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The History Of The Saxophone

Let’s discuss the history of the saxophone. The saxophone was invented by a Belgian, Antoine-Joseph (Adolphe) Sax, born on November 6, 1814 in Dinant. His father, Charles was an expert maker of musical instruments. As a child he learned to make instruments in his father’s shop. His father’s passion for creating instruments had such a strong influence on him that by the age of six, Sax had already become an expert as well.

He produced some of the finest specimens of flutes, clarinets, and other instruments. He also learned to play the instruments because he had to test them when he made them. During his youth, Adolphe Sax studied the clarinet and the flute at the Brussels Conservatory.

Sax, already a knowledgeable and skilled musician, became aware that there was a tonal disparity between strings and winds, as well as brasses and woodwinds. Sax noticed that the brasses were overpowering the woodwinds, and the winds were overpowering the strings. He saw the need to come up with a new instrument that would create some form of balance between the three sections (brass, woodwinds and strings). The sound that he was seeking would lie between the clarinet’s woodwind sound, and the trumpet’s brass tone. Sax combined the body of a brass instrument and the mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument, and the saxophone was born.

adolphe sax

Adolphe Sax, Inventor of the Saxophone

When discussing the history of the saxophone, mention must be made of Hector Berlioz. In 1841 , Adolphe Sax first showed his creation, a C bass saxophone to the great composer Hector Berlioz. Berlioz was impressed by its uniqueness and versatility. Sax moved to Paris in 1842 to make-known his instrument and on June 12, Hector Berlioz published an article in the Paris magazine “Journal des Debats” describing the new instrument. In 1844, the new creation was revealed to the public through the Paris Industrial Exhibition. In that same year, on February 3, Hector Berlioz conducted a concert featuring his choral work arrangement, Chante Sacre. The saxophone was featured in that concert. In December of that year, the opera “Last King of Juda” by George Kastner was conducted at the Paris Conservatory. The saxophone had its orchestral debut in that particular opera.

(During 1845, French military bands used oboes, bassoons and french horns. That same year, Adolphe replaced these instruments with B-flat and E-flat saxhorns.)

THE HISTORY OF THE SAXOPHONE – THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The saxophone became an integral part of the French Army band and then all other bands. This was the end result of the famous “battle of the bands”. Sax wanted to prove that the saxophone could improve the tonal quality of all bands. He suggested a contest between an army band consisting of traditional instrumentation and an army band that included saxophones. Sax and his twenty eight member band competed against the French Army’s thirty five member band and Sax’s band won.

In our discussion of the history of the saxophone we’ve mentioned the C bass saxophone. But what were the other saxophones invented by Adolphe Sax? There was an entire family of fourteen saxophones created. They were the E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass, and F contrabass. Each of them differed in pitch and size. Those pitched in F and C were for orchestral use, while those pitched in B-flat and E-flat were for military band use. Many of these saxophones have become obsolete. The five which remain in use today from the largest instrument with the lowest sound to the smallest instrument with the highest sound, are bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophone. Adolphe Sax obtained a 15 year patent for his saxophones on June 28, 1846.

IMPORTANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF THE SAXOPHONE

Adolphe Sax Statue

Adolphe Sax Statue

On February 14, 1847, a saxophone school was created in Paris. The school was set up at a military band school known as Gymnase Musical. In 1858, Adolphe Sax became a professor at the Paris Conservatory.

After Sax’s patent expired in 1866, many different manufacturers introduced competing saxophone models. These included many modifications to Sax’s original design. In that year, the Millereau Co. patented the saxophone featuring a forked F# key. In 1875, Goumas patented the saxophone with a fingering similar to the clarinet’s Boehm system. Adolphe extended his original saxophone patent in 1881. He made various changes to the instrument. For instance, the bell was lengthened to include B-flat and A, and the range of the instrument was extended to F# and G using the fourth octave key.

In the years that followed, the saxophone underwent many additional changes. In 1886, right hand C trill key was introduced and half-hole system for the first fingers of both hands. The saxophone’s single octave key was invented in 1888 and rollers for low Eb and C were added. After Adolphe Sax died in 1894, his son, Adolphe Edouard took over the business. The saxophone continued to undergo changes and became more and more popular. Saxophones formed part of Jazz bands from 1914, and gained greater popularity in the 1920’s. In 1928, the Henri Selmer Company bought the Sax factory.

Today, saxophone music is enjoyed by people all over the world and has become part of almost every style of music. This wonderful instrument is an integral part of Jazz music in particular. Today’s most popular saxophones are the alto and tenor saxophones.

 

Alto Saxophone Fingering Chart

Sometimes a certain note will be depicted in several different ways on your alto saxophone fingering chart. A good chart will tell you just when you will need each of the different fingerings. For instance, one fingering might work while playing a quick run, while another fingering would be more comfortable to play for a sustained note.

If you do a web search for an interactive chart, you can find one that will illustrate any note you wish to play. The picture will change with the note that you choose so you can find the fingering for the note you need. When a note can be made by several alternate fingerings, they should be depicted as well as the standard fingering.

Sometimes a fingering chart shows the diagram of the fingering in a vertical form, similar to the way you would hold the alto saxophone. Other charts show the notes in a horizontal form. If you are just learning to play the alto sax, this might seem confusing, but you can soon learn to read either type with a little practice.

saxophone fingering chart

saxophone fingering chart

Any beginner music book for learning the alto saxophone should feature an alto saxophone fingering chart as an important resource. It should also show the fingering diagram under the notes in the practice music, too, especially when the note has just been taught. Fingering diagrams make learning any instrument easier, and are essential for learning an instrument like the alto sax because of the numerous buttons and keys.

saxophone fingering chart

saxophone fingering chart

The Tenor Saxophone

The tenor saxophone is one of the most widely used saxophones today. The other most often used is the alto saxophone. The baritone and soprano are also popular but in no way are they as popular as the alto and tenor.

Speak about Jazz music and mention must be made of this saxophone. In fact most times when people think of Jazz music they think of the tenor sax. It is popularly believed to be the signature instrument of modern Jazz, just as the guitar is to country. Many people don’t differentiate between a regular saxophone instrumental, and a Jazz track in which the tenor is the solo instrument. 

tenor saxophone, tenor, saxophone

tenor saxophone

One of the first important tenor saxophonists in Jazz was Coleman Hawkins. It’s as if Adolphe Sax invented the sax just for him. John Coltrane was one of the most influential, along with Lester Young, and Sonny Rollins.

The tenor saxophone is a transposing instrument, pitched in the key of B-Flat. So when a player plays C on the instrument the sound that is produced is not the note C, but B-Flat. The instrument is very popular in ensembles such as marching band, concert band, jazz ensemble, and even symphony orchestras.

Most students learn to play the saxophone on the alto. Many of them later switch to tenor. If you’re a student who wants to learn how to play saxophone, this is probably the way to go. Switching from alto to tenor is not difficult. Both instruments use the same fingerings. The tenor is larger than the alto saxophone, so a slightly larger mouthpiece, ligature and reed are needed. It is the fifth in the saxophone family.From smallest (highest) to largest (lowest), they are: sopranissimo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass, and subcontrabass.

Learn about other types of saxophones, like the soprano, alto and baritone.

Alto Saxophones

Alto saxophones are prominent members of the saxophone family. The alto is the most popular among classical performers and composers. In fact most classical players focus mainly on the alto. It is the fourth in size of the sax family. The smallest saxophone is the sopranissimo or soprillo, followed by the sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass, and the largest is the subcontrabass.

Most altos range from concert D-flat below middle C to concert D-flat three octaves higher. But few have mastered the higher notes in the altissimo register. The alto is not played exactly as the music is written. You have to do some transposing. The treble clef is read in the key of E-flat. So instead of playing a written C, you play E-flat.

alto saxophone, saxophone

alto saxophone

Altos play a major role in concert, funk, jazz, pop, blues, and rock music.It is the saxophone of choice for many beginners. Popular alto saxophone companies include Yanagisawa, Selmer, SML, Vito, Cannonball, Jupiter, and Yamaha. Their prices range greatly from a few hundreds to many thousands. A beginner should choose a cheaper, high quality model. Here’s a great place to buy an alto.

It is the saxophone of choice for many beginners. Popular alto saxophone companies include Yanagisawa, Selmer, SML, Vito, Cannonball, Jupiter, and Yamaha. Their prices range greatly from a few hundreds to many thousands. A beginner should choose a cheaper, high quality model.

Alto and tenor saxophones are the most prominent siblings of the family. But while the tenor appears to be the most dominant instrument, the role played by the alto during the Swing Era cannot be ignored. The alto played a leading role in the evolution of Jazz. Charlie Parker, an alto saxophonist, was one of the most influential bebop pioneers of the 1940s.

Many saxophonists have been known to double successfully on alto and tenor. Popular alto and tenor players included David Fathead, Newman, Sonny Stitt, James Moody, and Frank Wess. Other great saxophone players include Art Pepper, Marcel Mule, Sigurd Raschèr, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Jackie McLean, “Cannonball” Adderley, and Paul Desmond.

Learn about other types of saxophones, like the soprano, tenor and baritone.

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The Baritone Saxophone, Past and Present

The baritone saxophone, invented by Adolphe Sax, is one of the larger members of the saxophone family. It is bigger than the tenor saxophone and smaller than the bass. The instrument has a single reed similar to a clarinet and its fingering system is based on that of the oboe. It has an extra loop near the mouthpiece, helping to keep it at a height that is practical. It is made of brass with a tapered bore.

The baritone is one of the more common saxophones in today’s ensembles. The other three popular (smaller) members of the saxophone family are the alto, tenor, and soprano. But of the entire group, the tenor and alto are the most common. The baritone is in the key of E-Flat. Music is written not in the bass clef, but the treble clef.

baritone saxophone, baritone, saxophone

baritone saxophone

Here’s a great place to buy a saxophone. 

The bari sax comes in two sizes. One ranges to a low A and the other two a low B-Flat. The first horn is called “A bari” while the other is called “Bb bari”. It must be noted that most of the music written for the baritone is written with a low Bb range.

The instrument is very big, heavy and cumbersome, and is therefore the most abused of the saxophone family. It is very prone to problems like tone hole damage, rod damage, body twists, and large dents. Due to its exceptional weight it is difficult to use the instrument in marching bands. As a result, a harness is used to distribute the weight of the baritone onto the player’s back and not around the neck.

Popularity of the instrument

The instrument is more popular in classical music than orchestral music. However, it has played a major role in concert bands, military bands and wind ensembles.

Notable past and recent performers include Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan, Pepper Adams, Hamiet Bluiett, John Surman, and Joe Temperley.

Learn about other types of saxophones, like the soprano, alto and tenor.

The Soprano Saxophone

The soprano saxophone is not as widely used as the alto and tenor saxophones. Nevertheless, it still comes in the top four as one of the most commonly used saxophones. The other is the baritone saxophone.

The soprano saxophone is pitched in the key of B-Flat and plays an octave above the tenor saxophone. Some sopranos are pitched in the key of C, but they are not very common.

In the mid thirties curved sopranos were very common. That has changed. Most sopranos are either straight, or straight with a slight bend in the neck or bell. Sometimes both the neck and bell are slightly bent. Perhaps it’s their straight nature that give them such a clarinet or oboe-like quality. Curved saxophones tend to have a richer, more “saxophone-like” quality.

soprano saxophone, saxophone, soprano

soprano saxophone

If you are a beginner, the soprano sax may not be the best instrument to learn on. It is generally considered to be one of the most difficult saxophones to learn and master. You’d be better off starting with an alto saxophone. But for more advanced players, if you have not given much thought to this instrument you certainly should. You will have lots of fun with it.

It is particularly popular in Jazz music. Popular players include Jazz musicians like Sidney Bechet, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, and Joe Farrell. They also include smooth Jazz saxophonists like Kenny G and Dave Koz.

Learn about other types of saxophones, like the alto, tenor and baritone.

Different Types Of Saxophones

There are many types of saxophones, but four are most common. They are the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. Other types that are seen less often include the bass saxophone and the C-melody sax. Most of the saxophone music we hear in jazz and rock music is played on the tenor sax, but the others are used frequently, too.

The highest pitched (of the four) is the B-flat soprano saxophone. There is a smaller, higher sax called the sopranino, but it is not seen often. The soprano sax is gaining in popularity, and can be heard in popular background music, such as elevator music. It has that distinctive saxophone sound, but in a higher pitch. The soprano sax can either be straight, like a clarinet, or have a curved bell like other saxophones.

saxophone types, types of saxophones, saxophones

Types of Saxophones

The E-flat alto saxophone is common in school bands and elsewhere. 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.

The E-flat baritone saxophone is much larger than the other 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. It has a deep bass sound and is sometimes featured in jazz solos.

Of the less familiar types of saxophones, the C-melody saxophone was marketed a number of years back as an alternative to the alto or tenor which would not need its music transposed. These horns are often sought by collectors of vintage saxophones.

Other types of saxophones include the soprillo or sopranissimo, contrabass, and subcontrabass.

types of saxophones, saxophone, saxophone types

Different types of saxophones

The following is a more elaborate article I wrote on the different types of saxophones.

TYPES OF SAXOPHONES – SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR, BARITONE, ETC.

Saxophones come in varying shapes and sizes. There are many types. The inventor of the saxophone, Antoine-Joseph (Adolphe) Sax patented 14 of them in 1846. They were the E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass, F contrabass and subcontrabass. While the subcontrabass was patented by Adolphe Sax he never built it. Models of the instrument have been created but they were unplayable. Other types were created since then including the C-melody saxophone, Conn-O-Sax, F Mezzo Soprano, F baritone, and the sopranissimo (nick-named the world’s smallest saxophone or soprillo).

For the purpose of this article, we shall focus on the four types of saxophone widely used today. From the smallest instrument with the highest pitch to the largest instrument with the lowest pitch, they are the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone.

soprano saxophone, saxophone

a soprano saxophone

The soprano saxophone is pitched in the key of B flat. It is one octave higher than the tenor. Some versions are curved while others are straight. Most of today’s sopranos are made straight or straight with a slight bend in the neck, bell or both. While there are curved ones today, these were more common during the 1930s. They look like small altos and have a richer, more “saxophone-like” sound than straight sopranos. In terms of intonation, straight sopranos are usually better. If you’re just starting out on the saxophone, a soprano saxophone would not be the best choice for you. Try an alto instead. Sopranos are generally seen as the hardest saxophones to play and master. The small mouthpiece and difficult tuning can make life hard when you first start playing. Also, there is not much music written for this type of saxophone as compared to the alto for instance. The soprano is very popular in Jazz music. Popular players include Jazz musicians like Sidney Bechet, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, and Joe Farrell, as well as smooth Jazz saxophonists like Kenny G and Dave Koz.

The other type of saxophone we shall look at is the alto saxophone. It is pitched in the key of E flat and plays exactly one octave higher than the baritone.

alto saxophone, alto, saxophone

an alto saxophone

This is a medium sized saxophone and one of the most commonly played. The alto is the perfect choice for a beginner because of its comfortable shape and size. Later on, an alto player can always move on to the other types of saxophones since the fingering for all saxophones is basically the same. Compared to the tenor, it’s easier to play. Some altos are very cheap to buy and rent. Most altos are curved in a backwards “J” shape but some of them come in a straight model with a slightly tipped bell. The alto is very common in jazz bands and many symphonic bands as well. Popular manufacturers include Yanagisawa, Selmer, SML, Vito, Cannonball, Jupiter, and Yamaha. The role played by the alto during the Swing Era cannot be ignored; the instrument played a leading role in the evolution of Jazz. One of the most influential bebop pioneers of the 1940s was Charlie Parker, an alto saxophonist.

Next in line we have the tenor saxophone pitched in the key of B flat. It plays exactly one octave lower than the soprano saxophone.

tenor saxophone, tenor, saxophone

a tenor saxophone

This type of saxophone is larger than the alto, the mouthpiece is larger, and the rods and tone holes are longer. Due to the length of its neck it is very prone to damage. The instrument is popularly believed to be the signature instrument of modern Jazz, but is also used in rock and pop as well. While most beginners start and should start on the alto saxophone, if you prefer the tenor and think you can handle it, by all means go for it. It is really just a bigger version of the alto. Both instruments use the same fingerings. I probably would not advise children to start on the tenor, but for adults it’s perfectly fine. Famous tenor saxophone players include Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Lester Young, and Sonny Rollins.

baritone saxophone, saxophone, baritone

a baritone saxophone

The final type of saxophone we shall take a look at is the baritone. This is the largest among the common types of saxophones. It is pitched in the key of E flat and plays exactly one octave lower than the alto. Music is written not in the bass clef, but the treble clef. Unlike the other types of saxophone, the baritone saxophone normally comes with a very beneficial low A fingering. Since this is an E flat instrument, low A translates to concert C. Actually, there are two types of baritone, one ranging to a low A and the other to a low B flat. Due to size of this instrument, it is very difficult to play and carry around, especially for children. It is the most abused of the saxophone family and is very prone to problems like tone hole damage, rod damage, body twists, and large dents. In addition, it is very expensive. Notable past and recent performers include Pepper Adams, Hamiet Bluiett, Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan, John Surman, and Joe Temperley.

Other Types Of Saxophones

Further Reading On Saxophones