Tenor saxophone

The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. Modern-day tenor saxophones are transposing instruments, pitched in the key of B-flat. This means that when a tenor saxophonist plays the note C, the actual pitch that sounds is a B-flat, a major ninth lower.

Related Topics:
Saxophone - Adolphe Sax

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In the 1800s and the first 29 years of the 20th century, instrument makers also manufactured a slightly smaller tenor saxophone which was pitched in the key of C. This was known as a C-melody saxophone. C-melody saxophones became extremely common during the saxophone craze in the period 1918-1929, and many (perhaps as many as a million) of these instruments were sold. The C-melody was never included in ensembles, though, and passed out of style. No C-melody saxophones have been manufactured since 1929, and no performing or recording artists today use the C-melody except for historical purposes.

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The tenor saxophone is used in many ensembles such as concert band, marching band, jazz ensemble, and occasionaly in symphony orchestras. In concert bands, it often has a supporting role, unlike the alto saxophone, sometimes sharing parts with the euphonium and trombone.

Related Topics:
Concert band - Marching band - Jazz ensemble - Symphony orchestra - Alto saxophone - Euphonium - Trombone

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Approximately 98% of all student saxophonists start learning the instrument using the alto saxophone. Approximately 10% of student saxophonists later learn to play the tenor. Switching from alto to tenor does not involve great difficulty, since both instruments are transposing instruments and use the same fingerings. A different (slightly larger) mouthpiece, reed, and ligature are required on tenor than on alto.

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The tenor saxophone comes into its own in jazz music. Many of the greatest jazz saxophonists have been primarily tenor players. Some famous tenor saxophonists include Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, John Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins.

Related Topics:
Jazz - Coleman Hawkins - Lester Young - John Coltrane - Sonny Rollins

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The saxophone family ranges from sopranissimo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass, and subcontrabass.

Related Topics:
Saxophone - Sopranissimo - Sopranino - Soprano - Alto - Tenor - Baritone - Bass - Contrabass - Subcontrabass

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