How Is Sound Produced in a Soprano Saxophone?

Reed

The essence of the soprano saxophone's sound begins in the mouthpiece with a piece called a reed. The reed is a thin strip of bamboo cane. This fragile piece is so temperamental and fragile that it must be replaced on a regular basis.
The reed is positioned in a special groove cut into the side of the semi-conical mouthpiece. When the player plays, she holds the mouthpiece tight between her lips and blows a focused, high-pressure stream of air which vibrates the reed, creating a high-pitched, buzzing sound. The reed must be thoroughly soaked beforehand in order for this to work, as this makes it sufficiently flexible.

Body

The piercing, high-pitched sound made by a reed and mouthpiece alone is not enough to create the pitched sounds of the saxophone. This sound has a very narrow pitch range and is generally thought to be unpleasant to listen to on its own. In order to become music, the mouthpiece must connect to the body of the saxophone. The body of the saxophone is essentially a large, metal cylinder which acts as a resonating chamber for the sound produced by the buzzing reed, creating a louder, fuller and lower-pitched tone.

Keys

Like all classical woodwind instruments, the soprano saxophone is operated using a series of metal keys with the player operates with his fingers. These keys operate mechanisms which cover different combinations of holes on the instrument, holes which are too numerous and widely spaced to be covered by the player's fingers. Changing the combination of holes covered causes the instrument to change pitch because the escaping air changes how much of the body of the horn is actually vibrating. The more holes are covered, the more mass is resonating and thus, the slower the vibrations and the lower the pitch is.

Size

The soprano saxophone is distinctive among saxophones because it is the smallest commonly used saxophone (though saxes can get even tinier). Though all versions of this instrument produce sound using the same parts and principles, the soprano sax is shorter and has a smaller mouthpiece and reed, allowing it to produce higher frequencies with greater ease and better sound quality. Unlike most other saxophones, this instrument is usually produced with a straight body and floor-facing bell, like a clarinet. However, this does little to alter the quality of the instrument's tone.