The saxophone is one of the newest orchestral instruments and was first invented in the 1840s. It was patented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and instrument maker, in 1846. Sax first began down the road to creating the saxophone when he noticed there was a missing range in between the woodwind and brass instruments, and he believed a hybrid woodwind and brass instrument could solve this. Sax began experimenting with the bass clarinet, and this led him to a design that combined the projection of a brass instrument with the agility of a woodwind. This combination, in addition to the fact that saxophones are a single reed instrument, is why saxophones are considered a woodwind instrument even though they are made of brass.

Sax’s patent on the saxophone ended in 1866, allowing others to begin creating these instruments and improving on the design. There was little interest in the early saxophone in Europe, but it gained popularity quickly in the United States due to the flexibility of the instrument. Many new music styles were becoming popular, and the saxophone fit with all of them! Saxophones are now used in many different genres, including classical, military and marching bands, jazz, and contemporary music, including rock and roll.

The modern layout of the saxophone was solidified during the 1930s and 40s. Contributions were made from numerous instrument manufacturing companies, including C. G. Conn, King, and Selmer. In the end, Selmer is credited with creating the layout that became the new standard. This layout is now found on every student and professional model since it allows for a relaxed posture and dexterity when playing.

Soprano Saxophone

This is the smallest of the saxophones in common use. It is typically found in jazz music, but there are some pieces with a soprano saxophone part in wind symphony settings. The soprano saxophone looks more like a clarinet than a saxophone considering there is no bend in the neck, but rather it is just a straight tube.

Alto Saxophone

This is the second smallest of the saxophones in common use, and is the most popular. It is found in jazz, concert band, and wind symphony music. It is known for being a versatile and expressive instrument.

Tenor Saxophone

The tenor saxophone is essentially a larger version of an alto saxophone, and is the second largest saxophone in common use. Today, it can be commonly heard being used by jazz, rock, blues, and pop musicians.

Baritone Saxophone

The baritone saxophone (or bari sax for short) is the largest saxophone in common use. It is 3 and a half feet tall (1.1 meters) and weighs over 10 pounds! The sound of the baritone saxophone is deep and expressive, and is exactly an octave below the alto saxophone. It can often be heard in military bands, but also has a role in the jazz ensemble with it’s deep solos and harmonic accompaniments.