A few weeks or months after you start saxophone lessons, your music teacher will likely hand you a list of easy saxophone songs to play around with. In case they don't, you need a collection of tunes suited to your level of playing. If they do, our list adds to your collection, and better yet: it offers plenty of variety, from standards to modern-day ballads. Which one will you try first?
| 🎷Song title | 🎤Artist | 🎵Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Uptown Funk | Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars | Rock, funk |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Bart Howard | Standard (light jazz) |
| Sister Christian | Night Ranger | Rock (ballad) |
| Deacon Blues | Steely Dan | Jazz |
| Stand By Me | Ben E. King | Jazz |
| The Pink Panther Theme | Henry Mancini | Instrumental |
| The One You Love | Glenn Frey | Light rock (ballad) |
| Shake It Off | Taylor Swift | Pop |
| In the Mood | Glenn Miller | Jazz-Big Band |
| My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean | Traditional | Traditional |
| Doxy | Sonny Rollins | Jazz |
| Careless Whisper | George Michael | Pop |
| Baker Street | Jerry Rafferty | Pop |
| Happy | Pharrell Williams | Pop |
| Rolling in the Deep | Adele | Pop |
| The Circle of Life | Elton John | Pop |
| All of Me | John Legend | Soul (ballad) |
| The Hustle | Van McCoy | Disco |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | Wallace Willis Minerva Willis (probably) | Spiritual |
| Tequila | Chuck Rio | Rock (instrumental) |
Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson-Bruno Mars)
Tempting as it might be to just leave this musical masterpiece to its creators, playing it on the sax brings its own brand of musical genius. It plays almost entirely on the left hand, only occasionally adding right-hand notes and octave key work.
Fly Me to the Moon (Bart Howard)
Even if you're no fan of jazz or standards (well-established pieces that enjoy enduring popularity), you'll know this tune from its opening bars1. After all, it must be a super-famous song if it made it onto the Squid Game soundtrack, right?
Sister Christian (Night Ranger)
The American band Night Ranger had a heavy chart presence during the 80s. Sister Christian is one of its most popular songs; the band's drummer, Kelly Keagy, wrote this tune about his sister. Well, more about the shock he was in at how fast she was growing up.
It's slow tempo and repeating phrases give you lots of room to improvise. They also make this tune ideal for all types of saxophone. But it plays and sounds the best when played on an alto sax.
Deacon Blues (Steely Dan)
I cried when i wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Steely Dan, from Deacon Blues
You'll cry too when you hear how smooth this jazz-based light rock tune is. And the lyrics! He literally sings about working the saxophone! Is that your invitation to master this song, or what?
Best of all, it features an extended instrumental play towards the end with a hypnotising backbeat. You won't even think about your fingering as you get lost in the music.
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)
Ben E. King made this jazz standard famous in 1961. Originally, the song was a gospel hymn rooted in Psalm 46. King didn't want the song for himself, but the group he wrote it for, The Drifters, rejected it. Ben had a bit of studio time left after recording Spanish Harlem, so he laid tracks for Stand By Me.
The Pink Panther Theme (Henry Mancini)
Frankly, this is a fun, easy tune to play while reinforcing your playing posture and embouchure. Think of it as a warm-up ahead of more serious sax endeavours, such as learning more complex pieces. And, if you get frustrated while trying to finger the new tune, riff off a couple of Pink Panther phrases to blow off stress!
The One You Love (Glenn Frey)
Glenn Frey remains a legend of classic rock; he was half of The Eagles' powerhouse songwriting duo. By no stretch could anyone say that he limited his artistry while in that band. However, he truly came into his own when he went solo.
This song's wistful, longing strains are perfect for the sax. And if you want to tackle that gorgeous sax interlude, who's to say you can't?
Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)
Talk about a fun tune to play! Its short, choppy notes, all within a relatively short range, make Shake it Off tops among super easy saxophone songs.
Taylor still rules the airwaves with this song, even though it's more than 10 years old. But then again, with everyone's tempers flaring, isn't it great that we have this highly danceable (and playable!) song to blow off stress?
In the Mood (Glenn Miller)
I may be telling on myself when I confess that, in my day, every good party, concert, and lounge show kicked off with this tune. At least, the opening bars! And 'my day' isn't that far behind, either! Because what better way to kick off your do than by getting In the Mood?
Granted, it's a bit more challenging than the tunes we've featured so far. Just be warned! Among all your sax accessories, make sure you have a quality neck strap, as you'll not resist the urge to dance around while you play this happy tune.
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (Traditional)
This Scottish traditional tune haunted our childhood and still features on modern kids' music playlists. Now, you can rediscover its magic when you learn how to play it on your saxophone.
What's so great about this song is that it gives you lots of room to inject your personality and develop your playing style. You can play it faster, slower, and normal tempo, and even mix them up to create a unique sound.
Ritardanto means 'gradually slowing down'.
You can build tension towards the end of each verse and the song with ritardanto-style playing.
Doxy (Sonny Rollins)
Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins has such a casual way of stringing notes together that makes them easy to play and a pleasure to listen to. He did just that in 1954, on this track, with Miles Davis (another jazz great) playing along on his trumpet.
Careless Whisper (George Michael)
This song, first released in 1984, is the very definition of 'standing the test of time'. It was musical perfection when George Michael picked up where the sax intro left off. And it's perfection squared as a sax instrumental piece.
In fact, you can play this tune on either alto or tenor sax. As this tutorial shows, it sounds gorgeous played on either instrument.
Baker Street (Jerry Rafferty)
[it has] the most recognizable sax riff in pop music history.
Billboard Magazine
No beginner saxophone songs collection would be complete without this memorable tune. British saxophone soloist Richard Ingram swears that the Baker Street solo was responsible for the surge in saxophone sales. He also credits this tune for the resurgence of sax riffs in pop music (and in advertising).
Happy (Pharrell Williams)
Around the world, people love the Minions, they love Pharrell, and they prefer to be happy. This trifecta could only be improved on by adding a well-played saxophone2. Lucky for you, Happy is perfect as a sax instrumental!
Admittedly, it will sound better with a backing track. Still, this tutorial is a great way to master the song's fingering; you can add backing later.
For this and the other tutorial videos, slow the player to half or three-quarter speed when you first practise the songs.
Rolling in the Deep (Adele)
This song (and Hello) cemented Adele's status as a songwriter and singer. It's tough to not get entranced by her powerful vocals and focus on the music. But if you manage to not fall under that magnificent voice's spell, you'll hear how elementary the music is. There's your incentive to give Rolling a try!
The Circle of Life (Elton John)
This is one of Disney's most famous songs, arguably only unseated from the top spot by Let It Go. It would be hard to imagine a more hopeful, uplifting song suitable for beginner sax players. And it's not just uplifting, it's almost too easy to play!
All of Me (John Legend)
John wrote this song for his then-girlfriend (now wife) in 2013. Upon its release, it rocketed to the top of the music charts, unseating Pharrell's Happy.
This romantic tour de force plays easily on the sax; its notes aren't complicated or difficult to play, even for beginners. In fact, All of Me is a great beginner song to master. However, for this tutorial, you'll have to read the sheet music.
The Hustle (Van McCoy)
This disco-era instrumental was a global smash hit in 1975. It won tonnes of awards and, to this day, it features on soundtracks for everything from films to television series.
The Hustle is a great way to build your finger speed and dexterity. All you have to master is the first phrase, and then it's only a matter of changing keys and repeating.
This sheet music with backing track will help you get started. As with the John Legend song tutorial, you'll have to rely on your sheet music reading skills to play it.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Spiritual)
What makes this song perfect for beginner saxophone players? Its tempo is slow and it keeps to one octave range. It's also a bit mournful yet still uplifting; a great tune to play on a gloomy day or when you feel sad.
You'll see plenty of dotted notes on your sheet music for this tune. That means you're reaching just a bit beyond beginner saxophone songs. But don't worry, its slow tempo and simple construction don't pose too much of a challenge.
Tequila (Chuck Rio)
We close with a tune every beginner sax player (and trumpet player!) has on their radar3 when they start learning how to play the saxophone. Like the Pink Panther tune above, it's a fun stress reliever when you get frustrated over more challenging pieces you're learning how to play.
More Easy Beginner Songs and Tips to Play Them
- Odisei Music Team. “Top 5 Easy Alto Saxophone Songs for Beginners! - Odisei Music.” Odisei Music, 9 May 2024, odiseimusic.com/top-5-easy-saxophone-songs-for-beginners/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
- for. “A Selection of 8 Pieces for Beginner Saxophonists (with Scores and Accompaniment).” Tomplay, 2024, tomplay.com/blog/post/8-morceaux-de-saxophone-pour-debutants. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
- Shaw, Aaron. “67+ First & Easiest Songs You Should Learn on Saxophone.” Musician Wages, 6 Apr. 2024, www.musicianwages.com/10-first-easiest-songs-you-should-learn-on-saxophone/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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