Saxophone Care and Maintenance

Supplies needed to care for the saxophone:

1. Swab

2. Cloth to remove finger marks

3. Thin key oil

4. Cork grease

5. Clean cloth

6. Mouthpiece brush

Assembly: How to put your saxophone together

Before you open your case, be sure that it is right side up.  Grease the cork on the neckpiece so that the mouthpiece goes on easily.  Put the mouthpiece and reed on the neckpiece.  Place the neckpiece in the body of the saxophone.  To avoid bending the neckpiece, do not apply any downward pressure.  Use a gentle, rotating, twisting motion.  The octave lever key should go under the ring on the neckpiece.

Reeds, Reed Case, and Water Bottle:

Always have at least two usable reeds.  Keep reeds in a reed guard when not in use so they will dry flat.  You can purchase an inexpensive plastic reed guard at any music store.  Before playing, soak your reeds in clean water for a few minutes.  A 35mm film case makes an excellent water bottle for soaking reeds.  Break in new reeds by playing them for a few minutes each day.  If you alternate reeds every other day, your reeds will last longer.  When your reeds become cracked or chipped, they need to be thrown away and replaced.

Tuning:

To tune the saxophone, adjust the length of the instrument by moving the mouthpiece in or out.  If you need to lower your pitch, pull the mouthpiece out, making your saxophone longer.  If you need to raise your pitch, push the mouthpiece in.

When you have finished playing:

Moisture left in the instrument after you have finished playing will cause the pads to deteriorate.  Swab your saxophone out each time you play.  There are two kinds of swabs available for the saxophone.  The most common is  a cloth attached by a string to a weight.  The weight is dropped through the instrument and the cloth pulled through.  The other kind of swab is a brush type (Pad-Saver) that is pushed through and left for storage in the body of the instrument.

Wipe the keys with a cloth to remove finger marks and acid left by perspiration.  This acid will tarnish the metal if it is not removed.  Remove your reed from the mouthpiece and place it in a reed guard.  This will extend the life of the reed and prevent it from warping.  Leave the ligature on the mouthpiece to keep it from getting bent, and use a cloth to wipe the inside of the mouthpiece.  Do not pull your swab through the mouthpiece.  Place the mouthpiece cap over the mouthpiece and ligature for storage.

Once a week, use a mouthpiece brush to clean your mouthpiece in warm, soapy water.  Before cleaning, remove the cap and ligature.

Always keep your saxophone in its case when you are not playing.  To prevent damage to the octave key lever, always replace the end plug when you put your saxophone away (unless you are using a Pad-Saver).  Never put anything into your case that it was not designed to hold because the pressure from papers or music can bend the rods and keys.

Regular maintenance:

 

Try to keep dust from accumulating in the key mechanism of the saxophone.  If you are extremely careful, you can use a small brush (a clean paintbrush is fine) or a clean cotton swab to clean under the keys and rods.  If this is not done with great care, springs could be pushed out of place or bent. 

Vacuum your case several times a year.

 

Do not polish the keys.  Use a cloth to wipe off moisture and finger marks after playing.

Once or twice a year apply a small amount of thin key oil to all key joints and posts.

Under each key is a pad that seals the tone hole when the key closes.  If pads stick, they are dirty.  To clean the pads, place a piece of clean cloth under the pad, close the key, and pull the cloth through.  To keep pads clean, do not eat candy or chew gum before playing!  Pads can and should be replaced after several years of use, but this is expensive, so make them last as long as possible.

The body of the saxophone can be polished with a soft cloth.  Never use polish on the saxophone, as this can damage the finish.  Avoid bumps when you are playing.  Dents in the saxophone look ugly and are very expensive to have removed.  This is especially important to watch for when you are sitting down because it is very easy to bump the saxophone on your chair.  Rest the saxophone against your right hip-not against your chair.

Always use a neck strap as additional support for holding the saxophone, and as a safety measure to prevent accidental dropping of the instrument.  However, do not depend entirely on the neck strap to support the saxophone.  The strap itself can snap, or the hook can break or bend.  Keep both hands on the instrument at all times.

Handling the saxophone:

The saxophone is a delicate instrument which must be handled carefully.  Do not let anyone else but your teacher play your saxophone.  If you must set it down during lessons or rehearsal, put it on a flat surface with keys up.  Never leave your saxophone on a music stand or a chair.  The saxophone can be damaged even when it is inside the case!  The saxophone is an expensive instrument--not a toy--and it should be handled with care.