Viewing videos requires the latest version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash player.
Get the latest Flash player.
Summary: How to properly place your fingers on a baritone saxophone; get professional instruction for playing this versatile and beautiful instrument in this free music lesson video.
Views: 403 | Tags: scales, theory, brass, instruments, notes, musical, saxophone, sax, reed, orchestra, baritone, woodwind, baritone sax, musical instruments
About the Expert
EJ John Erickson EJ John Erickson is a professional saxophone session man from the time he was in grade school. He currently is playing both recording session gigs and Live wi... read more
Comments
Questions & AnswersFor Expert Village, I'm EJ John Erickson with Vital Flame Productions, and thank you for joining us on our sessions focusing on the baritone saxophone. Well let's talk about where you actually put your fingers on the saxophone. So on your left hand will be on the top of the horn coming around and there's five buttons here, some on the side some here for your pinkie. But the three that you want are the three big ones; not this top one, but this next one down, leave the little one alone, the next one, and the next one. So one, two, three. Your pinkie should reside on these little guys here, and your palm; which these are called the palm keys, all are in your palm. So, one, two, three, pinkies, palms, that's where you put the left hand. O.K. on the right hand again there is one, two, three, it's your middle three fingers. One, two, three. There's no confusing options there. You have two here for your pinkie, and then these side keys here. This actually is a sharp key which we'll deal with later. But, the basic position is these three, pinkies, palms. Your thumb is around back and we'll talk about that next. O.K. for the back of the Bari, baritone sax., you have a little thumb curl here, it doesn't do anything, it is just where you put your thumb for your octave key. That's the octave key because it has you go up an octave. So, most of the time lower register there, upper octave there. Some baritone saxophones have another key below it here, and that's the low A key. That's usually on a more professional Bari. And that gives you a note lower than the lowest note on this one; which is a B flat. So, just be aware of that, you may have a Bari. That has a low A key. Then we have our neck strap ring, where we hold it with our neck strap, and then the right hand. So here your thumb just comes into the thumb hook, and you're pretty much good to go, no keys for it.
Email this video to a friend
Ask A Question
