Saxophone

The saxophone or sax is a conical instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece like the clarinet. It was invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The saxophone is most commonly associated with popular music, big band music, and jazz, but it was originally intended as both an orchestral and military band instrument. Saxophone players are appropriately called saxophonists.

Writing for the saxophone

Music for all sizes of saxophone is written on the treble clef. The standard written range extends from a B-flat below the staff to an F or F# three ledger lines above the staff. Higher notes -- those in the altissimo range (ranging from high F# or above) -- can also be played using advanced techniques. Sax himself had mastered these techniques; he demonstrated the instrument as having a range of over three octaves.

Related Topics:
Treble clef - Octaves

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Virtually all saxophones are transposing instruments: Sopranino, alto and baritone saxophones are in the key of E-flat, and soprano, tenor and bass saxophones are in the key of B-flat. Because all instruments use the same fingerings for a given written note, it is easy for a player to switch between different saxophones. When a saxophonist plays a C on the staff on an E-flat alto, the note sounds as E-flat a sixth below the written note. A C played on a B-flat tenor, however, sounds as B-flat a ninth below. The E-flat baritone is an octave below the alto, and the B-flat soprano is an octave above the tenor. The following discussion refers entirely to the notes as written, and therefore applies equally to all members of the saxophone family.

Related Topics:
Transposing instruments - Alto - Baritone - Soprano - Tenor - Bass

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Most late-model baritone saxophones have a low A-natural, but other members of the family do not (except for a few rare altos made by the Selmer company http://saxpics.com/the_gallery/selmer/mark_vi/alto/low_a/), and composers who write this note for baritone should be aware that it may not actually be played if the saxophonist uses an older instrument.

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