Facts About the Alto Sax

The alto saxophone is a popular instrument choice for beginning musicians and famous artists alike, and alto sax players today are frequently included in many different genres and styles of music. The alto sax is distinct from the soprano, tenor and baritone saxophones for its versatility, balanced tone and relative ease of use.

History

The saxophone was invented in Brussels in either 1840 or 1841 by Belgian instrument-maker Adolphe Sax. Along with the tenor sax, the alto is the most commonly played instrument of the saxophone family, with a versatile and balanced range of middle tones. When Sax first invented the instrument, he was trying to create a sound somewhere between woodwind and brass tones to help balance the midrange sound of military band arrangements. The explosion of Jazz culture in pre-WWII American music pushed the saxophone into more mainstream popularity, and today it is frequently used in many compositions and genres of music.

Range

The standard tonal range of the alto saxophone extends from concert D♭3 (the D-flat below middle C) up to concert A♭5 (the A-flat one and a half octaves above middle C), but most typical alto sax arrangements stay within the more medium range between B♭3 and F♯6. Expert alto sax players frequently use the altissimo (high) register, especially when performing certain styles of jazz, but because the alto's high register is considered especially temperamental and difficult for a woodwind instrument, most beginner and intermediate players are not required to use it.

Identification

The alto sax's size and shape distinguish it from other saxophones. It is one size smaller than the tenor sax, and noticeably straighter at the neck, and one size larger than the soprano sax, which has a short, straight body like a clarinet.

Cost

The cost of new alto saxophones varies greatly based on the quality and brand name. Inexpensive models for beginners and students are often mass-produced from lower-quality parts and have a price range starting at around $200, while professional models can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the level of craftsmanship and quality of materials used. Prices are as of 2009.

Famous Performers

Famous alto sax players include jazz legends like John Coltrane, Johnny Hodges, Lou Marini, Charles McPherson, James Moody, Charlie Parker and Grover Washington, Jr., as well as many other noteworthy classical, rock and R&B musicians like Eugene Rousseau, King Curtis, Marcel Mule, Clarence "The Big Man" Clemens, Bruce Kapler, Walter Parazaider and Lenny Pickett. However, despite its classical, jazz and R&B music roots, the alto sax is still frequently used by many musicians and bands today, in genres ranging from marching and concert band to funk, pop, blues and many different styles of rock music including ska and punk.

References

• AltoSaxophone.us
• ThinkQuest Education Foundation