I just got the BetterSax swab and it’s the best swab I’ve ever had. And the fact that I got the combo (body/neck/ sponge swab) at such a good price is unbeatable!! I always swab my instrument but a lot of the swabs out there, the fabrics are meh, they just do the work, but BetterSax swab is something else. Love it Jay!

When I googled saxophone lung, I saw 3 articles where clarinet players got sick with it. Why isn't it called clarinet lung then? It's a conspiracy. Perpetrated by the same people that keep the saxophone out of the orchestra.

I am not a saxophone player, but I like watching your videos.

I enjoy cleaning my saxophones! And most times I’d say to it “you so good looking “ lol

Thanks for this great video, Jay! It's always great to hear your candid take on things and we're thrilled that Key Leaves is helping keep your saxophones free from sticky pad rot.

“ If you’re a parent make your children watch this” Me ( a 12 year old ) watching this as my parents tell me to stop watching youtube

I stole this idea from Yamaha. I bought a large piece of silk, tied a string to both ends (one with a weight) and then pull it back and forth through the horn. Works great.

Me: googles Saxophone lung Also me: hasn’t cleaned my Saxophone thoroughly in a year and regularly sucks the spit out of it

Great stuff Jay. I am a veteran tenor player and I do everything you have suggested after every session. After home rehearsals, I also run warm water through the neck and mouthpiece. Since I have rolled tone holes on my Keilwerth SX90R, special cleaning attention goes to the palm keys, upper left hand keys and low C# keys. IMPORTANT. Do not drink any sugary beverages or beer etc... when rehearsing or gigging. If you do, keep a bottle of water with you to rinse out your mouth (couple swigs) to get the sugar out of your month. A sticky pad occurring during a live performance can be embarrassing.

“How many saxophones do you think I have!?” Literally has SIX saxophones sitting behind him.

That's a really nice video, i do everything to keep my saxophone clean, and now i see that i do it right :D !! I really didn't know that the C# and the G# or the Eb should stay open for the most of the time, so that's a really good information, and the gadget that you used seems a really good idea!! Thank you Jay for sharing it with us!! :D

I borrow a bari sax from my school, its never been cleaned, from what ive known. It hasnt been used for 3 years until this year, now im taking my sax health personally im ourchasing a sax cleaning kit. 🎷 ❤️

Thanks Jay. I have been diligently cleaning my horn thoroughly after every playing session and have encouraged my fellow band members to do the same. I will recommend your video to them.

I've been watching your videos for two weeks now and can't believe how much I'm learning. I am very glad that I've found out about the "sludge" before getting a saxophone. You've also pointed me towards what I think will be my first saxophone; I want to get a Yanagisawa T-WO1. I know most people recommend getting a "student sax" first, but I've always wanted to play the sax (10 years already) but started playing drums and have been doing so professionally for 4 years now. It's long overdue, as I have been listening to jazz for more than a decade and can't wait any longer. Sorry for the long comment, just glad that I found your videos and a lot of people seem to find them very useful. All the best! - Stere

Just stick a piece of 3-5mm thick cork between the low B and low C sharp button. C sharp and G sharp keys will stay open.

One habit I've done religiously prior to playing is to brush my teeth. It may seem trivial, but it really does help keep germs, food particles, and sugar out of my saxophones.

I'm a beginner college sax player for my wind methods class and was having trouble with the level one swabbing part, thank you for the great visual example!

Thank for your videos and all advises. I learn a lot each time.

amazing video, I have been really wanting to start playing the saxophone and all of your videos have encourage me to start practicing it! thank you so much for all of those helpful videos!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Thank you so much for making this video. I’m older and have always wanted to learn to play sax. So, I bought my first sax (tenor) and this is so helpful to make sure I keep my sax clean after playing. I also appreciate your Amazon page for the products you recommend.

Great advice I'm learning

I love every video from this man

VERY good advice. Thanks!!!!

Very good teaching. something important that we sometimes neglect, we continue to learn in this course. thanks jay

Thanks, great information.

thanks so much for your videos Jay. I haven't played in over 30 years and just recently bought an Alto Sax...what was thinking...lol..so basically starting over. The sax I bought hadn't been used in over 10 years (was in storage) but still in excellent condition. It is a student model so I am okay with that for now. I needed to start with the cleaning so this video was awesome. I will be watching it more than once and step by step I will eventually be playing once again. Funny story though, I rented one a bit ago and brought it home, stared at it for an hour, then decided to put it together and low and behold my fingers knew what they were doing. Played the scale a few times. Was so enlightening and soul soothing. sure did miss it. now I am going to be watching many videos on playing and removing those nasty cobwebs on the rolodex in the brain. Have a great day and look forward to watching many more of your vids.

Oh ty so much for the vid!😊 Now I will clean my sax all the times👍

Very useful video. I really love playing the saxophone.

Great explanation about cleaning the saxophone that we sometimes neglect. thank you so much jay

Great video, as always 😊👍

As a new saxophone player, I started 2 days ago and I have zero experience I and I'm using the school saxophone and I am saving up to get my very own I find your videos very entertaining and I learned to much thank you very much.

Great content as always! Thank you Jay

Incredible video, please continue to make more

I have been playing sax for years but I am amazed what I am learning here great site keep it going

I just got my sax! This video really helps!

very helpful thank you

Good video! I’ll definitely think more about my saxophones health

I do the same cleaning routine after ever time I play. I use pieces of old wine corks to prop open the keys discussed plus I use them to prop open my palm keys and the body octave key. I have a Super 20 Silversonic tenor I purchased new in 1968. Keep up the great videos!

I'm considering getting an Alto Saxophone soon and this was a great help. Thanks Jay!

Wow! That was very useful for me, thanks!

when i got my saxophone also got a bunch of cleaning supplies for it but didn't know what to do with them so this helps a lot

I always cleaned my saxophone after using it, but it was to keep it functional. Now, with your explanation, I have learned that cleanliness also serves to keep me functional. Thanks so much for this Jay. Keep up the good work. Said Amido

I love your videos, saved me so much and made me perform much better

Thank you very much!

Great video j!

Very useful!

It's been 40 years. Thanks for the refresher courses!

My cleaning routine is almost exactly like yours, with the exception being I was taught to use unglued cigarette paper to dry the pads of the closed, palm, and altissimo keys..Modiano Bistro is the brand. On the plus side, they're cheap. On the minus side, you might have to do some explaining as to why you've got rolling papers in you case - especially is you're still living with your parents.

I was reluctant at first but after watching this and their video, I ordered key leaves for myself!

I really like your approach to better playing....hope to get some of your on line lessons for Christmas

Great video!!! I swap my YTS-62 sax every time I play and also I use cleaning paper and powder paper (from yamaha brnd) with all closed keys, because many times got closed when I tried to play. It takes more time, but I already get into my maintenance proces, is not much time. 😊👍

informative and fun to watch (like all tutorials on this channel)

I put a piece of folded cloth in my C# key to prop it open and it opens up the G# as well. Helps a lot.

Awesome dude

Thanks

Very useful

Great Video

Thanks Jay. You've literally just saved my life! 🎷 😋 🎷

Well done.

I have to do better now I saw your video! Keep up doing this good work! I always enjoy watching your video's.

I literally had to look up what saxophone lung was when you mentioned it. I've never heard about it before. I'm so glad I do now.

I never heard of Saxophine ling, but thankfully I've always cleaned mine. I don't swab my mouthpiece, but rinse it out after ever use and let it air dry.

I usually just eat a ton of yogurt, play my sax, then just throw it in the case.

Jay - I've been using Key Leaves for a few months now, and I've found them to be excellent maintenance tools, and I highly recommend them. I even bought a set of the altissimo key leaves for my tenor. I use them after swabbing out my horn following each practice. Admittedly, I got lazy a few times, but when I had to replace my high register pads, it was a lesson I won't forget -- clean after each play. Thanks!

Never disappointed all good stuff .

Thank you for the wisdom once again. You are a treasure

I clean my Reed with mouthwash too, keeps the mouthpiece and Reed minty fresh! 😉

Thank you for sharing this valuable info..

Wow amazing

thank you! :D

I have been using a couple old reeds to prop my keys open, works great, haven't had a pad stick since. Great tip!

Buying my first wind instrument in a couple weeks and am going to use your videos as guidance…. Going with the John Paul alto sax

Thank you. Great video. I did not know about the key leaves but I do swab all the pads with some household paper. However I do something additional which occurred to me some time ago: Once I have swabbed the horn, mouthpiece and neck I put some small Silica Gel bags into the horn and also into the bag. These Silica gel bags absorb the rest of humidity which might be remaining. I never have problems with sticky keys or bad smell. Since I have not heard from nobody else who uses these silica gel bags I wanted to recommend that here to all of you.

whoaa just heard those key leaves. thanks!

Three years into this and we had no idea it had to be cleaned daily 🤦🏻‍♀️ thanks!!

I learned the hard way about using a silk swab rather than one made of chamois. My alto sax wasn't playing well so I took it in for repairs. Turns out the chamois swab had disintegrated into parts of my sax. Recently discovered key leaves and I use them to prevent sticky keys...especially G sharp. Lessons learned. Thanks for spreading the word, Jay.

I would totally do this every day, but, since I play band in school, I have like 2 seconds before the bell rings and I have to go.

So true thank you for sharing 🎶🎶🎶🎷✌🏽😎

I use Haagen daz popsicle sticks inserted at the keys to keep the tone holes open. Occasionally I would use a solution of water and vinegar sprayed on the swab cloth to help eliminate odors.

Thank you for showing me how to clean a saxophone!

For cleaning the pads I use paper coffee filters. The paper is tough enough to stand being pulled between the pad and the chimney, and they’re cheap.

Thanks for this. I get my tenor sax tomorrow at school.

Thanks for this! Got my saxophone out after... 10+ years and was very excited to clean it 😂

I’m such a sax slob. Thanks for this video. When you’ve had the same horn for almost fifty years you get kind of careless.. bought key leaves several years ago but they just sit in my case. Meanwhile I usually pry the keys open before I practise.😢. The only reason I still have the horn…a mk VI…is because I’ve had some great repairpersons over the years…they clean it. But I pledge to start using those key leaves and to swab, swab, swab!

Great video Jay! Level 3 without doubts! After the pad cleaner, i use paper hand-serviettes to dry all the keys, specially the closed. Then, i dry the external body and clean it with the same humeded paper, and the same with the tudel and Mp. This whole process take me 50' and to dry only, takes me 30 minutes (less cleaning)... but i do mostly complete service all the times after playing or perform... i know, it's a little bit heavy and tiring, but is it worth it. P.d. this key leaves are very interesting. Thanks!

I did all the steps for myself on my alto sax and I created my own key leafs thing. I wish i could send a picture but I dont Know how. 🎷

Key Leaves (Rulon Brown) has a product called Vent Vines which function similarly to the Key Leaves for palm keys. I’m ordering a set after replacing my palm key pads. Besides swabbing my mouthpiece I soak the mouthpieces about once a week in cold tap water to keep from getting buildup that swabbing might miss. Using warm or hot water on hard rubber mouthpieces can cause oxidation which is why I always use cold water.

Hey Jay. I wanted to tell you about a thing I know you have at some point. It is called a pad saver. It's a long furry thing that goes inside the sax from the top down. I had one in my Yamaha 62 for over fifteen years and when I recently opened the case I fully expected to see torn wasted pads that were either stuck or just gone. But not a single pad was stuck and I did a light check and not one leak. That's twenty years of not playing that horn and it used to be my main horn I used on so many countless gigs. Go figure.

I always do as you suggest and also rinse the mpc in cold water before drying it, plus I rinse the reeds I’ve used. Takes 10 seconds tops. Reeds last longer and mpc stays fresh. Also I use cork to keep open right hand side keys cos my side Bb always sticks! My tenor, alto and sop saxes are expensive beasts - after giving me all they’ve got for a couple of hours they deserve 2 minutes of TLC.

In addition to cleaning my sax after a gig, when I get home I leave the case open over night so the horn and case dry out completely. I never have pad or odor issues.

I do exactly the same routine on the saxophone after every session. However, I use the pad dryer on ALL keys. The bare minimum is these pads: palm keys, G#, Eb, low C#. Quite surprising to see, how much moisture can be on the Eb and low C# pads. Using this extra pad care guarantees no sticky pads. at all. Also, I pull the body swab slowly through the horn to give enough time to absorb the moisture. The slowness makes it more effective.

Great video, Jay.. Might be time for a new body swab!

Really enjoying your videos. New to your channel...friend of mine showed me your KZfaq channel just a few days ago. I have always been a stickler for cleaning my saxophone...no excuse not to do it. It is truly a pay me now or pay me later situation.

Good info. The hardest part of the sax to clean is the bow area. That is where the worst debris collects. I would like to see a large diameter brush with a curved end to fit in the bell. To my knowledge, no companies are offering it. For the swab to be aggressive enough to be effective in that area, they might get caught in the octave vent at the top of the body. Thanks for this video.

As always, great video. I'm definitely not up for the full disassembly, though I like a clean horn. My unlacquered tenor looks like heck anyway, though it's beautiful in a different sort of way, so I don't worry about aesthetics except for removing the verdigris with distilled vinegar occasionally. Now, with regard to swabbing after every session, I was religious about this but have relaxed it a lot. I think the great differentiator is 'The Case.' If you're going to pack the horn in a case after a gig, lesson, etc. then a full swabbing is a must. I, however, am fortunate enough to be able to leave the horns out on a stand to air dry overnight. IMO, this makes all the difference. I suck out excess moisture, pat condensate off of the horn and under keys and pads, remove the neck and tap out and pat the majority of the moisture, and sometimes leave it off the horn overnight. My pads are in excellent shape after two years. My old Selmer MK VI used to go through pads like water because I was a road musician and the horns were getting packed in the case every night, sometimes left in the back of a larger band truck with other equipment for days. I've also found from experience, that some major makers use very sticky pads! Every Yamaha I've ever owned was very prone to sticking. My Signature Custom by Trevor James has fantastic pads that never, ever stick. A sidenote to your popping pearl during your repair video, I had two fall off of a YTS-82ZII so it doesn't only happen on cheap Chinese horns!! Mouthpieces are another story. I use synthetic reeds and leave them on the mouthpieces, occasionally rinsing the mouthpiece out with cold water. This is no problem for hard rubber and composites, but remember that reeds can destroy the plating on metal ones. I'm not suggesting to any readers of this post that Jay's approach isn't superior to mine. But if you're like me, and wish to save time and are less fastidious, I think my suggestions are solid for very good results.

I don’t own a saxophone but always wanted one since middle school. I played the baritone (euphonium) in band, but I’ve always wanted to play the sax instead. I’m looking forward to buy one in the future.

I agree whole heartedly with your routine in keeping things cleaned and dried. I'm amazed at how many players pack up their horn and split. I would like to suggest that when swabbing the body of the horn to do the following as well: As the swab begins to pass the right hand pads, close them to allow the swab to dry whatever moisture has affected them. As well, when the swab comes to the left hand keys/pads, close them as well for the same reason. The G#/Eb key opener is a must for total aeration and avoidance of eventual pad rot. I as well occasionally will spray the swabs with a Lyslol disinfectant and periodically wash the swabs. Regrettably the one thing that I disagree with is your using the neck swab to clean out the mouthpiece. Yuk!! (-: A good old toothbrush and some soap for me. My '66 Mark VI Tenor, and my '73 Mark VI Alto hopefully love me for the way I care for them. Would not part with them for the world. Jay .... You're the best. Love viewing you regularly.

I recommend using a cloth for the pads that stay down when they're not pressed, along with the key leaf

Thanks for a lot of good videos! Do you have any good advice on cleaning a baritone?