Saxophone Straps

Saxophone straps support your instrument while you play, leaving your hands free to work the keys without having to hold the instrument up with your thumb. On this page, you'll find neck straps and harnesses for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones from BG France, Neotech, Rico, Vandoren, Jazzlab, Gator, BAM and other brands. A neck strap sits around your neck and takes just a few seconds to put on. A harness shifts the weight of the instrument from your neck to your shoulders and back, which is helpful for tenor and baritone players as well as anyone whose neck aches after a long rehearsal.

Which saxophone straps should you choose: neck straps or harnesses?

• Neck strap – a strap worn around the neck, with a hook and a buckle for adjusting the length. Padding is often made from foam, neoprene or leather, as on the Neotech Soft Sax, Rico straps with memory foam, leather BG France Zen straps or the Levy's signature series from saxophonist Mindi Abair. The Yoke model from BG France spreads more of the weight across your shoulders.
• Harness – two shoulder straps transfer the instrument's weight to your shoulders and back, leaving your neck free. This is how BG France S40 to S44 work, with men's, women's, XL and children's versions, as do Neotech Soft Harness and Vandoren FNH100, which also has a supporting belt around the waist.
• Torso support – Jazzlab saXholder is a patented system that transfers the saxophone's entire weight to two padded shoulder supports and an abdominal support, so nothing hangs from your neck.

What strap length suits your saxophone and height?

Choose the length of your strap to suit both your instrument and your height. Rico makes separate versions for soprano and alto, and for tenor and baritone. Vandoren V Neck adjusts from 38 to 51 cm in size S and from 44.5 to 57 cm in size M/L. Gator G27NEO comes in three lengths: junior from 38 to 48 cm, standard from 41 to 51 cm and XL from 48 to 66 cm for taller players and baritone saxophones. For children and beginners, you'll find junior neck straps from Neotech and the BG France S42CMSH children's harness with five adjustment points.

Should you choose a metal or plastic hook?

The strap's hook clips into the ring on the body of your saxophone. A metal hook is sturdy, while a plastic or plastic-coated hook is lighter and protects the instrument's lacquer from scratches. A swivel hook, such as those used by Neotech, turns with the instrument as you move, keeping the strap from twisting. You can also pair your saxophone with saxophone stands and saxophone cases. For straps for other wind instruments, take a look at the wind instrument straps category.