You might assume that the saxophone is a member of the brass family, but it’s not! It’s actually a woodwind instrument, with a smooth, smokey sound, and single reed like that of a clarinet. Commonly used in jazz music, it blends well with both wind and brass timbres and is one of the main instruments used for improvisation.
Is the saxophone also used in classical music?
Yes! Ravel used it in Bolero and there’s famously a tenor sax solo in the 'Montagues and Capulets' part of Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet. There are a select handful of saxophone concertante works in the repertoire too: the French composer Jacques Ibert penned a Concertino da Camera for alto saxophone and 11 instruments, and the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos wrote a rather lovely Fantasia for Soprano Saxophone.
So, it is a relative rarity in classical music - but where it crops up, it does so rather beautifully.
What does the saxophone sound like?
Well, on day one of playing it, probably something like a honking goose! But ideally, it should sound warm and slinky, combining the piercing quality of a brass instrument with the smoothness of a woodwind instrument.
When was it invented?
The saxophone was invented, in fact, relatively recently: in the 1840s, by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax (see what they've done with the name there?). He also invented the saxotromba, saxhorn and saxtuba, and redesigned the bass clarinet into the form still used today.
What is the saxophone made from?
It’s made from brass (usually an alloy of copper and zinc).
Are there different kinds of saxophone?
Yes. The four main types of saxophone are soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, with the tenor being the most widely-used across various musical genres. The tenor has also been the instrument of choice for saxophonists including John Coltrane, Stan Goetz and Sonny Rollins.
What are the different parts of the saxophone?
The saxophone consists of four main parts:
The neck
This is the metal tube that bridges the mouthpiece and the body of the saxophone. It also contains the octave key, which raises the pitch of most notes by an octave when pressed.
The body
This is the main resonance chamber of the saxophone. It begins at bottom of the neck and ends at the bell.
The U-shaped bow
This is the bottom end of the instrument where most saxophones make a u-turn and head back up. Without this U-shape, the saxophone would be very long and unwieldy.
The bell
This is where sound is emitted from the saxophone. It usually ends in a decorative flare.
What is the saxophone's range?
Just over two and a half octaves, but notes above this can be produced with advanced embouchure techniques and fingering combinations.
How much does it cost?
Typically anywhere between £300 and £1000 for a starter saxophone. Professional saxophones tend to be priced between £3000 and £8000, but plenty can cost more.
How do you play it?
First of all, you need to assemble it! For a how-to, check out this handy video.
Once your saxophone is ready to play, follow these steps:
- Feed the straphook through the ring at the back of the saxophone
- Place your right hand thumb under the thumbrest (just below the straphook)
- Place your left hand first finger on the B key (that’s the upper main pearl key on the front of the saxophone, just above the small key)
- Curl your lower lip back over your lower teeth
- Place your top teeth on top of the mouthpiece, about half an inch back from the tip so that the reed rests on your lower lip
- Blow
Now sounding quite like John Coltrane yet? Don’t worry, a few saxophone lessons (and a bit of practice) will get your closer to the mark. In the meantime, you can read a good book for beginner saxophonists such as A Tune A Day for Saxophone, or check out some YouTube videos like the one below.
What are the best works for saxophone?
One of the most famous classical works written for the saxophone is Debussy’s Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone written in 1911, a seductive piece that combines various Debussy-isms with Spanish hints. Another is Glazunov’s highly romantic and deceptively difficult Saxophone Concerto. And composers including Prokofiev, Vaughan Williams and Mussorgsky have incorporated the saxophone into their orchestral scores.
As for jazz: where do we even start? Perhaps with John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’, a fast and frenetic solo that has come to be considered as Coltrane’s magnum opus. Or perhaps ‘Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue’, a Duke Ellington jazz piece that showcased the playing of virtuoso saxophonist Paul Gonsalves at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival.
And how about Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street’, whose iconic jazz solo is probably more recognisable than the rest of the song? The list goes on…
What accessories do you need for it?
When first starting out on the saxophone, there are about four accessories that you really can’t do without:
A reed
You won’t be able to produce a sound without one of these. When shopping around, look for one without discolouration, fluctuating widths of grain, or unevenness on either side.
Cork grease
This inexpensive stuff is essential for preserving the neck’s cork. It’s typically sold in tubes that look like lip balm, but don’t try and put it on your lips.
A neck strap
This provides saxophonists with neck support and enables them to hold the saxophone comfortably. Look for one that has extra padding, a harness or slings.
A sturdy case
You’ll need one that provides a lot of space for the neck and mouthpiece; avoid one that requires you to put them in a bag in the bell of the saxophone.
