Top 20 Best Selling Tenor Saxophone Solos Sheet Music

Kevin Busse Dec 19, 2024
745 People Read
Tenor Saxophone Sheet Music

Ever since I went to Berklee College of Music, I worked diligently on transcribing as many excerpts of music that caught my interest. Eventually, I found that cool famous Tenor Sax songs and solos were worth my time to concentrate on and produce some of my best Tenor Saxophone sheet music work.

In the past 10 years, I have transcribed hundreds of saxophone solos for both Tenor and Alto Saxophone. Out of all my transcriptions of Tenor saxophone solos for sale, these twenty Tenor solos have surfaced to the top as being the highest selling transcriptions that I have published through my work at KB Sax Lessons.

This selection includes 20 of the Most Famous Saxophone Solos primarily includes pop music and rock and roll saxophone solos as opposed to the many saxophone solos by jazz musicians like John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon etc. who have played an important role in the jazz world with all of their incredible jazz solos.

So again, these songs with Tenor Sax Solos are only of the top selling Tenor Saxophone solos that were originally played on Tenor Saxophone and they are all available for download and print in pdf format by clicking the link in the title of each song.

*Click Here for the Top 10 Best Selling Sheet Music for Alto Saxophone Solos

For instance, this list DOES NOT include Alto Saxophone solos like the saxophone solo in Baker Street By Gerry Rafferty which is played on an Alto Saxophone.

Best Tenor Sax Solos

#20 Unchain My Heart

Artist: Joe Cocker

Tenor Saxophonist: Lawrence Feldman

Joe Cocker Unchain My Heart Tenor Sax Solo

#19 Brown Sugar

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Tenor Saxophonist: Bobby Keys

Brown Sugar The Rolling Stones

#18 Mirror In The Bathroom

Artist: The English Beat

Tenor Saxophonist: Lionel Augustus Martin "Saxa"

Mirror in the Bathroom the english beat

#17 Tequila

Artist: The Champs

Tenor Saxophonist: Danny Flores

Tequila The Champs

After a great introduction with the cheery guitar playing and the summer-like sounds we hear the landmark Tenor Solo by Danny Flores in Tequila, by the Champs.

This song has a faster tempo when compared to other popular solos, but is simple enough to play for many beginners.

#16 Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

Artist: Billy Joel

Tenor Saxophonist: Richie Cannata

Scenes From An Italian Restaurant Billy Joel

#15 Money

Artist: Pink Floyd

Tenor Saxophonist: Richard Parry

Money Pink Floyd

#14 Jungleland

Artist: Bruce Springsteen

Tenor Saxophonist: Clarence Clemons

Jungleland Bruce Springsteen

The only song by Bruce Springsteen song that made the list at number 14 with the legendary song Jungleland.

Saxophone player Clarence Clemons is an absolute saxophone solo legend who I always know is playing whenever I hear some of his iconic riffs on the radio.

#13 Urgent

Artist: Foreigner

Tenor Saxophonist: Junior Walker

Foreigner Urgent

I always thought this song was kind of weird, but it turns out people really love it!!

#12 Can't You Hear Me Knocking

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Tenor Saxophonist: Bobby Keys

Can't You Hear Me Knocking The Rolling Stones

#11 New York State Of Mind

Artist: Billy Joel

Tenor Saxophonist: Richie Cannata

New York State Of Mind Billy Joel

This legendary song by Billy Joel is one (1) of two (2) songs to make it to the list.

Billy can be proud that the iconic saxophonist in his group named Phil Woods is responsible for earning a top #11 place with New York State of Mind and a top #7 with Just The Way You Are on my list.

#10 Night Train

Artist: Jimmy Forrest

Tenor Saxophonist: Jimmy Forest

Night Train Jimmy Forest

#9 Bad To The Bone

Artist: George Thorogood

Tenor Saxophonist: Hank "Hurricane" Carter

Bad To The Bone George Thorogood tenor sax solo

#8 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Artist: Kenny G

Tenor Saxophonist: Kenny G

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

It's nice how the music video in this Kenny G version of the song makes you feel like you're in the olden days with the black and white movie scenes throughout.

Love him or hate him, Kenny G brought Tenor and Soprano Saxophone music into my home growing up during the holidays, which helped me develop my ear for saxophone.

#7 Just The Way You Are

Artist: Billy Joel

Tenor Saxophonist: Phil Woods

Billy Joel Just The Way You Are

#6 Who Can It Be Now?

Artist: Men At Work

Tenor Saxophonist: Greg Ham

Who Can It Be Now? Men At Work

#5 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Artist: Brenda Lee

Tenor Saxophonist: Boots Randolph

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee

#4 Pick Up The Pieces

Artist: Average White Band

Tenor Saxophonist: Michael Brecker

Pick Up The Pieces Average White Band

The horn section of Pick Up The Pieces starts out this classic and Michael Brecker, a highly famous saxophonist knocks the Tenor Saxophone solo out of the park!

#3 Careless Whisper

Artist: George Michael

Tenor Saxophonist: Steve Gregory

Careless Whisper George Michael

Careless Whisper by George Michael comes in at number 3 as no surprise to anyone!!!

#2 Us And Them

Artist: Pink Floyd

Tenor Saxophonist: Dick Parry

Us And Them Pink Floyd

Us and Them starts with a velvety use of the lower register in this sax solo with an incredible Tenor sound thanks to sax player Dick Parry of Pink Floyd.

#1 Smooth Operator

Artist: Sade

Tenor Saxophonist: Stewart Matthewman

Smooth Operator Sade

The Sax Solo in Smooth Operator played by Tenor Saxophonist Stewart Matthewman by Sade comes out as #1 on the charts.

I am actually surprised that this one made it to the top of the list and continues to outpace competition but the sales report does not lie.

Thank you for viewing my Top 20 Best Selling Tenor Saxophone Solos!

P.S.

My primary instrument is Alto Saxophone, so I will make another posts about my highest selling Alto saxophone transcriptions.

For instance, another famous Alto Saxophone solo is Turn The Page by Bob Seger which is not listed here because that particular solo was played on an Alto Saxophone instead of a Tenor Saxophone.

Related:

Top 10 Best Selling Sheet Music for Alto Saxophone Solos

Top 20 Best Selling Tenor Saxophone Solos Sheet Music

Top 20 Best Selling Solo Violin Sheet Music

Top 20 Best Selling Solo Cello Sheet Music

Top 10 Best Selling Solo Trumpet Sheet Music