Best Beginner Saxophone Gear Setup

Where to Begin

Ready to kick off your saxophone journey the right way? Let’s make sure your gear is set up to support your progress—not hold you back. Below, you’ll find exactly what you need to start strong and stay inspired.

Best Beginner Saxophones

Most beginners start with an alto sax, and sometimes a tenor if that’s what feels right. At BetterSax, we designed the BetterSax ClassicAlto and Classic Tenor with one goal in mind: to offer high-quality, dependable saxophones that don’t feel like “student” models. With features you’d expect from intermediate or pro horns—plus a rich cognac lacquer and vintage-inspired styling—these instruments are built to wow from day one.

BetterSax Classic Alto and Classic Tenor Saxophones

Beginner Saxophone Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece you start your journey on is critically important. Far too many beginning saxophone students end up playing a poor quality mouthpiece which can seriously hold back progress early on and even lead to giving up the instrument entirely.

That’s why we developed the BetterSax Classic line of beginner mouthpieces. We want beginning students to have an affordable option that is easy to play, consistent and designed to develop a beautiful tone in all styles of music.

The BetterSax Classic mouthpieces for alto, tenor and baritone sax are made in the USA by legendary mouthpiece manufacturer JJ Babbitt. Band directors across the country and around the world have quickly adopted the BetterSax Classic mouthpiece as a go-to, reliable choice for their band programs. 

BetterSax Classic Mouthpieces

Beginner Saxophone Reeds

The reed is your voice—it vibrates to create sound, so pick wisely. Beginners should start with a lighter reed, around strength #2, for less resistance and more control. My go-to choice? BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds. They deliver an even tonal balance, are ready out of the box, crafted from organic French cane, and come in eco-friendly packaging.

BetterSax Jazz Cut Reeds

Beginner Saxophone Ligature

A good ligature keeps your reed stable and your tone consistent. I highly recommend the Rovner Dark—universal fit, durable build, and secure hold that won’t slip during play. A reliable pick as you hone your sound. 

Rovner Dark Ligature

Beginner Saxophone Maintenance – Swab Kit

Another thing that you’ll need to make sure that your saxophone stays in great condition for a long time is a swab kit to keep it clean. Swabbing your saxophone out each time you play it is the most basic level of maintenance every saxophone player needs to do every time you play. This is not only for hygiene, but also to keep your instrument functioning properly.

A swab kit is a small investment that will pay big dividends saving you money on repairs, maintaining the resale of your instrument and keeping things from getting nasty and stinky. My recommendation for a swab kit is the BetterSax Ultimate Sax Swab Kit. These come in two sizes, one for alto and one for tenor.

These are the first and last saxophone swabs you’ll ever need for your saxophone. This kit includes 1 neck and mouthpiece swab, 1 saxophone body swab, and 1 pad dryer to absorb moisture from your pads that can make them sticky.

BetterSax Ultimate Sax Swab Kit

BetterSax Beginner Course

Once you’ve got all the gear that you need to get started, you’re ready to start the BetterSax Beginner/Refresher Course. This course is free, and was designed to help you get started on the right foot with good habits when starting on the saxophone.