Understanding the Different Kinds of Saxophones

Saxophones are conical instruments that are made from brass, contain one reed mouthpiece similar to a clarinet, and belong to a woodwind family of instruments. Saxophones were patented with 14 instruments and were divided into groups of two. They come in various sizes ranging from as short as 15 centimeters to as long as two meters. The most common of the saxophones are the alto saxophone, the soprano saxophone, the tenor and the baritone saxophones.

Due to its average size, the alto saxophone is highly ideal for beginner learners. There is the Selmer Alto Saxophone which is curved and having a rather small mouthpiece disallowing more sound personalization. An alto saxophone, generally coming in a straight design and having a bell that is slightly tipped, is mostly popular to classical composers as well as performers. Alto comes in the E flat key whereas a truly toned alto saxophone instrument is available.

A soprano saxophone can either be straight or curved in design. And because learning them can be a tad difficult, it is not an instrument that is recommended for starters. Newer versions of the soprano saxophone are designed to be straight while some have slight curves in its bell or neck or both. The curved soprano saxophones have been a trend in the thirties with the E-flat and the B-flat soprano saxophone being available in the market.

In size, tenor saxophones are larger than the alto sax. The former has small bends in the neck with its mouthpiece, tone holes, and rods being relevantly larger too. Tenor saxophones are normally used when producing jazz music. It has a B-flat key and can also be excellent instruments in doing classical musicals and performances. The shape and the length of the neck of the tenor sax, on the other hand, may be too large that it may damage the neck of the user.

The largest of all the most common types of a saxophone is the baritone sax. It comes with either an extension being attached to its horn or without one. A baritone saxophone with an extension is called a low A baritone sax but can have intense intonation problems most especially in its highest and its lowest registers. The latest versions of the baritone sax come with one extra key which allows the user to play the low A key.

Aside from the ones mentioned above, there are also rare kinds of saxophones. We have the C melody sax, the C soprano sax, the F Mezzo saxophone, the F baritone, and the bass saxophone. There also is the tenor B-flat, the baritone E-flat, the bass B-flat, and the contrabass saxophone types which are all available in the market.

Learning to play the saxophone takes time and patience. As long as you put your heart into learning this instrument, things will turn out not as hard as you imagined and thought they will be. Good luck in learning the saxophone!