The Saxophone - Saxophones And Saxophone Accessories

The Saxophone

The Saxophone in a conical tube of thin metal and is flared at the tip to form a bell. Commonly known as a sax the saxophone is a woodwind instrument. Made in the early 1840s by a man named Adolphe Sax in Belgian, a instrument maker who is a flute player and a clarinetist . Usually made from brass and 20 and 23 tone holes of different sizes. These holes are covered by a pad which covers the holes when pressed.

The sax is played with a reed and the fingering is like a combination of oboe with the Boehm system and a flute or the upper register of the clarinet. The Saxophone are most commonly made in a B flat or E flat pitch, although C and F are made but are less common.

The Sax is like a clarinet. The clarinet goes up in pitch by a 12th when over blown. When the saxophone would over blow at the octave. But the fingering is similar. The sax made many improvements to the clarinet including the key work, acoustics and more lower range pitches.

Orchestral transposed at F or C and military band was transposed at E flat and B flat. The modern saxophone range by one semitone to b flat. The early stages the sax only had 2 separate octave vents on the upper registers, used by your thumb, like the modern ones but many added more keys to make it easier.

A man named M. Houvenaghel of Paris, France, developed the sax to play C sharp, B, A, G, F and E flat to be flat by a semitone by pushing down your right middle finger. this is a chromatic scale that is played over 2 octaves. Which plays a diatonic scale by lifting and lowering one digit. This is no longer used.

Saxophone Manufacturers

Amati Saxophones - Conn Saxophones - EM Winston Saxophones - Giardinelli Saxophones
Jupiter Saxophones - Keilwerth Saxophones - Prelude Saxophones - Selmer Saxophones
Yamaha Saxophones

Saxophone Types

Soprillo Saxophones - Sopranino Saxophones - Soprano Saxophones - Mezzo-Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone - C Melody Saxophone - Tenor Saxophone - Baritone Saxophone - Bass Saxophone Contrabass Saxophone - Sub Contrabass Saxophone

Alto Saxophones

The Alto Saxophone is the 3rd smallest saxophone of 10 and is the most common in the saxophone family, even more common then the tenor sax. Because of it being so common, its used by beginner saxophone players depending on there size. The Alto Sax reads the treble cleft in a E flat which means C = E flat a major 6th lower or a minor 3rd above. The Alto Saxophone ranges from a concert D flat to a concert A flat. The normal ranges is B flat to F sharp. The 3d octave (the altissimo) starts at F sharp and goes up. Which is played by more advanced players.

Tenor Saxophones

The Tenor Saxophone is the medium size saxophone, 2nd most common saxophone in the saxophone family. The Tenor Saxophone reads in the treble cleft in a b flat which is a 9th lower than a written pitch. The tenor sax uses a larger reed then the alto sax but same amount of tone holes as the alto sax. Although the tenor has 2 small speaker holes which when opened sounds like a harmonica when over blown.

Baritone Saxophones

The Baritone Saxophone, also known as a bari sax, is on of the largest of the saxophone family ad lower in pitch. Its different by the extra loop by the mouth piece which helps in height. Kind of like a bass saxophone, but the bass saxophone has a larger. The baritone sax plays in a E flat, which is 1 octave lower than a alto sax. The Baritone Saxophone reads in a bass cleft. And usually weights 13-14 pounds making it more common the wear a strap, considering its twice the size of a alto saxophone.

Soprano Saxophones

The Soprano Saxophone 2nd biggest saxophone in the family. In order it goes sopranino sax, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass saxophone, and contrabass saxophone being the largest. The Soprano Sax plays in a B flat pitch, a octave above the tenor sax. The soprano saxophone is often compared to a clarinet because of its sound pitch and really high notes. And is also mistaken as a Oboe.

Student Saxophones

Student Saxophones are made for the beginner saxophonist and are generally lower in price. Often are Alto Saxophones.

Intermediate Saxophones

Intermediate Saxophones are made for the saxophonist and are generally the normal price. Often are Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophones and Baritone Saxophones are seen at these levels.

Professional Saxophones

Professional Saxophones are made for the saxophonist who are great players and are highest in price. All saxophones can be found in the professional level.

How To Buy Saxophones

When you go to buy a sax they're are many things to think of.

How Good Of A Saxophonist am I? You don't want to buy a professional saxophone when you never played before or only played a little because they are harder to play. And you don't want a beginner saxophone when you are a great saxophonist.
How Do I Like My Fingering? Find a Saxophone that feels right. And plays the sound you want to play.

Saxophone Serial Numbers

Saxophone Serial Numbers are the numbers found to mark the saxophone you have. Each saxophone has a serial number made for just that sax.

Saxophone Music

Saxophones are found in many types of music. Most commonly military band music, big band music, blues and jazz. Also popular in the classical music. Famous saxophonist are Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Lee Konitz, Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton, Phil Woods, Paul Desmond, Marcel Mule, Sigurd Raschèr, Eugene Rousseau, Coleman Hawkins, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, Don Byas, Bud Freeman, Don Redman, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Budd Johnson, Wardell Gray, Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre, Richie Kamuca, Herbie Stewart, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Booker Ervin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Yusef Lateef, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Chico Freeman, Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, Peter Brotzmann, Stanley Turrentine, Houston Person, David "Fathead" Newman, Gene Ammons, Michael Brecker, Lenny Pickett, Eddie Harris, Bob Mintzer, Bob Berg, Grover Washington, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Kenny G, Ed Calle, Leandro "Gato" Barbieri, Von Freeman, Scott Hamilton, Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, James Houlik, John S. Moore, Bruce Weinberger, Autry DeWalt Mixon, Rock- Curtis, Boots Randolph's, Rudy Pompilli, Boots Randolph, Big Jay McNeely, Clarence Clemons, Bill Clinton, Plas Johnson and more of course.