The saxophone is one of the most popular musical instruments known for the melodious and unique sounds it produces.
Many people are looking for a way to learn to play the saxophone, and thanks to the internet and various sites that offer saxophone courses, it is now possible to learn it online without leaving home.
If you are looking for the easiest and most efficient way to learn to play saxophone, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ve picked the top 10 best online saxophone lessons to help you achieve your goals.
Whether you’re searching for lessons for beginners or courses for advanced levels, there is something on this list that will work for you. Keep reading and pick the best one for your needs.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means we get a commission if you purchase it at no additional cost to you.
1. Jazz Saxophone with Eric Marienthal On ArtistWorks
If you’ve wanted to get your Jazz Saxophone chops up to scratch, then the absolute winner on our list of the best online saxophone courses has to be “Jazz Saxophone with Eric Marienthal,” offered by ArtistWorks.com.
This paid course covers hundreds of saxophone lessons suitable for all levels and styles of playing. While it covers all the basics like how to hold the sax, fingering, embouchure, and reeds, it’s also got loads of amazing lessons for intermediate and advanced players too.
You’ll get to see Eric’s warm-ups and exercises to help you sound like the jazz greats. With membership, you’ll get to take his lessons on scales and modes, improvising, leaning tunes, his favorite licks, and more. It also comes with a lot of backing tracks and charts, so you’ll be able to work through all the material.
Not only do you get all this saxophone tuition, but you’ll also get lessons on ear training, his lessons on how to improvise, phrasing, and composing melodies.
What sets this course apart from other online saxophone courses offered by other sites is the ability to submit your videos for review using the special Video Exchange Learning platform, which you can find on the Artist Works site.
The teacher reviews all videos, and you get a response in the form of another video containing guidance on how to improve your playing and take your skills to the next level.
Besides this, you will get access to the Video Exchange library, where you can find interactions between other students and the teacher and watch their videos so that you can learn from these as well.
The lessons are taught by Eric Marienthal, a Grammy award-winning jazz saxophone musician who has studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and won a large number of other awards for his musical accomplishments. He is an amazing teacher, very passionate about sharing the wealth of his musical knowledge with his students. He even played in Chick Corea’s band!
Pick this course and get the privilege of learning from one of the world’s best jazz musicians. You will acquire the knowledge and skills you need to play your favorite songs in a very short time and from the comfort of your own home without spending an entire fortune on your lessons.
2. Learn to Play Saxophone: Beginner to Pro in Under Four Hours On Udemy
“Learn to Play Saxophone: Beginner to Pro in Under Four Hours” is another extraordinary online saxophone course that you can find on Udemy.
It covers a year’s worth of private lessons in only a few hours and will allow you to master the art of saxophone playing from the comfort of your own home and at a fraction of the cost.
There are over 75 video lessons packed with details but easy to follow and understand. They will teach you how to assemble and care for a saxophone, form a correct saxophone embouchure, read and interpret music notation, perform major scales and dozens of popular melodies and songs and recognize all notes on the saxophone.
Besides this, signing up for this course will also give you access to downloadable sheet music, animated fingering charts, troubleshooting tips and advice, technique-building exercises, various recommendations, and many other things.
The course is suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced players, as it covers everything from the fundamentals of saxophone playing to the more complicated matters and teaches you how to play your favorite songs.
All lessons are taught by Dave Wilson, a famous saxophonist-composer who graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and has performed all around the world with various musicians and at various studios and festivals such as the Chicago World Music Festival, the Guadalajara International Book Fair, the Lotus Festival, the Sydney Opera House, the London Palladium, and others.
Therefore, you can rest assured that you will be in safe hands and learn from the best while saving your time and money.
3. Alto Saxophone Lessons For Beginners on SkillShare
The third spot on our list belongs to SkillShare and its excellent “Alto Saxophone Lessons for Beginners” course.
As its name implies, this paid course is a perfect starting point for beginner alto saxophone players. It includes specially designed practice video lessons that will teach you how to play saxophone quickly and easily without paying too much.
There are twelve sets of lessons and practice videos that are well-constructed, fun, and easy to follow. You will learn the basics of how music functions and how to put the alto saxophone together and make your first sounds. You will also learn melody, rhythm, harmony, how to play in a band, and how to express yourself through music and improvising.
In addition, the course also includes a special “Jam Room” where you can play along with a virtual band at different speeds and polish your skills and techniques. This course will teach you everything you need to know to start playing saxophone and create the music through which you will express your musical self.
You will be accompanied on this adventure by the amazing multi-instrumentalist Todd Porter. Todd has been teaching music for the past fifteen years and won numerous awards for his musical achievements.
He will make sure that you master everything necessary to play the alto saxophone with confidence both on your own and with other people in various musical situations.
4. Saxschoolonline.com
Another great way to learn to play saxophone like a pro in a very short time is with Sax School and one of its special paid courses.
This online school offers the easiest, fastest, and most effective ways to learn to play the saxophone like a true master.
Depending on what you are looking for, it can help you master the basics, improvise like a virtuoso or entertain like a famous musician, all from the comfort of your own home and when it’s convenient for you.
There are courses for everyone, for all ages and levels of expertise, from absolute beginners who have never touched the saxophone before to professional players looking for a way to perfect their skills.
From the basics of saxophone playing, correct embouchure, and playing at speed to improvising and playing your favorite songs, you will acquire all skills that make up a true master of saxophone playing.
Whatever your starting point, Sax School and the amazing teachers who work there will lead you through every step of this exciting journey with the help of fun and engaging lessons and take your playing to the next level.
5. BetterSax
The next extensive resource of online saxophone lessons and courses is Better Sax. Better Sax is a website that offers a wide range of free and paid online saxophone courses to help get you to the point where you want to be quickly and efficiently.
There are courses for beginners as well as for intermediate and advanced-level players. They cover video lessons from the basics of music theory to rhythm and improvising and include downloadable PDFs and backing tracks, targeted and personalized feedback, and much more.
Some of the courses are: “Pentatonic Foundation,” “Blues Foundation,” “Harmonic Foundation,” “Core Essentials,” and others.
By joining their community, you will also get access to bi-monthly interactive live stream sessions where you can discuss a range of saxophone topics and lifetime access to courses, an easy user interface, and numerous other benefits.
All you need to do is to purchase one of the courses offered on this site and embark on this exciting journey with experienced and well-recognized teachers who will guide you on your way to success.
6. SaxTuition – Beginner Series
To continue with our top choices of the best online saxophone lessons, Sax Tuition offers a unique paid “Beginner Series” course which they claim can give you all the skills you need to conquer the saxophone.
As its name suggests, the “SaxTuition Beginner Series” is a beginner saxophone course covering twelve video lessons (over 3 hours of content) taught in a clear and easy-to-understand way.
You can take these lessons anywhere and anytime you want and rewatch them as often as you like.
In addition, each video lesson comes with a large number of songs and exercises to practice. They are included in a free eBook that will help you learn how to read and understand music and music theory. To guide you through these songs in the book, the course also offers over 200 demo tracks for you to play along with.
If you sign up for this course, your teacher will be Jeremy Trezona. He is an exceptional saxophonist and composer who hold a Master of Music from the University of Southern California and has performed all around the world on numerous stages.
7. Taming The Saxophone
Taming the Saxophone is a popular platform for free and paid online saxophone lessons created by a British composer, music producer, and saxophonist – Pete Thomas.
There you can find various courses, tutorials, and other learning resources designed to help you improve your skills, whether you are a first-time beginner or an experienced player.
The site doesn’t look eye-catching and might seem a little difficult to navigate, but eventually, you will be able to find the material you need to advance in your saxophone adventure.
What’s interesting about this website is the possibility to buy one of Pete’s books and DVDs and get free access to PDF lessons. All money from sold books and DVDs goes to charity.
By joining the community on the site, you will also get access to an active forum where you can join discussions with other students and exchange your experiences.
So, if you prefer learning with books and mp3 files, and you are a beginner or an intermediate-level player, this course might be the right choice for you.
8. SaxCasts
SaxCasts is another website, where you can find well-arranged and interesting paid saxophone lessons.
The lessons are video-based, followed by PDFs, backing tracks, and sheet music. All you need to do is subscribe, and you will get access to everything this site has to offer.
The lessons are suitable for all skill levels and will guide you through everything, from the fundamentals of saxophone playing to the more advanced material.
What sets this site apart from other similar sites is the possibility to get a personal video every month containing guidance and feedback on how to improve your playing and take it to the next level.
The creators of this site and tutors are Dan Christian, who has a vast experience as a saxophone instructor, and Jonathan Hibbard, a jazz saxophonist, and guitarist specialized in Jazz performance.
They are passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with their students, so you can be sure that they will teach you everything you need to play saxophone like a pro in a very short time and at a great price.
9. Cambridge Saxophone
Cambridge Saxophone is a website that offers both offline and online paid courses and lessons.
The lessons are designed for students of all ages and levels of experience and will help you learn the basics of music theory, basic techniques, and how to read sheet music.
As you advance in your studies, you can move on to more complicated lessons, learn how to play your favorite songs, and improve your practical skills.
A great thing about this site is that it gives you a chance to take the first four lessons for free and decide whether you want to become a member. By becoming a member you will enjoy many other benefits offered by this platform, such as having carefully planned private lessons via Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime.
Taking these private lessons will allow you to work with true saxophone professionals and experienced musicians who will guide you through every step and provide valuable feedback on how to improve your playing.
Although the lessons might seem a little overwhelming to a first-time beginner, eventually, you will get used to them, and they are great if you are looking for a fast and affordable way to master the art of saxophone playing.
10. Matt Otto
And finally, the last option on our list of the best online saxophone resources is Matt Otto.
It is a website founded by an accomplished and talented saxophonist Matt Otto. He is also a professor of Jazz Studies at Kansas University who wanted to share his knowledge and skills with students from around the work and created this site to help them master this beautiful art form.
The site offers both free and paid online lessons and books. The lessons are suitable for intermediate and advanced learners and combine videos, PDFs, and texts with sheet music and audio files.
Not all of these videos are of the best quality but will help you get an insight into the music theory of saxophone playing and acquire all the practical skills you need to play saxophone confidently.
If you are a beginner looking for an easy and affordable way to start your saxophone adventure, the lessons offered by this site might not be the best for you.
Conclusion: Which Online Saxophone Lesson is the Best For You?
Learning to play the saxophone is a rewarding experience, but getting started is a challenge. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best online saxophone lessons to help you pick the perfect option and embark on this exciting adventure today.
All of the resources we’ve listed above can benefit you in many ways and help you learn to play saxophone in the shortest time possible and within a reasonable price range, but if you can’t decide on which one would best work for you, we heartily recommend the “Saxophone with Eric Marienthal” course offered by ArtistWorks.
With the right guidance from one of the world’s best saxophonists and music teachers and enough practice, you’ll master all the necessary techniques and start playing your first tunes in no time.
