Saxophone is what kind of instrument

All woodwind instruments have holes in their bodies through which the wind flowing through the instrument escapes.

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The saxophone also utilizes a mouthpiece and single reed which is similar to a clarinet but has different angles resulting in a very different embouchure than the clarinet, the embouchure be the collection of muscles around and including the lips that we use to wrap around the mouthpiece and create a sound. As time passed, musicians desired an instrument with a wider range and more control over pitches. During the mid 17th century, the first baroque oboe called hautbois , meaning high-wood was created in France, where it was used to entertain the French court.

Made of boxwood with several holes but only two or three keys, it gained immediate popularity in many countries. During this time, the oboe da caccia hunting oboe was also created. This instrument was primarily used in the Baroque period, as later instruments would take the place of this unusual instrument, which was difficult to build. A saxophone, like many woodwind instruments, uses a reed to direct air into the instrument. It is this air that creates the sound, and notes are changed by pressing keys to open and close holes.

Want to see for yourself? Maintenance: Pad and reed replacements, Adjustments. Things to Consider: A popular instrument that is fairly easy to learn and a good choice if you want to play jazz. If you are interested in a band or jazz group, consider the tenor or baritone sax. It can sound smooth and sultry or raucous and soulful. You can find it seamlessly blending into any ensemble whether it be a jazz big band or an orchestra, or you can find it out front playing solos in a rock band or a jazz quartet.

Even today musicians around the world are pushing the boundaries of what the saxophone can do and what types of music it can be incorporated into. The story of the saxophone is best understood by taking a look at its inventor Adolphe Sax. At age fifteen, he fabricated a clarinet and two flutes out of ivory, a feat previously deemed near impossible. By the age of twenty he had created a new fingering system for the clarinet and reinvented the bass clarinet, transforming it from an awkward derivative of the clarinet into the regal and elegant woodwind instrument it is today.

Being the visionary he was, Adolphe had an idea to create a completely new instrument. This instrument would combine the power of a brass instrument with the subtleties of a woodwind instrument and the facility of a stringed instrument. After much experimentation, he had his first working model in , which he called the bass horn. In , Adolphe Sax won two patents for his designs: One for a set of saxophones intended for the orchestra and the other for a set of saxophones intended for military bands.

Each set consisted of a range of sizes from the small sopranino saxophone to the huge subcontrabass saxophone. The first dream was for the saxophone to become a key part of the orchestra. There were a few problems in the way of this dream.

First was the fact that Adolphe over the years had made many enemies in the orchestral establishment. His constant desire to improve the mechanics of the wind instruments in the orchestra made many of the players grow angry with him, and his proud nature offended many conductors.

Secondly, the saxophone, despite having a beautiful voice and great facility, lacked precise intonation at the time, and this made it problematic for the orchestra. Although the saxophone has been written for by a few orchestral composers, many of whom were personal friends of Adolphe, the saxophone to this day has not lived up to his dream of being a staple of the orchestra.

Adolphe, although Belgian, had a special place in his heart for the French military bands. Adolphe believed that his instruments, especially his saxophones, could turn the image of the French military bands completely around. Reluctant at first, the French adopted his instruments. This was a very important step for the saxophone because, through military bands, the saxophone would become a remarkable new image and sound that could be seen and heard around the globe.

It was through these bands that the saxophone made its way to New Orleans and became a key component in the formation of early jazz. The saxophone may have gained international exposure through the military bands of the world, but it was through jazz that it became the iconic instrument it is today. Due to its higher pitch it is commonly used for jazz music. Because the soprano saxophone can be more difficult to play it is not recommended for beginners and is better suited to already proficient alto or tenor players.

The alto saxophone is one of the most popular types of saxophone and is particularly popular with student players. Most saxophonists will have started with an alto saxophone before moving to another type of saxophone. The alto saxophone is pitched to E flat Eb and the smaller size and small mouthpiece make it easy to learn, even for younger players.

Because the fingering for all saxophones is very similar, alto saxophonists can easily graduate to other types of saxophone as they develop their skills. The alto saxophone is typically found in jazz bands. The tenor saxophone is the most popular choice of saxophone. It is larger than the alto saxophone and has a lower pitch Bb.

Because the tenor saxophone is a larger instrument and requires more air to be blown through it to produce a sound it difficult for beginners or younger players to play.