The Different Types of Saxophones

The saxophone is a relatively new instrument compared to other wind instruments, such as the flute, oboe, and clarinet. As one of the most prominent wind instruments, the saxophone continues to hold a distinguished place in music history. However, how can it be so popular in the modern world?

In this article, we will explore the charm of the saxophone and the different types of saxophones to help you gain a deeper understanding of this appealing instrument. Finally, we will introduce the extraordinary saxophone mouthpieces that enable you to deliver wonderful tones in performances.

What is a Saxophone?

In the 19th century, Adolf Sax, the Belgian musician, invented the prototype of the saxophone. The saxophone is a wind instrument that produces sound through the vibrations of air. When the player blows into the mouthpiece of a saxophone, the air vibrates against the reed, a wooden piece that sits below the mouthpiece, and creates a sound wave in the body. Then, it produces a beautiful sound. The saxophone combines the reed of woodwind instruments and the keys of brass instruments, making it an easy-to-play instrument.

How Saxophones Are Made?

The production of a saxophone involves a series of intricate processes and precise manual operations.

• The body

It begins with manually hammering the sheets of brass or other metal materials into alloy pieces. These pieces will be welded together and hammered onto a horn-shaped mold. After hammering the piece, the body forms into the proper horn shape, known as the bell.

• The keys and tone holes

Once the basic body is formed, the keys and tone holes will be precisely machined with the lathe machines. The tone holes require precise turning to achieve accurate dimensions, which significantly impacts proper sound projection.

• The surface 

Lastly, the surface goes through multiple finishing processes, including welding, polishing, degreasing, and coating. These processes achieve a smooth and refined appearance of the saxophone. With the final assembly and tuning, a beautifully crafted saxophone is ready to deliver rich and resonant tones.

Types of Saxophones

Nowadays, the most common types include: the soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone.

• Alto Saxophone 

The alto saxophone is a popular choice among many beginners who choose it as their first saxophone. The reason is that the keys are aligned at a medium distance that is suitable for beginners or players with small hands. As for the structure, it features a straight neck and a smaller body than the tenor and baritone saxophones. Additionally, the alto saxophone has a middle pitch, along with a mellow and warm tone. It is ideal for playing music genres like jazz and classical due to its moderate sound.

• Soprano Saxophone

The soprano saxophone, also called the straight tube saxophone, is the smallest saxophone among the four types. The nickname is given from its shape, which is also similar to a clarinet. The soprano saxophone can produce a relatively high pitch with a clear tone. As a result, it is difficult for players to control the pitch. With its charming high pitch, the soprano saxophone is commonly played solo in an orchestra or band.

• Tenor Saxophone 

The tenor saxophone has a similar shape to the alto saxophone. But it is designed with a larger body and a curved neck. It can produce an attractive husky tone with a low pitch. The beautiful tone and pitch make the tenor saxophone well-suited to jazz music. It often plays as the main voice in the blues and swing music.

• Baritone Saxophone 

Among the four types of saxophones, the baritone saxophone has the largest size and the heaviest weight. Due to its large size and long, curved neck, the baritone saxophone requires more lung power to produce stable sounds than other types of saxophones. It has a low pitch and thick tone, making the baritone saxophone an irreplaceable role in jazz bands or classical saxophone quartets, which are composed of four saxophone players.

Which Saxophone Is Best for Beginners? 

As we mentioned before, the alto saxophone is an ideal choice for beginners among the four types of saxophones. In this section, we will go through a few advantages of the alto saxophone and why it is the best for beginners.

• Construction

More than the easy-to-play keys, which allow beginners who are not familiar with the saxophone to move their fingers with ease and flexibility. The alto saxophone also has a perfectly sized body. It is not too heavy to handle during practices or performances, making it suitable for young players. Additionally, the alto saxophone is designed with a user-friendly mouthpiece. It is large enough and thus requires less breath control to produce a stable sound.

• Sound 

The mild pitch makes the alto saxophone perfect for playing various musical applications, including jazz, classical, and pop music. The sound is clearer than the tenor saxophone and warmer than the soprano saxophone. Beginners can easily play a pleasant tune after practice, which contributes to a relatively flat learning curve when compared to other types of saxophones.

• Convenience

At the beginning of the learning process, the beginners may be required to carry the saxophone to the classroom or studio. The alto saxophone is easy to carry around and organize. Moreover, it often has a lower cost than other types of saxophones, which makes it the most common option. The alto saxophone has a large community, providing sufficient learning resources and information for beginners.

For beginners, it is understandable to think that the smaller saxophone, like the soprano saxophone, is easier to play. However, it has a fairly high pitch, which requires a high level of breath control to produce stable sounds. Moreover, the mouthpiece of the soprano saxophone is also small, making it difficult to get a clear tone and play in tune. As a result, it is recommended that beginner players avoid choosing the soprano saxophone as it requires more proficiency in breath control.

Conclusion 

In this article, we learned that the saxophone has four common types and how they differ from each other. They have various tones and features, which make the saxophone a versatile instrument because it plays a vital role in a wide range of music genres. As we previously stated, the saxophone mouthpiece is one of the key components that affect how players control their breath and the sounds they produce.

UFOR develops high-quality saxophone mouthpieces to ensure players can have an ultimate experience during performances. Our Blast 1 and Blast 2 saxophone mouthpieces are designed with a special air channel, which contributes to a clear and powerful tone. Contact us for more information and tailored machining options.