Why saxophone is the woodwind instrument

However, it was not acoustically functional. So, it is not usually ambiguous whether or not an instrument is woodwind or brass, since there is rarely ever overlap. In the case of the saxophone, it fits every criteria of a woodwind instrument even though it is technically made of brass. What are the types of saxophones? The most common types are the soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone.

There are also several other types of saxophones that are less common. The sopranino saxophone plays even higher than the soprano saxophone, and the soprillo saxophone also known as the sopranissimo saxophone or the piccolo saxophone plays higher still, at a full octave above the soprano saxophone.

With respect to the lower-pitched saxophones, we have the bass saxophone which plays lower than the baritone saxophone. Even lower than that is the contrabass saxophone, and the subcontrabass saxophone is both the largest and the lowest-playing saxophone in existence.

Woodwind instruments were almost universally constructed out of wood at one point. Even though flutes are largely constructed out of metal nowadays, they were at one point made of wood. Clarinets are still typically made out of wood and nearly always have been. Even the very original saxophone prototypes designed by Adolphe Sax were made of wood, but were quickly transitioned to brass.

I'm the owner of woodwindsection. I live in Palatine, Illinois and enjoy playing every woodwind instrument that I can get my hands on. There are four main varieties of saxophone - the soprano, the alto, the tenor, and the baritone. Taking care of your pads is one of the basics of saxophone maintenance. The versatility of brass instruments lies in their ability to switch between multiple harmonic series.

On instruments like the trumpet, valves can be lowered to increase the length of tubing the air travels through. On a trombone this is done by extending the slide. In brass instruments, lengthening the tubes stretches the vibrating air column, reducing the frequency of vibrations, resulting in a lower pitch. Although the saxophone is classified as a woodwind instrument, it's actually made out of brass. Just like all other brass instruments, with the mouthpiece attached to the saxophone, you've got a way of lengthening the brass tube that the sound is being sent through.

Just like the valves of a trumpet, as you press down saxophone pads, the tube lengthens, stretching the vibrating air column, reducing the frequency of vibrations, resulting in a lower pitch. If you love the blog, wait till you see the stuff I'm sharing with my newsletter subscribers. Enter your email address below to join my newsletter.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. The Woodwind Family of Instruments The woodwind family is very much the most inclusive house of the musical world, a Hufflepuff house of sorts. The Saxophone as a Woodwind Instrument There are some similarities between the saxophone and other woodwind instruments, especially the fingering. If you play the flute or the oboe, you'll find that the fingering is pretty similar.

Here are my 5 reasons why the Sax is such a great instrument to learn.. Alto Saxophone is what most beginner saxophone players learn when they are in a school band or ensemble, with the best and most popular being the Sonata Alto Sax. The Sax has a very distinct sound that is flexible for many genres including classical, jazz, soul, blues, contemporary, pop, rock, and marching bands.

In fact, most musical combinations a bit like the trombone!! Educational Development Playing an instrument takes a lot of brain power, muscle memory and neurological control. There have been numerous studies that prove people who play instruments have better memories and can better control their cognitive and motor functions better than those who do not play instruments. Children who learn music excel in abstract reasoning skills, literacy and math skills, and do better overall in academics.

Simple Saxophones The Saxophone is a newcomer compared to others in an orchestra or band and has a fingering system that is relatively easy to understand. Many students naturally progress from the simple recorder to woodwind instruments such as clarinet, flute… and hopefully, the Sax!

Once you have grasped the method of producing the sound from the single reed, development can be quick and rewarding. Sounds Saxy There are few instruments that you can hear in modern top 40 chart topping songs and on the classical radio stations. For example, some jazz soprano saxophonists prefer a classical mouthpiece for its clean tone.

Changing the mouthpiece will have a drastic effect on how the instrument plays. Everything from the tone, sound quality, pitch, and articulation will be different. The cork on the end of a saxophone neck allows a variety of mouthpieces to be attached so that players can change them depending on the sound they wish to achieve. This posting is adapted from the Yamaha Musical Instrument Guide. For more information about Yamaha saxophones, click here.

All rights reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility. It Has a Unique History The saxophone is the only instrument in wide use today that was invented by a single individual — a musical instrument designer named Adolphe Sax, hence the name saxophone.

There Once Were Fourteen Different Saxophones Adolphe Sax thought the saxophone would be capable of fitting in with a variety of ensembles, and so he made them in a range of sizes; from the sopranino in the high range to the contrabass in the low range.