Saxophone

About the saxophone…

The saxophone, commonly known to many as a sax, is another of the main instruments that make up the woodwind family of any symphonic band.

Context and a bit of history

181 years have passed since Adolphe Sax (hence the name) invented it as we know it today, although, presumably, with lower quality ;).

It is believed that the inspiration for creating this instrument came from its brother, the clarinet, which served as a "model" on which to create the new instrument; this is why they are still relatively similar instruments.

Common characteristics of saxophones

Now that we've somewhat placed ourselves in the raison d'être of the saxophone, let's look at what peculiarities make it unmistakable. The shared characteristics of saxophones could be classified as follows:

• Mouthpiece and reed: the musician's embouchure

The mouthpiece is the piece through which we generate vibration to make the instrument sound, by placing the lips on it. The sax can have very disparate materials for mouthpieces (plastic, metal, wood, ceramic materials, bone...). A single reed, also called a cane (due to the material it is made of), is used in the sax mouthpiece. Reeds can vary in size and hardness, depending on the type of saxophone, and we can even find some made from glass filaments (synthetic) instead of natural cane.

• Saxophone shape: aesthetic plurality

Despite existing different types, they are easy to recognize by their similarity to a "raised elephant trunk." But... beware! There are some that are more reminiscent of a clarinet, like the sopranino sax or the soprano sax, and others, much larger in size, like the baritone sax.

• The body: the skeleton of the saxophone

The most vertical part of the instrument where the different mechanisms are mainly located, such as keys, springs, pillars, etc.

• The saxophone neck: the link

The mouthpiece and body/tube need to be joined in some way for the instrument to function. This is the main function of the neck, to serve as a connector between both parts. It is also called a crooks.

• The saxophone keys and holes: protection and technique

Elements that allow covering or uncovering the holes of the instrument, and which modulate the pitch of the sound and give names to the notes. One of the important keys is the octave key. Other keys can have protective functions, such as the protective keys (if you'll excuse the redundancy) which aim to prevent damage.

• The saxophone bow

It is simply the curve found at the bottom of the instrument, that is, the point where "the elephant bends its trunk" (if we may use the analogy... :))

• The bell: the queen of echo

Finally, and we say finally, because it is the point from which the final sound emerges, we find the bell. We can find bells with different orientations (more upwards or more downwards) depending on the sax in question, or oriented to a greater or lesser degree to the right of the saxophonist, depending on designs and manufacturers.

The sound of the saxophone

The sound of the saxophone is characterized by great versatility in terms of tones. It also presents a powerful timbre, yet subtle and delicate in itself, which can vary depending on whether higher or lower notes are played.

We find a historical influence in jazz music and popular music, and today we can also find it in symphonic bands and big bands. As we can see, it is versatile, capable of serving as a very elegant accompaniment in genres such as opera, albeit very occasionally.

There are also various sound effects that can be technically employed on certain occasions.

How the sax works

Despite there being different techniques depending on the style intended to be played and the subjectivity of each musician, the operation is always the same. Sound creation begins when the performer blows through the mouthpiece and vibrates the reed, which produces the sound and travels through the instrument to the bell from which it will be emitted. It will be necessary to press the different metal keys on the instrument's body to intentionally adjust the sonority. There is a dissimilarity between the technique used for the operation of the sax compared to the clarinet, as the mouth's position requires a flatter angle than in the case of the other instrument.

Types of saxophone

We can find more than 10 different types of saxophones (some more common than others) depending on their tuning, and this directly conditions the size, weight, or shape of the saxophone, and also the age of the musician