Saxophone

Technique

Barry Cockcroft
Saxophone technique
The first part of this book deals with the traditional daily practice of scales. Major and
minor scales, major and minor scales in thirds and fourths, major and minor arpeggios and
dominant and diminished arpeggios. The second part deals with the practise of intervals,
from the semitone up to the octave. This kind of exercise is vital to the development of
flexibility that is necessary for the accurate performance of the large leaps and intervals
found in todayʼs music.

Practice method
I suggest that each scale or exercise be randomly matched with one of the articulations from
the first page. The articulations are in order of tongue use. The secret of increasing the speed
of articulation is not how often you tongue, but rather how often you allow the tongue muscle
to rest in between each articulation. Therefore, start at the top of the list and work your way
down. I have included common articulation patterns found in groupings of four, but of course
you may also wish to practise triplets and other rhythmic groupings.

Use of a metronome is highly recommended. Play each group of scales at the same speed.
Donʼt be tempted to play the ʻeasierʼ scales faster. Non-systematic practice is why ʻeasierʼ
scales developed in the first place. Once you can play all at the one speed, increase the
metronome marking.

Intonation
Each note needs to be played at the correct pitch. Make sure that your first note is at
concert pitch and that each subsequent note is just as accurate. In a short time you will have
dextrous fingers and accurate intonation.

Breathing
You will notice a repeat sign near the end of each scale. You should endeavour to play
each scale as many times as possible in one breath in order to increase breathing capacity.
Only through the continual effort of taking large breaths will the capacity and efficiency of
breathing begin to increase. When you can play scales in thirds at least three times in each
breath, you will know that capacity is starting to increase!

Final note
Technical practice can be time consuming, so the aim of this book is to provide an efficient,
comprehensive way in which to facilitate the development of a fluid technique. Work
systematically and you will master saxophone technique.

Barry Cockcroft
 1
articulations
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
       


Saxophone Technique Copyright © 1997 by Barry Cockcroft

ISMN 720019 093
www.reedmusic.com
Published by Reed Music • PO Box 2929 • Fitzroy MDC 3065 • Australia
Used by Permission Made in Australia International Copyright Secured
2
major scales
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E

      
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F

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G

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A

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 3
major arpeggios
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E

     
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4
minor scales
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 5
minor arpeggios
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G

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6
major 3rds
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
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               
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D

      

            
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 

            
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   
E

     
 

            
          
      
   
reedmusic.com sample
      
F


       

       
          
          
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 7


F
     
        
      

           
    
 
      
reedmusic.com sample
    
    
G

      

      
           
           
A
        
     
  

        
                    

  
reedmusic.com sample 
               
A

  

      
               
       
B
     
        
  
 
       
          
          
 
 
reedmusic.com sample
        
B

        
 
 
   
    
 
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
8
minor 3rds
      
   
C

           
 
 
                  
          


      
reedmusic.com sample
 
                  
   
C

               
          
    
                
  
D


       

     
         
            

E              
reedmusic.com sample
  
           

    

 
          
             
 
                
          
E


      

            
          
      
              
reedmusic.com sample 
                   
F

   

        
            
          
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 9

F
                  
    
      
 
    

           
          
        
                 
reedmusic.com sample 
              
G


 

          
                  

G
        
               
   

       
            
  
             
reedmusic.com sample


           
A

    

     
               
       
B
     
              
              

       
          

           
 
 
reedmusic.com sample
         
B

        
 
 
               
          
      
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
10
major 4ths
            
      
C

           

      
         
         
  
C
    
reedmusic.com sample

  

          

    

            
           
       
       
      
D

      

         
          
     
E    
reedmusic.com sample
 
 
              
  
   

       
          
       
      
      
E

    
  

         
         
      
   
reedmusic.com sample     
     
F


     

    
           
        
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 11


F
      
          
     

        
            
          
      
    
reedmusic.com sample
     
G

    

   
            
         
A
        
        
 
  

     
                   

    
reedmusic.com sample

             
A

   

   
                  
   
B
    
        
  
  
    
          
        
 
  
reedmusic.com sample
 
B

    
     
   
  
    
        
           
     
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
12
minor 4ths
     
    
C

          
  
    
           
         


     
reedmusic.com sample
    
    
C

       
  
            
          
   
              
     
D


       

    
       
           

E             
reedmusic.com sample

 
                
    
   

       
             
       
               
             
E


      

         
         
      
              
reedmusic.com sample     
               
F

   

  
                   
      
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 13

F
                 
   
         
 
   

        
          
       
               
reedmusic.com sample

              
G


  

       
                 

G
      
          
          

 
                      
  
            
reedmusic.com sample  
           

A

   

         
           
   
B
    
              
             

      
          

           
  
 
reedmusic.com sample
      
  
B

     
   
  

             
          
     
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
14
dominant 7ths
      
   
C

         
   
C
    

          
       
    
      
reedmusic.com sample
    
D

        
 


E
    
          
        
  
     
      
E

          

 
      
        
F

     
   
F      
reedmusic.com sample

 
       

  
  
  
   


 
       
    
G

   
  
A     
           
   
       
    
       
A

       
 
B     
reedmusic.com sample  
   
      
   
  
 
      
    
        
B

   
  
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 15
diminished 7ths
       

      
C

         
   
C
      
   
              

      
reedmusic.com sample

             
   
D

  
  
D
      
    
          
 


      
    
         
E

     

        
        
F

      

F      
reedmusic.com sample
   
     

  
  
    
 
 
          
G

 
         
   
G
    

       
   
      
    
          
A

        
     
A   
reedmusic.com sample
 
 
            
  
 


       

         
   
B

 
   
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
16
chromatic
            
           
    
      
    
     
reedmusic.com sample

      
       
 

major 2nds

                            
           
                        
           

           
reedmusic.com sample

                 
 

                       
   

minor 3rds

                     
       
      
            
reedmusic.com sample
                 
      

            
               
   

                 
    
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 17
major 3rds

           
  
                  
   

                         
reedmusic.com sample

  
        

             
                
 

reedmusic.com sample
              
   

perfect 4ths

            
  
                
   

                   
   
           


  
reedmusic.com sample

          
     
   

  
           
     
 
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
18
diminished 5ths

                     
     

                   
reedmusic.com sample
 
              

  
         
          


reedmusic.com sample
 
                    
    

perfect 5ths

            
   
               
    
  
                


  



        
    
reedmusic.com sample

 




  

   
          
     
 
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
 19
minor 6ths

               
              
    

                  
reedmusic.com sample
      

  
               
     

reedmusic.com sample
             




 

major 6ths

   
              
     

     
                


 
      
           
reedmusic.com sample


 

      
              
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010
20
minor 7ths

            
                   
   
           
          
reedmusic.com sample

         


       
     
             

major 7ths

       
     
    
           
   
                
          
reedmusic.com sample
  
 

      
        
      

perfect octaves

             
                
 
           
reedmusic.com sample

            

       
             
     
www.reedmusic.com
RM • 010