| The saxophone is a relatively recent invention - it was | | | | octaves. Their sounds can range from that of a |
| created in the 1840's to bridge the tonal gap between | | | | clarinet to that of a brass instrument with ease. There |
| lower woodwind section and the low brass section! | | | | are twenty keys on the saxophone, six finger plates, |
| The saxophone - informally called sax- is conical | | | | and two keys that denote which octave is being |
| shaped and utilizes a reed in the mouthpiece, much like | | | | played - when blowing through the reed mouthpiece, all |
| clarinets do. The saxophone is a hugely popular | | | | of these keys work together to create the desired |
| instrument and is a member of the woodwind family, | | | | tones. |
| joining the likes of flutes, piccolos, and clarinets. | | | | The saxophone is a great individual instrument, but it is |
| Normally, the saxophone is made of brass and it | | | | used in many types of music. Jazz is most famous for |
| ranges in size, depending on the overall pitch (tenor | | | | using saxophone, but rock, ska, pop, show tunes, |
| sax is larger than an alto sax and soprano sax, for | | | | smooth listening, Broadway, blues, reggae, big band, |
| example). If you are tinkering with the idea of playing | | | | samba, and swing all use the saxophone in their |
| an instrument, the saxophone is a wonderful choice. | | | | respective genres. Orchestras and ensembles utilize |
| The saxophone is a combination of clarinet (the | | | | the sax - in fact, Saxophone quartets or ensembles |
| mouthpiece) the flute (the fingerings) and brass | | | | are extremely popular - and the saxophones |
| instruments (made of the same material). Although | | | | expansion is only growing. Many people play it purely |
| they appear to be a hybrid, saxophones have become | | | | for its relaxing and sonorous qualities; whatever your |
| very distinct instruments and there are several types | | | | goal may be, the sax can help you achieve it. |
| of saxophones! The most common saxophone is the | | | | The saxophone is very popular so as a result, there |
| tenor saxophone, but baritone saxophone, alto sax, | | | | are many saxophone instructors around the country. In |
| and soprano sax are all used in society. The soprano | | | | turn, there are innumerable amounts of sheet music |
| sax is the only saxophone that is straight (all others | | | | created specifically for the saxophones, and any type |
| have the signature u-bend) and reaches the highest | | | | of music can be performed. |
| register for this instrument; on the opposite end of the | | | | The sax is a wonderful and fun instrument, but initially |
| spectrum, the baritone sax is very large and usually | | | | learning the tricky fingering can be tough. It is highly |
| only played in professional orchestras. If a person is | | | | advisable to take a few lessons from a saxophone |
| competent in playing the alto sax, it is usually not | | | | teacher - but once you learn the proper breathing and |
| difficult to jump from one saxophone type to another | | | | fingering techniques, you can continue to teach |
| type. | | | | yourself or you can continue to receive expert |
| Saxophones are capable of producing two and a half | | | | guidance. The choice is completely up to you! |