How is the saxophone course ordered?
It begins with three notes, B, A and G, in Hot Cross Buns. Then each piece adds one thing, and the rhythm grows alongside.
| Pieces | What is new |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | B, A, G, then D with the octave key in Mary Had a Little Lamb, then C, then five notes, G to D |
| 5 to 8 | Eighth notes in Jingle Bells, then low D, E and F-sharp, longer phrases with low notes, and a full octave in Ode to Joy |
| 9 to 11 | Low C, F and B-flat in Good King Wenceslas, 3/4 time with eighth-note pickups in Brahms’s Lullaby, and the upper octave in Amazing Grace |
| 12 to 15 | 6/8 and a minor key in Greensleeves, dotted rhythms in Dvořák’s Largo, staccato and accidentals in Grieg’s Mountain King theme, and a whole minuet |
What will I learn?
- A note at a time: the course adds notes in the saxophone’s own order, so the upper octave comes late.
- The low register: low D, E, F-sharp, then C, F and B-flat.
- Meter and key: 3/4, 6/8, a minor key and a key of B minor in the Grieg.
- Articulation: the staccato of the Mountain King theme, and a long legato phrase in Largo.
The course lies between written B3 and B5, which sound as D3 to D5. Low B-flat and the palm keys are left for later. The pieces are in written pitch for alto saxophone. They sound a major sixth lower, and SheetScroll listens for that, so you do not need to change a setting. All are public domain, in our own CC0 encodings, checked against editions.
How do I begin?
Tap Learn an instrument in an empty library, or go to Setlists → Learn → Alto Saxophone. SheetScroll imports the pieces, creates Learn alto saxophone, and opens piece one. The note on each piece says what it adds. It is a normal setlist, so you can rename or reorder it.
How should I practice with it?
- Put the device near the saxophone. If SheetScroll says it is too quiet or too noisy to follow, move the device closer, or find a quieter spot.
- Play a piece through before you add the next. Pieces 2 and 3 each add a single note.
- At the octave key in Mary Had a Little Lamb, go slowly and play the D several times.
- Mark breaths with the Breath mark stamp, and accents with the Accent stamp.
- If you drop out and come back, tap the bar you are on.
What do I play next?
Open the free saxophone sheet music, or import your own parts. Pro lets SheetScroll listen to those. See the wind and brass page.
The pieces
Learn alto saxophone: From three notes to Grieg. 15 pieces, in the order they are played.
- Hot Cross Buns, Traditional: First notes: B, A, G
- Mary Had a Little Lamb, Traditional: Adding D
- Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Traditional: Adding C
- Lightly Row, Traditional: Five notes, G to D
- Jingle Bells, James Lord Pierpont: Eighth notes
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Traditional: Low D, E and F-sharp
- Au clair de la lune, Traditional: Longer phrases, low notes
- Ode to Joy (theme), Ludwig van Beethoven: A full octave
- Good King Wenceslas, Traditional: Low C, F and B-flat
- Lullaby, Johannes Brahms: 3/4 time, pickups
- Amazing Grace, Traditional: The upper octave
- Greensleeves, Traditional: 6/8 time, minor key
- Largo (theme), Antonín Dvořák: Dotted rhythms, long phrases
- In the Hall of the Mountain King (theme), Edvard Grieg: Staccato and accidentals
- Minuet in G, Christian Petzold: A whole minuet
In the app: Setlists → Learn.
Questions
Is it for alto or tenor saxophone?
The course is for alto saxophone, in written pitch.
Do I have to set the transposition?
No. The pieces carry it, and SheetScroll listens for the sound they make.
Is the course free?
Yes. It is part of the free reader, and its pieces listen and turn pages without Pro.
Which low notes does it avoid?
Low B-flat and the palm keys are left for later.
Related
- BeginnersEight free courses for piano, guitar, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, sax and trumpet. The pieces listen and turn the page as you play, with no Pro needed.
- StudentsFree courses, free sheet music, loops, hands-separately practice and tempo history. A sheet music app for students that listens and turns the page.
- TeachersMark up pieces, set up recitals, build a lesson library and give students practice that listens. A sheet music app for music teachers, with a free reader.
- Wind and brassHands-free page turns for wind and brass players. SheetScroll listens through the mic, turns two beats early, never early, and shows your PDFs as printed.
- Transposing instrumentsWhat concert pitch is, why clarinets, trumpets, saxophones and horns are transposing instruments, and how to convert a part, with a table of intervals.