The first thing to know about the saxophone is how versatile it is; every music genre, from classical to pop and rock, has room for a sax. The next thing beginners need to understand is that each saxophone is more than a larger/smaller version of the others. Alto sax music notes aren't quite the same as tenor or bass sax notes for the same composition. For that, saxophone players need reliable outlets like these to source sheet music for their instrument.
| 🏪Outlet | 🕵️♂️What you'll find | 📍How to access | 💳Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomplay | Interactive sheet music with backing tracks for various saxophone types and music genres. | tomplay.com | £97.99 per year |
| MuseScore | An extensive collection of user-generated and official music scores for alto saxophone and more. | https://musescore.com/ | free |
| Musicnotes | A comprehensive library of saxophone sheet music across multiple music genres. | https://www.musicnotes.com/ | A small collection of free sheet music, otherwise $49.99 per year. |
| IMSLP | A searchable library of music scores | https://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP:View_Genres | free Donations are welcome. |
| 8notes | A vast selection of saxophone sheet music arranged by genre and sorted by difficulty level and instrument type. | https://www.8notes.com/saxophone/ | free with a premium version available for $20 per year. |
Beginner Saxophone Sheet Music
Much is made of music prodigies who can improvise masterpieces or hear a melody once and replay it flawlessly. For the rest of us, sheet music is the vital guide to producing more than just noise with our instruments.
As a beginner sax player, your sheet music2 will be very simple. These pieces feature a lot of repeating notes; they're designed to help you build your fingering skill, speed, and other foundational skills. Top selections include:
Au Clair de la Lune
Twinkle, Twinkle Litte Star
God Save the King
Fortunately, you won't be stuck at that level for very long. Soon, you'll move on to more complex pieces, but don't worry: they're still not so intricate that you'll end up frustrated and discouraged. Popular selections like these fit the bill:
Ain't No Sunshine
The Girl From Ipanema
Happy (from Despicable Me 2)
These popular, easy selections are tailor-made for absolute beginners, as well as sax players getting ready to go beyond single notes.
Jazz Saxophone Sheet Music
At first listen, the idea of playing jazz music on your alto saxophone is intimidating. After all, this music genre is renowned for its complex layering, and has a well-deserved reputation for improvisation. But no need to panic just yet! These easy jazz tunes are great selections for dipping your toes in the jazz pool.
Fly Me to the Moon
Summertime
Autumn Leaves
Around the time you begin to experiment with jazz sax pieces, you should start playing with backing tracks.
Classical Saxophone Sheet Music
If jazz seems intimidating, an entire classical orchestra backing you up must be downright scary! But it doesn't have to be, especially if you start with these pieces.
Bolero by Ravel
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
Minuet by Bach
There's a good chance you're already familiar with the above selections. They feature in films and adverts; even today's musicians occasionally sample from ancient catalogues. For instance, Chris Young's Think of You (2000) sampled Bach's Minuet in G Major. Isn't that a good reason to embrace classical saxophone sheet music?
Pop Saxophone Sheet Music
This is the genre most beginner sax players aspire to and, arguably, the genre with the vastest catalogue. Its very name, 'popular music', tells us that these tunes are beloved and oft-played. But that doesn't mean they're all simple. These selections give beginner sax players a workout while still being within their skill level.
Careless Whisper
Baker Street
Who Can It Be Now?
It's almost unfair to limit pop saxophone selections to only three, but all the other music genres list only three. The clip below makes up for that. As you watch, note this player's posture and embouchure technique. He's ramrod straight and takes in air like a boss!
Understanding Saxophone Sheet Music
The first and most important thing to know is that saxophone notes are not like the notes on other sheet music1. That’s because each sax is keyed to specific octaves.
Next: coming to the sax as an absolute beginner, there's a good chance you know next to nothing about sheet music. This brief tutorial will get you up to speed.
With all this short guide to your saxophone notation, we can explore notation for various types of saxophones.
Alto Saxophone Notes
We hear the versatile alto across all music genres, from jazz and classical to pop. Typically, these instruments dwell in E♭ tuning. The written range for the alto sax is B♭3 to F6, which equals a concert pitch range of G3 to D6.
Tenor Saxophone Notes
These instruments, with their throaty, smoky, sensuous sounds, are popular in jazz and rock, typically in B♭ tuning. Tenor sax players play a whole step higher; for instance, to play a concert pitch C, they read a D on the music.
You shouldn’t buy tenor sheet music for your alto sax unless you can modify the notation!
To modify the notation from tenor sax to alto sax, you need to transpose the music down a perfect fourth.
Notation for Baritone and Soprano Saxes
We may be going beyond the scope of interest for beginner sax players with this one. Still, it never hurts to have additional information, especially if you plan to arrive at the baritone or soprano eventually.
Soprano sax is in the key of B♭. A written C sounds as a B♭ concert pitch.
Baritone sax is in the key of E♭. A written C sounds as E♭ concert pitch.
Both these saxes are less common as solo instruments, but have unique roles in ensembles.
Where to Find Saxophone Sheet Music
Songwriting, by its nature, is a solitary endeavour.
Don Henley, Eagles songwriter and drummer
In this article's introduction, you found online outlets that offer a variety of resources to saxophone players, some free and others for a fee.
They all present vast collections of sheet music and other tools, but so does your local music store.
The best part of shopping locally is that doing so gives you the chance to connect with your local music scene. As the quote that started this chapter states, aspects of music-making are solo undertakings. However, music has a way of bringing people together.
But shopping online is a solitary pursuit. Sure, you can (and should!) read community reviews before you commit to a service, platform, or purchase. But, in the end, you're still doing things by yourself.
Nothing against online shopping, of course. But building a relationship with local musicians and music professionals will benefit you far more than impersonal transactions online. Immediately, you'll receive encouragement and guidance from those who've been where you are and want to see you reach their level.
Buying your sheet music in person, you don't have to worry about its quality, accuracy, or completeness.
Unfortunately, as a beginner sax player, you have no way to evaluate online offerings for their completeness and accuracy. In this respect, your local music dealers are a treasure!
Not only can you find certified sheet music at your local store, but you can also buy all your sax accessories from them. And talk about service after the sale! Most likely, those pros will welcome your questions and will happily talk music with you for as long as you like.
Tips for Selecting Beginner Saxophone Sheet Music
Typically, saxophone students are happy to let their teacher tell them what song they'll master next. By contrast, some music teachers prefer to ask their students what they'd like to learn how to play. No matter which group you fall in, eventually, you'll begin making sheet music selections on your own3. When you do, carry these thoughts with you.
Choosing the Right Sheet Music for Your Skill Level
We loved the 8notes music website because it showed what playing level each song was suited to. Keep in mind, though, that a beginner who's been practising for a month is more advanced than an absolute beginner. So, even though those skill ranges feature on that site, it's still up to you to decide what you're ready to play.
It's okay to be adventurous in your selections; it's encouraged, even. You don't have to stick with single-note compositions once you're past your first few weeks. Likewise, feel free to branch into intermediate selections when you feel the urge to. You might not succeed in playing them right away, but there's definitely nothing wrong with reaching.
Choosing Music You Like to Play
As a beginner, it's not a bad idea to stick with the type of music you're most familiar with. Having (probably) heard those songs before, you'll naturally be interested in learning how to play them.
Of course, you shouldn't limit yourself to a single music genre. Classical, jazz, and rhythm & blues all have accents that don't feature in other types of music. Playing them will not only expand your repertoire, but it will also boost your interpretation skills and playing style.
Besides, trying new musical styles is a great incentive to try other types of saxophones. For instance, the tenor sax is only one octave above the alto. You'll need more breath to play but the fingering is the same. So why not try different music genres (and saxes)?
More on Reading Saxophone Sheet Music
- 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.
- Arts, Music . “How to Read Saxophone Music.” The Vault at Music & Arts, 13 July 2019, thevault.musicarts.com/how-to-read-saxophone-music-tips-for-kids-and-adults/. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
- Music, Sheet. “Saxophone Sheet Music Downloads | Musicnotes.com.” Musicnotes.com, 2025, www.musicnotes.com/saxophone/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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