What can we help you with?
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers to most questions can be found below
All of our lesson videos are hosted by Vimeo.com. Their platform is very reliable. If you are unable to view the videos for some reason try clearing your browser cache and cookies. If that doesn’t work, try viewing the same pages using another browser and/or device.
Some countries block access to video hosting services like Vimeo and YouTube. Contact your ISP if you suspect this is a possibility.
All of our pdf documents have been tested and can be viewed in most browser windows where they will look and respond great. You can even print them out from there. If you are having trouble viewing any of the pdfs, it is probably an issue with the third-party software you are using.
The video player has a volume control in the lower right hand corner. It looks like the bars for a mobile phone signal.
You may have inadvertently turned the volume all the way down.
Look for it and drag the volume up to the right in the video player.
You received your password in an email from Jay Metcalf with the subject [Better Sax] Username/Password.
In 99.9% of cases, login problems are due to the user not entering the credentials correctly.
Please enter this password on the login page using the Copy and Paste method.
Watch the video below explaining exactly how to do this:
Once logged in, you can change your password by selecting Password Reset from the menu on the left of the page.
To recap, the steps for copying and pasting text are:
- Select the text by clicking and dragging across until all the text is highlighted.
- Then go to the menu at the top of the screen and under edit, choose copy. You can also copy text by holding Ctrl and then pressing C (Cmd + C on Mac). A third option is to right-click on the selected text and then choose copy from the pop-up menu.
- Now go to the login page and Paste the password text into the password field. Click inside the password field and then go to the edit menu at the top of the screen and under edit, choose paste. You can also paste text by holding the Ctrl key and pressing V (Cmd + V on Mac). A third option is to right-click inside the password box and select paste from the pop-up menu.
It is good practice, as I’m sure you are aware to use different passwords for every site you login to on the internet. Most browsers will automatically save your passwords for you, so you do not need to remember them.
If you ever forget your password for BetterSax, just click forgot your password? on the login page and a new password will be sent to your email address.
If somehow you still cannot login after following the instructions in the video, contact support by clicking at the bottom of this page.
I have gone to great lengths to make the login process as simple as possible for you. Due to the nature of the internet, this system is as user friendly as it gets.
This is probably a browser caching issue. Try the following steps to fix it.
1. Log out of the members area (on all devices where you are logged in) by clicking Log Out in the left-hand side bar
2. Clear your browser cache. Refer to this page if you are not sure how to do this.
3. Log back in.
Normally, this will solve the issue. In case it doesn’t try the following:
4. Restart your browser.
5. Update your browser (if necessary).
6. Try a different browser. I reccommend Chrome or Firefox (both free).
No, all online videos are only available for streaming. This allows you to have access to the videos in HD quality without having to download them to your computer. Once you are enrolled in a course you will have unlimited access to the video lessons 24 hours a day.
For the Pentatonic Foundation, Blues Language and Blues Foundation Courses, you have the option at checkout to add DVDs to your order for an additional charge. They will be shipped to your address (almost) anywhere in the world.
We no longer offer BetterSax Courses in DVD format. Printed books are available on select courses and can be shipped to your address (almost) anywhere in the world. Once your payment is completed, you will have instant access to your purchases online so you can start learning immediately!
Yes! The Pentatonic Foundation, Blues Language and Blues Foundation Courses are designed to be done almost entirely by ear. You don’t need to know how to read music at all. You will probably learn a bit of music reading as you go through the courses, but it is not necessary.
The Pentatonic Patterns for Improvisation and Core Essentials Courses can also be done by ear, but they are designed for those who have basic notation reading skills.
Yes! And you definitely should try it. Reading sheet music can really hold us back in our ability to play what we hear in our head and be expressive with music. Student after student tell me that they were totally amazed at what they were able to accomplish by following this method. Check out my article on playing by ear.
There is a suggested order of study graphic here. Have a look to see where you should start.
I’ve created a free Beginner/Refresher course for anyone new to the saxophone or coming back after a break.
Even if you’ve been playing for a while, you will likely learn how to avoid some common bad habits with this short course (less than an hour).
Beginners who already know how to get a decent sound and play most of the notes on their saxophone can take the Pentatonic Foundation Course course.
I recommend starting with my free Play Sax by Ear Crash Course to get an idea if this method is right for you.
There is a suggested order of study graphic here. Have a look to see where you should start.
There is a suggested order of study graphic here. Have a look to see where you should start.
What I teach in these courses will be useful to you for as long as you play music. How long it takes for you to go through all of it depends on your level, and how much work you put into the material.
Everything you learn here can be improved upon in an unlimited number of ways, so in reality we never really finish. I recommend going through the courses more than once. Each time you will understand the material more thoroughly and reach another level towards mastery.
Yes. All the courses can be used with any saxophone.
Absolutely! These lessons can be used by clarinetists, flutists, brass players, and more. Much of the instruction is geared towards wind instruments, but all of it is practical no matter what you play.
PLEASE check your junk/spam folder as it is very common to have email delivery problems because of automated filters.
Do a search for messages ending with @bettersax.com
Mark any messages you find in junk or spam folders as not junk and move them to your inbox.
Then add jay@bettersax.com to your list of contacts and whitelist this email address. Follow the instructions found on this page.
If you still don’t find the missing emails click the button at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
Login credentials only work for members who have purchased a course. If you have not made a purchase you cannot login to the members area.
Upon completion of your purchase, you should have received your password in an email from Jay Metcalf with the subject [Better Sax] Username/Password.
In 99.9% of cases, login problems are due to the user not entering the credentials correctly.
Please enter this password on the login page using the Copy and Paste method.
Watch the video below explaining exactly how to do this:
Once logged in, you can change your password by selecting Account Settings from the menu on the bottom left of the page.
To recap, the steps for copying and pasting text are:
- Select the text by clicking and dragging across until all the text is highlighted.
- Then go to the menu at the top of the screen and under edit, choose copy. You can also copy text by holding Ctrl and then pressing C (Cmd + C on Mac). A third option is to right-click on the selected text and then choose copy from the pop-up menu.
- Now go to the login page and Paste the password text into the password field. Click inside the password field and then go to the edit menu at the top of the screen and under edit, choose paste. You can also paste text by holding the Ctrl key and pressing V (Cmd + V on Mac). A third option is to right-click inside the password box and select paste from the pop-up menu.
It is good practice, as I’m sure you are aware to use different passwords for every site you login to on the internet. Most browsers will automatically save your passwords for you, so you do not need to remember them.
If you ever forget your password for BetterSax, just click “Forgot your password?” on the login page and a new password will be sent to your email address.
If somehow you still cannot login after following the instructions in the video, contact support by clicking at the bottom of this page.
I have gone to great lengths to make the login process as simple as possible for you. Due to the nature of the internet, this system is as user friendly as it gets.
Use the Forgot My Password link which can be found on any login form to reset your password.
This is probably a browser caching issue. Try the following steps to fix it.
1. Log out of the members area (on all devices where you are logged in) by clicking Log Out in the left-hand side bar
2. Clear your browser cache. Refer to this page if you are not sure how to do this.
3. Log back in.
Normally, this will solve the issue. In case it doesn’t try the following:
4. Restart your browser.
5. Update your browser (if necessary).
6. Try a different browser. I recommend Chrome or Firefox (both free).
Your new password needs to be between 8 and 12 characters long and can contain any of the following:
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789!@#$%^*()
This is probably a browser caching issue. Try the following steps to fix it.
1. Log out of the members area (on all devices where you are logged in) by clicking Log Out in the left-hand side bar
2. Clear your browser cache. Refer to this page if you are not sure how to do this.
3. Log back in.
Normally, this will solve the issue. In case it doesn’t try the following:
4. Restart your browser.
5. Update your browser (if necessary).
6. Try a different browser. I reccommend Chrome or Firefox (both free).
1. Fill out the form above. You may have been unsubscribed and therefore we cannot send you any automated emails.
2. PLEASE check your junk/spam folder as it is very common to have email delivery problems because of automated filters.
Do a search for messages ending with @bettersax.com
Mark any messages you find in junk or spam folders as not junk and move them to your inbox.
Then add jay@bettersax.com to your list of contacts and whitelist this email address. Follow the instructions found on this page.
You may have also mistyped your email address when you signed up.
If you still don’t find the missing emails use the contact form at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
PLEASE check your junk/spam folder as it is very common to have email delivery problems because of automated filters.
Do a search for messages ending with @bettersax.com
Mark any messages you find in junk or spam folders as not junk and move them to your inbox.
Then add jay@bettersax.com to your list of contacts and whitelist this email address. Follow the instructions found on this page.
There may have been a typo in the email address entered at checkout.
If you still don’t find the missing emails use the contact form at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
1. PLEASE check your junk/spam folder as it is very common to have email delivery problems because of automated filters.
Do a search for messages ending with @bettersax.com
Mark any messages you find in junk or spam folders as not junk and move them to your inbox.
Then add jay@bettersax.com to your list of contacts and whitelist this email address. Follow the instructions found on this page.
2. If you’ve searched your junk folders and didn’t find an email from us, fill out the form above. You may have been unsubscribed and therefore we cannot send you any automated emails.
If you still don’t receive anything to your email use the contact form at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
