The Purple Guide to Learning the Saxophone in 10 Days
A no-nonsense, day-by-day plan to assemble your saxophone, make your first sounds, and decide if this is your instrument — without wasting a dollar or a minute
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Ten days. One clear plan. Find out if the saxophone is for you — without the fluff or the guesswork.
About this book
Thinking about learning the saxophone? You've heard its voice in your favorite records, and you're curious if you could ever make that sound yourself. But between the cost of the instrument, the confusing advice online, and the fear of being terrible at something new, it's easy to put it off forever. This guide is not a "master the saxophone overnight" fantasy. It is a realistic, day-by-day experiment designed to give you a true taste of what playing involves — the good, the frustrating, and the genuinely exciting parts.
Each of the ten days is a single, focused session with a clear task: on day one, you'll get your hands on the instrument and make your first sounds. By day four and five, you'll be practicing the core techniques of breath support and finger placement. By day eight, you'll attempt to play a simple sequence of notes for the first time. You'll also get help with budgeting, gear, common mistakes, and troubleshooting, so you're never left guessing what to do next.
If you follow this plan, you won't become a saxophonist in ten days. But you will know for certain whether you want to become one. You'll have your first real experience with the instrument, a list of concrete next steps, and the confidence that comes from having just tried something new. That's the honest promise of this guide: not instant mastery, but real clarity.
Reader Reviews
Sharon Anderson
★★★★★I bought this because I was curious about the saxophone but had zero clue where to start. The first day chapter was actually helpful - I assembled the horn without feeling like an idiot, and I made a sound, not a squeak, by the end. It's realistic, which I appreciate. But I wish there was a bit more emphasis on renting versus buying early on, because I almost bought a sax before reading the gear chapter. Still, it gave me exactly what I needed to decide whether to continue. I think I will.
Carol Brown
★★★★★The day-by-day format was perfect for my busy schedule. I liked that each day had a single, clear goal, and the troubleshooting section on day six saved me from quitting when my reeds kept squeaking. It's not magic - you still have to practice, and the book doesn't pretend otherwise. My only small complaint is that I found the tone a little too casual for my taste in a few places, but the information is solid and honest. A good starter guide.
Mark Anderson
★★★★★This is the book I wish I'd had years ago when I first thought about trying the sax but was too intimidated by the unknowns. The author speaks to you like a friend, not a salesman. The first day chapter is brilliant - it doesn't just talk about the sax, it tells you exactly how to hold it, where to put your mouth, and how to expect to feel. I followed the plan and by day four I was producing a real tone. By day ten, I knew I wanted to keep going. Highly recommended for true beginners.
Daniel Green
★★★★★As a complete novice, I appreciated that this wasn't a 200-page textbook disguised as a beginner's guide. It's short, practical, and gets you moving on day one. The comparisons between a new and a used horn in the gear chapter were useful, and I liked the self-assessment checklist. It lost a star because the day-by-day chapters are quite brief, and I found myself wanting a bit more explanation on certain techniques, but for what it is - a 10-day trial - it works perfectly. I'm booking a lesson next week.