What Are Saxophones?

The saxophone is a single-reed woodwind instrument used in a variety of music genres, particularly jazz.

With a sound ranging from smooth and sultry to powerfully rough and soulful, the saxophone, or sax, is one of the most unique woodwind instruments. Once intended for orchestras and military bands, the sax's versatile sound has made this instrument welcome in a variety of genres, including jazz, blues, doo wop, soul, rock and pop, Latin, classical and chamber music.

Features

The saxophone is a single-reed woodwind instrument closely related to the clarinet but with a conical shape. Although usually made of brass, some saxophones are made of silver, gold or plastic. The warm, mellow tone of the sax is produced by playing through a wooden reed.

History

The sax was invented in 1841 by Belgian instrument-maker Adolphe Sax for use in orchestras and military bands. At first, the sax was only adopted by military bands, through which the instrument eventually made its way to New Orleans and played a key role in the formation of early jazz. Sax players, such as Sidney Bechet, Frankie Trumbauer and Coleman Hawkins, took the sax from mere ensemble member to featured soloist to lead jazz instrument, paving the way for the sax to seep into other genres.

Types

Of the 14 types of saxophones Sax invented, only four are commonly played today: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. The soprano is the smallest, has the highest pitch and is straight, unlike other saxophones. The comfortably-sized alto is the most popular sax, especially among jazz soloists. The tenor is a staple in jazz ensembles and is popular in recordings and performances. The baritone is the largest, standing at 4 feet tall, and has the lowest pitch.

References

• Bloomingdale School of Music: Instruments in Depth: The Saxophone
• Connexions: Saxophones