Gift Ideas
These accessories make good gift ideas for saxophonists who are just starting
out.
Most of these accessories can be purchased at any music shop that deals
in brass and woodwind instruments.
Guide to Saxophone Accessories
There are a large number of accessories available for the saxophone.
Below is a list of the type of things a saxophone student might need.
All prices on this page are a very rough estimate as a guide only. As with any item, there are bargains to be had, but there are also "cheap and nasty" products around.
Neck Straps
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Cleaning and Maintenance
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General Music
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Storage
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Neck Straps/Harnesses
 Padded Neck-Strap |
 Harness
Neck-Strap |
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Clips are better than hooks
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The right neck strap will make a huge difference in your experience of playing the saxophone. They can make the saxophone feel lighter, reducing tension in your body and leading to a more relaxed technique.
Most saxes will come with a very basic strap, that can be quite uncomfortable after a short period of use, digging into the skin on the back of your neck. Younger students, especially, can become disheartened if practising is uncomfortable for them.
There are several styles of strap to choose from:
Padded Straps
Look for a strap that has some padding on it to spread and cushion the weight of the saxophone on your neck. Some also have an elasticated section strap, to reduce stress further.
Harness
Harness type straps spread the load out on to the shoulders rather than the neck and may help avoid back and neck troubles later on. They are especially helpful for the heavier saxes such as Tenor and Baritone.
Slings
Sling type straps put the load on one shoulder only. I don't recommend the use of these straps except in exceptional circumstances as I feel they promote an unbalanced posture. However they can be good for tenor players who do a lot of playing in the seated position (ie in the sax section of a big band).
Cleaning
and Maintenance Accesories
Pull-through Cleaner
Essential for cleaning your saxophone after use. A good pull-through will absorb most of the moisture that condenses on the inside of your sax when playing.
Pad-savers,
Neck Savers
Pad-savers absorb the moisture that condenses on the inside of the saxophone when playing it. They are left inside the body (or neck) while the sax is being stored in its case.
There are differing opinions among saxophone repair technicians that I have talked to about the effectiveness of pad savers. Many cheaper pad savers drop lint, which can build up on the pads and cause leaks, sticky pads and hardening.
Neck Plugs/ Bungs
Neck plugs protect the octave key assembly at the top of the sax body when the sax is stored or transported in its case. They are an essential piece of equipment that is frequently lost by younger students. Usually made of plastic, they are inexpensive to purchase.
Key Oil
Key oil is specially formulated to reduce wear on keys and rods, prolonging the life of the sax, and keeping the action nice and free. Keys should be kept well oiled, applying oil once every 3-6 months is usually adequate.
Price: NZ$10 - $20
Cork Grease
Cork grease will help keep the cork on the neck in good condition. It is usually sold in tubes similar to lip-balm packaging, but does not taste as good.
Leak Lights
A leak light is a flexible light that can be threaded inside the body to check for leaks around pads. More useful for technicians, or professional players who want to be able to check their own horns out without a trip to a repair shop.
General Music Accessories
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 |
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 Various
metronomes |
Metronomes
Metronomes help you keep time by generating a regular click or beep at various tempos to play to.
Most if not all practice should be done with a metronome. Used properly, practising with a metronome will enable better technique and time feel.
Some metronomes will also generate a tone to tune your saxophone to. This is usually A=440Hz which is the note F# on Alto sax, and B on Tenor or Soprano. This is a very useful feature for saxophonists.
Estimated Price: NZ$30 - $200
 Tubular design |
 Folding design |
Music Stands
Music stands are an essential piece of equipment for any musician. The two most common designs are the foldaway type, and the sturdier but more expensive tubular steel design.
Price: NZ$30 - $90
Electronic
Chromatic Tuners
Chromatic tuners can be useful for saxophonists at intermediate level and above as they allow you to check your intonation over all the notes on the saxophone.
Models that have a needle or display showing how far sharp (#) or flat (b) each note is (like the one pictured), are more useful than ones that just show # or b.
Guitar tuners are usually slightly cheaper, and will work for sax players but are not as flexible as they will only tune the notes E, A, D, G & B. Make sure the model has a built-in microhone.
Beginners should learn to tune themselves to a pitch by ear before using a tuner.
Price NZ$40 - $100
Storage Accessories
Saxophone
Stands
Saxophone stands allow you to leave saxes setup between practise sessions or during breaks and are very useful for all saxophonists. The sax is held by placing the bell into the fork at the top of the stand.
Many will have an optional attachment for Soprano sax or clarinet, as shown in the picture to the right.
Care should be taken as saxes are vulnerable to being knocked over while on the stand. Saxes should always be cleaned after use.
Price: NZ$30- $50
 SKB Alto Case |
 SKB Tenor Case |
Saxophone Cases
If you are carrying your sax around a lot, moulded flight cases are lighter and more compact than the case your saxophone came with. The main brand available in New Zealand are the SKB flight cases.
Look for a case with a space for the neck and mouthpiece of your sax, as the models which require you to put them in a bag in the bell of the sax, can lead to small dents in the bell.
You can expect to pay NZ$300+