The saxophone, or also known as the sax, is a musical instrument made of brass and played with a reed mouthpiece. The sax varies in size and depending on the types and made, it can range from fifteen centimeters to two meters.
There are many different types of saxophones, with the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone being the most commonly used. There are others types of sax which are rarely used and not so common, including the Bass, C Melody, C Soprano, F Mezzo Soprano, Conn-O-Sax and the F Baritone. Most of the saxophone music that you heard in jazz and rock music is played with the tenor sax, but the others are used frequently, too.
Soprano Saxophone – The types of saxophone with the highest pitched key, B flat. With its distinctive higher pitch saxophone sound, the soprano is slowly gaining popularity and can be heard in popular background music such as the elevator music. The soprano sax can either be straight, like a clarinet, or have a curved bell like other saxophones.
Alto Saxophone – This saxophone is medium sized and one of the most commonly played type of saxophone. It is commonly used in school bands and elsewhere and it is ideal for beginner to start learning with. The alto saxophone is in the key of E flat and it has a higher pitch than the equally familiar B-flat tenor saxophone. You can tell these two common types of saxophones apart by looking at the size and the neck piece. The tenor saxophone is larger and has a crook in the neck piece. The alto saxophone, which has a higher tone than the tenor, has a straight neck.
Tenor Saxophone – It is larger than the alto saxophone and is in the key of B flat. The mouthpiece is also larger, the rods and tone holes are longer. This is the type of saxophone commonly used in jazz music. The neck of the tenor saxophone is prone to damage due to its length.
Baritone Saxophone – This is the largest among the common types of saxophones. It is so large that players need to wear a harness to help support the weight of the instrument, which rests on a stand on the floor. The baritone sax may or may not have an extension attached to the end of the horn. If it has an extension it is called a low A baritone. Due to its size and shape, the baritone is quite prone to damage. It has a deep bass sound and is sometimes featured in jazz solos.