Bass saxophone

The bass saxophone (or bass sax for short) is the second largest existing member of the saxophone family (or third largest, if the subcontrabass tubax is counted). It is similar in design to a baritone saxophone, but is larger and its loop, near the mouthpiece, extends further vertically. Unlike the baritone, the bass saxophone is not commonly used, and the contrabass voice in wind bands is usually handled by the tuba, or in jazz and other popular-music bands by the double bass or electric bass, all of which have have a lower range.

Related Topics:
Saxophone - Tubax - Baritone saxophone - Wind bands - Tuba - Jazz - Double bass - Electric bass

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The bass saxophone is pitched in B-flat, a perfect fourth lower than the baritone, and thus the same as the B-flat contrabass clarinet. Sheet music for bass sax is written in treble clef, just as music for the other saxophones is written, but for the bass instrument, it sounds two octaves and a major second lower than written. Like the other members of the saxophone family, the lowest written note is B-flat below the staff; for bass saxophone, this note is a concert-pitch A-flat in the first octave (~ 51.9 Hz).

Related Topics:
Perfect fourth - Contrabass clarinet - Treble clef - Octaves - Major second - First octave - Hz

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The lowest existing member of the saxophone family is the rare (and massive) contrabass, pitched in E-flat and tuned a perfect fifth lower than the bass. Inventor Adolphe Sax had a patent for a subcontrabass saxophone (or bourdon saxophone), but a fully-functioning instrument in that pitch has apparently never been built. If it existed, it would sound an octave lower than the bass.

Related Topics:
Contrabass - Perfect fifth - Adolphe Sax - Subcontrabass saxophone

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