Clip the saxophone around your neck with a neck strap. It is difficult to hold a saxophone in proper position without one. Place your left hand at the top of the stack, or at the top key, and right hand at the bottom of the stack.
Sit straight, but comfortably in a chair positioned in front of a mirror. Bring the horn to your body; don't pull your body toward the horn. This makes it less difficult to breathe and play.
Break the saxophone scales into four, five-note-long groups, beginning with the C scale. The last note of each group is the beginning note of the next.
Curl the fingers onto each key. Keep each finger on the head of each key, instead of positioning them slightly above the key. This helps to increase the speed in which you hit each note.
Practice moving up and down each group of notes in front of the mirror without blowing. Don't practice too fast at first. If you notice your fingers flailing above each key, they are too far away. Work on keeping them firmly planted on the head of each key.
Increase the pace of your fingers after you master moving across the scales without removing your fingers from the keys.
Blow a long note into the horn. Think about your movement while you blow. Quickly press the necessary notes. Pay attention to your finger position. Sometimes blowing the horn can cause you to shift your focus to breath instead of fingers. You must learn to focus on both simultaneously.
Continue to practice moving up and down the keys with your fingers in proper position slowly. When you master transitioning from note to note, increase your speed.