah,” a masterpiece
74	Take FivePaul Desmond		Tips for practicing the jazz classic “Take Five”
75	Under the Sea from The Little MermaidAlan Menken		Haruka Shimazaki performs “Under the Sea.”
76	HEROMariah Carey		Perform famous pieces on the saxophone with emotion
77	Open MindMatsunaga Takashi		A signature piece by the young Takashi Matsunaga, a TV program theme song
78	Country RoadJohn Denver		A classic American song, back in the spotlight thanks to Ghibli
79	Forever In LoveKenny G		Pursuing the allure of Kenny G’s saxophone
80	Bark at the Sun!Ōno Katsuo		The famous song from the TV drama “Taiyo ni Hoero!”
81	The Hitachi tree—what kind of tree is this?Kobayashi Asei		Hitachi’s commercial theme is a masterpiece that’s easy to perform.
82	Let It BeThe Beatles		A Beatles classic that delights its listeners.
83	Love Theme from Cinema ParadisoEnnio Morricone		A classic movie theme, a moving work beloved by many
84	Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin		The Allure of Rhapsody in Blue
85	Happy birthdayMildred J. Hill, Patty Smith Hill		A beloved, universally cherished classic for celebrating birthdays
86	The House of the Rising Sun / The House Where the Morning Sun Shines		The profound story behind a classic song sung by the Animals
87	When the Saints Go Marching In		Saxophone solo of the jazz standard 'When the Saints Go Marching In'
88	FantasiaClaude Thomas Smith		Performance techniques for famous pieces popular among saxophonists
89	The decisive battle is on Friday.DREAMS COME TRUE		Popular songs by DREAMS COME TRUE
90	SummertimeGeorge Gershwin		A composer who achieved the fusion of jazz and music
91	WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLDLouis Armstrong		Let's play a piece in 12/8 time accurately.
92	Full of SunNino Rota		Great songs from movie theme tracks that are perfect for practice
93	The Olive NecklacePaul Mauriat		The Olive Necklace, a tenor saxophone piece
94	My Dear EllieKUWATA BAND		A poignant Southern (Sazan) classic that resonates with the heart.
95	Part of Your WorldAlan Menken		The captivating tale of Ariel, the songstress of the sea
96	Sweet MemoriesMatsuda Seiko		The saxophone masterpiece “Sweet Memories”
97	Aura Lee / Love Me TenderElvis Persley		This piece is suitable for saxophone practice.
98	My Funny ValentineMiles Davis		Miles Davis's classic jazz piece
99	Let’s become a familyFukuyama Masaharu		Popular difficult music pieces for weddings
100	SpainChick Corea		A diverse set of songs blending jazz and Latin
101	The Girl from IpanemaGilberto		Gilberto's classic bossa nova wins a Grammy
102	moonlightLudwig van Beethoven		The joy of playing Beethoven on the saxophone
103	Love’s GreetingEdward Elgar		Performing famous violin pieces of high difficulty
104	Part of Your WorldAlan Menken		The moving music composed by Alan Menken
105	ButterflyKimura Kaera		Kaela Kimura’s classic song for a happy wedding
106	MistyErroll Louis Garner		Jazz standard, a famous piece for saxophone quartet
107	MistySarah Vaughan		Sarah Vaughan’s classic, singing of love and confusion
108	BurlesqueRobert Planel		Practice with a metronome to master the beat
109	QuartetGuy Lacour		Famous songs used in beginner saxophone lessons
110	Early Spring OdeNakada Akira		A classic whose nostalgic tones evoke a sense of longing
111	Sing, Sing, SingLouis Prima		The big band classic “Sing, Sing, Sing” is the best!
112	Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler		An encouraging pop song that depicts everyday life