Facts About the Alto Saxophone
The alto saxophone is an extremely popular instrument among musicians, band students and jazz veterans alike. This versatile instrument has an immediately recognizable sound familiar to music fans. Though the alto sax commonly is used in classical compositions, it's also an instrument of choice for rock, blues, jazz, pop, reggae and ska musicians.
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History
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Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in the 1840s in Brussels, Belgium. Although the instrument was patented in France in 1846, letters between Adolphe and his friends indicate that the saxophone was developed as early as 1840. The saxophone is the newest member of the woodwind family; the oboe, clarinet and other woodwinds were invented before the saxophone.
Identification
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The alto saxophone is the most common type of sax. It's larger than a soprano saxophone and smaller than a tenor. The alto sax is available in a variety of finishes and colors, though bronze is the most popular finish.
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Range
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The range of any saxophone generally is in line with the size of the sax. A baritone sax has the lowest range; a soprano, the highest. The alto sax's range is somewhere in the middle, usually from concert Db3 to concert Ab5, which makes it well suited for versatile playing. Some alto saxophones include a high F# key with a maximum range of concert A5.
Players
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A plethora of famous and important jazz musicians play or played the alto saxophone. David Sanborn, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker and Anthony Braxton are just a few of the hundreds of jazz and classical greats who prefer(red) the alto. The instrument's ease of use also makes it popular among band and other music students.
Pricing and Brands
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Alto saxophones can be priced as low as a few hundred dollars for an introductory student model, or as high as several thousand dollars for a professional model. Popular brands include Yamaha, Selmer and Keilwerth.
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