Chapter I

Starting Out: Posture, Hand Position, and Embouchure

The fundamental foundation for all saxophonists begins with some basic concepts regarding posture, hand position, and embouchure. Good fundamental concepts in these areas will establish the foundation of playing the saxophone and help facilitate the development of the technique, as well as tone.

Good posture when playing the saxophone contributes to the development of tone, as well as technique, by placing the body in a position that will not only enhance the physical motion needed to negotiate good technique, but also to breathe properly.

Whether sitting or standing, always keep the body relaxed, but not slouching. Sit on the edge of the chair to form an even balance between your feet and your seat, and stand with your feet apart, aligned with your shoulders, for the optimal playing position.

Ideally, the proper positioning of the instrument will allow the instrument to come to you in the posture positions described above. The neck strap should be adjusted so the saxophone mouthpiece falls directly into the embouchure position without deviating from the fundamental posture positions. Additional minor adjustments to the angle of the neck and/or the horizontal position of the mouthpiece may be needed once the neck strap is positioned so the mouthpiece will fit comfortably in your embouchure position without changing your posture or head position. Finally, be careful not to use the thumbs to lift the saxophone in position, but rather, always adjust the height of the instrument with the neck strap. The thumbs are only used to balance the instrument from moving right-to-left and should not be used to lift the instrument as it will cause tension in the hands, and ultimately hinder your technique.

Although the length and shape of the fingers as well as the type of saxophone used (i.e., make, model, size) often determines the saxophonist’s hand positions, there are a few concepts to consider that will help smooth typical problems with saxophone technique.

First, it is important to remember to always keep the fingers and hands as close to the keys of the saxophone as much as possible, while keeping the fingers curved and relaxed when placed into position. You can emulate the finger curvature by placing your arm and hand down to your side in a relaxed position. Once the arm, hand, and fingers are in a natural relaxed position along your side, bring the arm and hand to the saxophone, without moving the natural curve of the relaxed