The saxophone is a woodwind instrument made of brass. It has a single reed, like a clarinet, and a curved metal body with a bell that points up and out. A Belgian instrument maker named Adolphe Sax invented it in the early 1840s. It is a regular member of school bands and jazz bands, and it visits the orchestra as a guest.
Quick facts
- Family: woodwinds
- Made of: brass
- Sound is made by: one reed on a mouthpiece
- Common sizes: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone
- Invented by: Adolphe Sax, who took out a patent in Paris in 1846
- In an orchestra: none as a rule, and one or more when a piece asks for it
Why is it a woodwind?
Instrument families are sorted by how the sound starts, not by what the tube is made of.
- A brass player buzzes the lips in a cup-shaped mouthpiece.
- A woodwind player blows across a hole or against a reed.
A saxophone player blows against a thin reed made of cane. The reed vibrates against the mouthpiece and sets the air in the tube moving. That makes the saxophone a woodwind, even though it shines like a trumpet. The flute is a woodwind made of metal too. Read woodwind instruments for kids.
How it works
The body is a metal cone, narrow at the top and wide at the bell. Holes run down its length. Each hole is covered by a padded key. The player presses keys to open and close holes, which makes the air column longer or shorter.
- More holes closed: a longer column and a lower note
- More holes open: a shorter column and a higher note
A strap around the neck holds the weight, so the hands are free to work the keys.
The four common sizes
| Saxophone | How big | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Soprano | The smallest of the four, and often straight | High and bright |
| Alto | Small and curved | Clear and singing |
| Tenor | Larger, with a bend in the neck | Warm and husky |
| Baritone | The largest of the four, with a loop at the top | Deep and buzzy |
A saxophone quartet has one of each.
Where it plays
Concert band and marching band. Saxophones are regular members. Read band vs orchestra.
Jazz. The saxophone is one of the main voices of jazz. Charlie Parker played the alto, and John Coltrane played the tenor and the soprano. Read the jazz band for kids.
The orchestra. The saxophone was invented after the orchestra had taken its shape, and it has no regular seat there. Composers call for it when they want its color.
Pieces to hear
“The Old Castle,” from Pictures at an Exhibition, by Mussorgsky, arranged by Ravel. An alto saxophone plays the long, sad song. See the guide.
Boléro, by Ravel. Two saxophones take turns with the tune. See the guide.
L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1, by Bizet. An alto saxophone has a gentle solo in the first movement.
Symphonic Dances, by Rachmaninoff. The first dance has a long alto saxophone tune in its quiet middle part.
Saxophone Concerto, by Glazunov. A full concerto for alto saxophone and strings, from 1934.
An American in Paris, by Gershwin. Three saxophones join the orchestra. For more Gershwin, see the Rhapsody in Blue guide.
Starting to play
The alto is the usual first saxophone. It is small enough for a child’s hands, and it is one of the usual first choices in school band.
- Age: players often start in school band at about ten or eleven. A child needs hands that can reach the keys and front teeth that have grown in.
- First sounds: a steady tone takes time and daily practice.
- Reeds: reeds wear out and need replacing. Beginners use a soft reed.
- The strap: set the neck strap so the mouthpiece comes to the mouth. The head stays level.
- Switching: the four sizes share the same fingering. A player who learns the alto can move to the tenor or the baritone later.
Read how to choose a band instrument and school band and orchestra: a parent’s guide.
Saxophone or clarinet?
Both use one reed. The clarinet is a straight tube of wood or plastic. The saxophone is a metal cone. The saxophone’s sound is bigger and brassier. The clarinet’s is smoother and can be far quieter. Read the clarinet for kids.
Things to do together
Brass or woodwind? Show a picture of a saxophone and a trumpet. Ask which family each belongs to, and why.
Spot the guest. Play “The Old Castle.” Ask your child to raise a hand when the saxophone starts.
High to low. Find a video of a saxophone quartet. Match each sound to its instrument.
Straw reed. Flatten one end of a straw and snip the corners to a point. Blow through it until it buzzes. A reed vibrates in the same way.
Print and play
Tick the woodwinds on the instrument families listening chart. Try the instrument picker quiz. For all four families, read instruments of the orchestra for kids.
More from this guide
This article is part of Instruments of the orchestra for kids: the four families and how they sound.
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Use it with your kids
Print a listening page, a practice chart, or a composer fact sheet. Or try a tool, such as the composer timeline or the piece picker.