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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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I have the latest version of Band In a Box.
I can use it as a backing for my guitar.
I have just acquired an Alto Saxophone and had it checked out by a repairer and it is good to go.
Where do I start with baby steps in Band in a Box?
I have a little (and I mean a little) idea of reading music.
I used to play the piano when I was a kid but that was a long time ago.
I could WILL pick up the notation again.
All help gratefully welcome.
George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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First, you will need a sax method book with fingering chart and setup tips.
To play along with BIAB, you will need to transpose everything down a minor third because a sax is a transposing instrument (alto sax is pitched in Eb). BIAB has a setting to do this easily. I'm not at a BIAB computer now, but it's something like Opt., Preferences, Notation and then select Alto Sax in the pull-down menu. Don't forget to set it back to Concert pitch to play along with your guitar.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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I have been doing exactly what you want to do with my EWI-USB wind controller. Although I can read music and did play trumpet the wind controller trumpet fingerings and playing techniques are quite different than a real trumpet.
What I did was to purchase a couple of Norton’s fake book disks to the fake books I had. That way I just brought up a song from the disk and played along with the book. This saves a lot of time, as you do not have to put the chords in yourself. Plus you can start with slow songs and work you way up to faster one. I am not at the faster ones yet! If you go this route be sure to buy a fake book in Eb.
Good luck and have fun.
(edit) An after thought: The absolute best way to get started on the alto sax is to find a good instructor. That way you will learn the correct playing techniques from the git-go. It is much harder to correct bad techniques than it is to learn them correctly right from the start.
Last edited by MarioD; 09/18/13 06:00 AM.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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George, if you are at all serious about the endeavor, I heartily recommend that you also find a good teacher and invest the time and small amount of money required in order to get the basics of fingering, breath control, embouchure etc. correct the first time, which will eliminate the kind of bad habits that can happen when we don't know that which we don't know.
It is usually far more difficult to break a bad habit than it is to get started off on the riht foot in the first place.
Along with those lessons, of course Band in a Box represents a great addition to any practice regimen and it too, can be used to get there much faster, provided that you get those all-important basic things from that teacher as you work with the sax.
Because one of the biggest keys to success is efficiency when the subject is musical instrument practice.
--Mac
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Matt, First, you will need a sax method book with fingering chart and setup tips. Can you give me any idea about which book? As to BIAB I use the Bb>C Icon to transpose. George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi MarioD,
Which songs or tunes did you start with?
I will use the many many song and tunes I already have for BIAB.
As to finding a good instructor - I am drawing a blank so far.
As I live in a rural area they are as hard to find as hen's teeth.
I have contacted the music schools in my area but they don't do private tuition.
George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Mac, I am deadly serious about learning the Alto Saxophone. I understand that to practice and practice - if you have not been taught the rudiments - only reinforces the bad habits. I am having a hard time sourcing a teacher, but will not give up. Because one of the biggest keys to success is efficiency when the subject is musical instrument practice. I wholeheartedly agree. George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Try contacting the local school systems and ask for Band Director. If they can't do the lessons themselves, likely one or more of them can give you a lead on who can. There also may be online or computer-based courses available as well, a quick Bing search brought this site up, rudimentary, but there are likely good sites and such online for just about every level these days. http://www.saxophone-players.com/learn-to-play-saxophone.html --Mac
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi MarioD,
Which songs or tunes did you start with?
I will use the many many song and tunes I already have for BIAB.
As to finding a good instructor - I am drawing a blank so far.
As I live in a rural area they are as hard to find as hen's teeth.
I have contacted the music schools in my area but they don't do private tuition.
George Hi George, I don’t remember the names of the songs but start with something simple like the Beatles "Nowhere Man". In other words start with songs that use mostly all quarter, half and whole notes or in your talk crotchet, minim and semibreve notes. Thank God for the Internet  You might also google/bing major scales for the alto sax or as Mac has indicated search for instructional material for the alto sax. As Mac said check with local high schools and see if the music teacher teaches privately, here in upper western New York state that is quite common. If he doesn’t tutor then maybe one of his high school alto players may be able to teach you the basics. Good luck.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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There are plenty of fingering charts on the Internet, but here is one: http://www.lightandmatter.com/music/saxfingeringsbasic.pdfYou will want to find a teacher and a method book to help make sense of this. Good luck!
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Mac, Thank you for your help. The link you supplied was very helpful. No joy with finding a local tutor at present. I will try the internet. I have had some success at making a toot on my sax. Bought some Vandoren reeds and purchased a Yamaha Mouthpiece. I was surprised at how easy it was to use the Yamaha mouthpiece as opposed to the student mouthpiece ( no name ). George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Hi MarioD, I don’t remember the names of the songs but start with something simple like the Beatles "Nowhere Man". In other words start with songs that use mostly all quarter, half and whole notes or in your talk crotchet, minim and semibreve notes. Thank God for the Internet wink Thanks for the info you provided. I will start with baby steps and then try to increase my knowledge by practicing hard. You might also google/bing major scales for the alto sax or as Mac has indicated search for instructional material for the alto sax. I have done that and there are oodles and oodles of Sax sites  George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Matt,
Thank you for finding that finger chart.
I have also downloaded many others and feel that they will help.
As I have said there are no local teachers available.
I have heard there is a jazz group (with Sax players) that play in a social club relatively close to me (around 30 miles) so I will visit and ask them if they know anyone who might help.
George
Last edited by George Nelson; 09/19/13 01:43 AM.
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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That is sounding more promising.
Which Yamaha mouthpiece? 4?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Bought some Vandoren reeds and purchased a Yamaha Mouthpiece.
I was surprised at how easy it was to use the Yamaha mouthpiece as opposed to the student mouthpiece ( no name ).
Don't be hasty to judge the original mothpiece as being inferior, it was likely designed to fit the embouchure of a preteen through teen mouth. And for them, it may be an easier blow than your new Yammny mouthpiece, which may be easier for you to obtain sound with simply because the Yammy better suits the size and shape of your embouchure. We ain't no spring chickens anymore, George me laddy... so don't throw the old mouthpiece out. --Mac
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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The Yamaha 4C is their student mouthpiece. It's an excellent place to start.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Matt,
Yamaha 4C
George
Whoops Matt beat me to it.
Last edited by George Nelson; 09/19/13 09:48 AM.
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Mac, Don't you know I'm Scottish.... throw away just doesn't compute George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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To answer your original question, no. Nothing can teach you how to play. It can give you music to play along with, but only you and practice will teach you how to play.
No shortcuts available to learn a skill. You can't learn to weld by watching welders do their craft. You can't learn to cook by watching cooking shows. You can't learn to use a router from watching woodworkers. You need to burn a lot of metal, ruin a lot of wood, and make some really bad food on your way to learning. In this case, you will make a lot of squeaks.
A good teacher will show you basic fingering and give you some scales to play that will build your speed and muscle memory. I did a lot of Hanon scales on my sax, just like I did on piano and guitar. Mainly it's about investing time and repetition.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Hi Eddie1261, To answer your original question, no. Nothing can teach you how to play. It can give you music to play along with, but only you and practice will teach you how to play. Yes I hear what you are saying. Perhaps the original question should have read " Can BIAB help when I am learning the Saxophone". No shortcuts available to learn a skill. You can't learn to weld by watching welders do their craft. You can't learn to cook by watching cooking shows. You can't learn to use a router from watching woodworkers. You need to burn a lot of metal, ruin a lot of wood, and make some really bad food on your way to learning. In this case, you will make a lot of squeaks. How right you are. At the moment all I am trying to do is use the mouthpiece and the neck to make a consistent tone ( I believe it should be a G# ) but as you say I am making lots of squeaks  A good teacher will show you basic fingering and give you some scales to play that will build your speed and muscle memory. I did a lot of Hanon scales on my sax, just like I did on piano and guitar. Mainly it's about investing time and repetition. Wow! I remember now that that was how I was taught when I was a kid. Never knew how useful they would be. Thanks George
Windows 11 64 bit, Biab 2026 (1237), Realband 2026 (10)
i7 Desktop Computer 16Gb Memory
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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