Types of Saxophones: A Complete Guide

Types of Saxophones

Table of Contents

There are numerous types of saxophones, but only four have achieved widespread global popularity.

Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone, a brass and single-reed instrument, in the 1840s.

Despite being made of brass, saxophones belong to the woodwind family and are renowned for their distinctive tones and exceptional versatility.

Saxophones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each designed for specific musical roles.

While most people are familiar with the common members of the saxophone family, there are also several lesser-known instruments within this category.

This article will explore the primary types of saxophones, followed by a brief overview of the less common or obscure variants.

Four (4) Main Types of Saxophones

Choral music typically employs four primary voice types: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, often abbreviated as SATB.

Sopranos sing the highest parts, followed by altos in the upper register.

Tenors, generally male voices with deeper, stronger qualities, occupy the middle range.

Finally, basses, or sometimes baritones, provide the foundation with their lower notes.

Saxophones, like human voices, vary in size and produce different sounds. The four primary saxophone types correspond to these vocal ranges. From highest to lowest, they are:

Soprano saxophone (upper range)
Alto saxophone (upper mid-range)
Tenor saxophone (lower mid-range)
Baritone saxophone (lower range)

Soprano Saxophone

Adolphe Sax invented the soprano saxophone in the 1840s, making it the third smallest member of the saxophone family. Positioned an octave above the tenor saxophone, it boasts a bright, piercing tone.

Typically pitched in B♭, the modern soprano saxophone with a high F♯ key offers a range from concert A♭3 to E6, allowing for soaring melodies and energetic solos.

Despite its impressive capabilities, the soprano saxophone is less common than its larger counterparts (alto, tenor, and baritone).

Most band music caters to these larger instruments, making them the standard choices for aspiring saxophonists.

Consequently, the soprano often serves as a second or even later instrument for many musicians.

Generally, its mouthpiece is smaller than those for alto and tenor saxophones, but the fingerings remain consistent with other saxophone models.

Sharing a common fingering system with the saxophone family simplifies the transition for musicians.

However, the soprano’s higher pitch demands exceptional intonation, breath control, and embouchure precision.

To cater to different playing styles and preferences, soprano saxophones are available with both straight and curved neck options.

Each option offers unique tonal characteristics and ergonomic advantages.

Notably smaller and less commonly used than other saxophones, the soprano saxophone can be a musician’s first experience with a straight or curved neck.

Alto Saxophone

The alto saxophone is a cornerstone of the saxophone family and the most widely used member of the family.

Tuned in E♭, it sits between the smaller soprano and larger tenor saxophones.

This type of saxophone is renowned for its warm and mellow tone.

The versatility, combined with its relatively compact size and comfortable playing position, has made the alto saxophone a popular choice for musicians of all levels.

It finds its voice in a diverse range of musical styles, from classical and jazz to pop and beyond.

The alto’s written range extends from B♭3 to F6, with the potential for skilled players to reach even higher into the altissimo register.

However, due to its transposing nature, the actual pitches produced are a major sixth lower than written.

While the standard alto saxophone is equipped to reach a low B♭, some specialized models, such as certain Selmer Mark VI saxophones, offer an extended range down to A.

This additional low note enhances the instrument’s sonic capabilities, particularly in ensemble settings.

Tenor Saxophone

The tenor saxophone is another cornerstone of the saxophone family, renowned for its rich, warm, and expressive tone.

Pitched in B♭, tenor saxophone sits between the alto and baritone saxophones in size and range.

Unlike the alto, which often features a straight neck, the tenor saxophone is characterized by its curved neck, or “crook,” near the mouthpiece.

While sharing a common fingering system with other saxophones, the tenor saxophone requires a slightly larger mouthpiece, reed, and ligature.

As a transposing instrument, the tenor saxophone is written in the treble clef but sounds an octave and a major second lower than notated.

Modern instruments typically offer a range from A♭2 to E5, though skilled players can extend this range into the altissimo register.

The tenor saxophone’s versatility and ability to blend seamlessly with other instruments have made it an indispensable part of countless musical genres.

It prominently features in jazz, concert bands, orchestras, and popular music.

Moreover, the tenor saxophone’s powerful sound and expressive range have established it as a popular choice for soloists.

From the smooth rhythms of swing to the fiery improvisations of bebop, the tenor saxophone has consistently driven musical innovation.

Countless legendary performances have showcased the instrument’s immense capabilities, cementing its iconic status.

Baritone Saxophone

The baritone saxophone, often abbreviated as “bari sax,” is another prominent member of the saxophone family.

It’s bigger and has a lower pitch than the tenor saxophone, but it’s smaller and has a higher pitch than the bass saxophone.

The baritone saxophone is about four feet long and is the lowest-pitched saxophone that is commonly used.

Like all saxophones, the baritone saxophone uses a single reed to make sound.

Its versatility is evident in its widespread use across various musical genres, including concert bands, military bands, big bands, jazz ensembles, and even rock and marching bands.

There was a design for an F baritone saxophone in the C and F family of saxophones, but there are no known F baritones.

The family of saxophones in the keys B♭ and E♭ was more popular because they were used a lot in military bands.

Its larger size and physical presence require slightly different playing techniques compared to the smaller saxophones, but the rewards for mastering this instrument are substantial.

Other Types of Saxophones

Beyond the more commonly encountered soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, there exists a rich tapestry of rare and innovative saxophone designs throughout history.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these remarkable instruments:

Sopranino Saxophone

The sopranino saxophone is the second-smallest member of the saxophone family, measuring two-thirds the size of a soprano saxophone.

It has a smaller mouthpiece and uses a tiny reed compared to the soprano sax.

The sopranino saxophone is tuned in the key of E♭, an octave higher than the alto saxophone.

This placement positions its sound a fourth higher than the soprano saxophone, which is in the key of B♭.

The instrument produces a wide range of sounds with a rich, sweet, and smooth tone.

Despite its unique sound, the sopranino saxophone is relatively uncommon.

Most composers and arrangers do not write for this instrument, as few saxophonists own or perform on the sopranino.

One of the most prominent uses of the sopranino saxophone is in Maurice Ravel’s famous orchestral masterpiece, Bolero.

Additionally, jazz musicians, particularly those with an experimental bent, have occasionally incorporated the sopranino into their performances.

Bass Saxophone

The bass saxophone belongs to the lower-sounding saxophones, ranking third lowest in pitch among the various saxophone sizes.

This member of the saxophone family is larger and physically resembles a baritone saxophone.

Its sound is also lower than the more common baritone saxophone, with only the contrabass and subcontrabass saxophones producing sounds of a lower pitch.

As a transposing instrument, the bass saxophone is pitched in the key of B♭.

Therefore, a written C sounds as a B♭ when played on the bass saxophone.

Practically, the instrument sounds a ninth (14 semitones) higher than the notated pitch.

It is a fourth below the baritone saxophone and an octave below the tenor saxophone.

Its written range extends from B♭3 to F♯6, translating to a sounding range of A♭1 to E4.

Its large size requires significant lung capacity to play, making it a challenging instrument for beginners and children.

Due to its deep, booming sound, the bass saxophone is rarely used melodically and is not well-suited as a solo instrument.

However, it is an indispensable part of the orchestra, particularly in brass bands, jazz ensembles, and saxophone choirs and sextets.

The bass saxophone is also occasionally heard in concert bands, rock music, and film scores.

The bass saxophone’s size and expense make it impractical for outdoor or marching use.

As a result, it is more suitable for advanced players who have experience playing in a group setting.

Contrabass Saxophone

The contrabass saxophone is another type of saxophone that belongs to the larger saxophone family.

It is the second-lowest-pitched member of the saxophone family.

Like the baritone saxophone, it is pitched in E♭ and sounds an octave below the baritone.

The contrabass saxophone is a rarely seen instrument, with a body length and bore width double that of the baritone saxophone.

This massive size makes the contrabass an imposing instrument, standing approximately 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall and weighing around 20 kilograms (44 pounds).

Its curved design and wide bore produce a warm, voluminous tone.

Due to its large body and wide bore, the contrabass saxophone has great acoustic presence and a very rich sound.

Its written range spans from A3 to F♯6, though the sounding range is C1 to A3.

The tone can be smooth and mellow or harsh and buzzy, depending on the player’s technique and the mouthpiece-reed combination.

The middle and upper registers are warm, full, and expressive, while the lowest pitches can be difficult for the human ear to distinguish.

Despite its impressive sound, the contrabass saxophone is exceptionally rare, with only a few manufacturers producing them.

As a result, it is not often called for in musical compositions.

However, the contrabass did see use in early 20th-century marching bands, and it may occasionally appear in saxophone choirs and new music ensembles.

The American rock group Violent Femmes has also utilized the contrabass saxophone in recordings and live performances.

Rare Types of Saxophones

Besides the well-known saxophones like the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone, there are many rare and unusual saxophones that have been made over the years.

These unique instruments show how creative and inventive people have been in making the saxophone family even more diverse and versatile.

Although they aren’t as well-known as the more common types, these specialized and unique saxophones give musicians a wider range of sounds and playing options to explore.

Let’s explore some of these fascinating and rare saxophones!

Soprillo

The Soprillo saxophone is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the saxophone family.

This specialized instrument also goes by the names “piccolo saxophone” or “sopranissimo saxophone.”

German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim developed the Soprillo Saxophone as an extension to the saxophone family in the late 1990s.

Currently, his company is the sole manufacturer of this rare and diminutive instrument.

Measuring just 33 cm (13 inches) long, including the mouthpiece, the Soprillo Saxophone sounds one octave above the B♭ soprano saxophone and half an octave above the E♭ sopranino saxophone.

Like other saxophones, the Soprillo is a transposing instrument, pitched in B♭ with a written range of B♭3 to E♭6 and a sounding range of A♭4 to D♭7.

To play the Soprillo Saxophone, musicians use sopranino saxophone reeds or A♭/E♭ German-style B♭ clarinet reeds.

The fingerings mirror those of other modern saxophones.

However, the Soprillo’s extreme range and the firm embouchure it requires mean that only the most skilled professional players can effectively command this instrument.

Mastering the Soprillo can take several months of dedicated practice, particularly in reaching the highest notes.

Conn-O-Sax

The Conn-O-Sax is a unique, hybrid instrument created by the American manufacturer C.G. Conn Ltd. (also known as “Conn Instruments”) around 1928.

The Conn-O-Sax is considered one of the rarest and most collectible saxophones ever made.

It represents a groundbreaking and innovative fusion of the saxophone with two double-reed instruments: the English horn and heckelphone.

Conn’s goal in developing the Conn-O-Sax was to create a new voice for the saxophone family.

The resulting instrument features a distinctive timbre, visual appearance, and technical versatility that were ahead of their time.

Key design elements include a straight body and a pronounced, spherical (bulb-shaped) bell modeled after the English horn.

The Conn-O-Sax functions like a standard saxophone, using a typical saxophone mouthpiece, especially the one used on the mezzo-soprano (F alto) saxophone.

However, the instrument’s sound blends the qualities of an English horn and a saxophone, ultimately leaning more toward the English horn’s timbre.

While the Conn-O-Sax was well-received in the American market as a novel and innovative musical voice, it ultimately failed to achieve widespread commercial success.

The primary obstacle was the total absence of repertoire written specifically for the instrument.

Today, only a few Conn-O-Saxes are known to still exist. This highlights the limited production and short-lived nature of this pioneering saxophone design.

Saxello

The Saxello is a modified B♭ soprano saxophone with a distinctive curved bell, setting it apart from the traditional straight-bodied design.

Introduced in 1924-25, the Saxello features a half-turned bell with a curved top.

Specifically, it has a pronounced 90-degree bend at the bell and another at the neck, often resulting in a half-circle shape that gives the instrument a unique visual flair.

The H.N. White King Saxello is often considered the original Saxello, but the actual H.N. White King model from the 1920s had a more pronounced angle and a different bore.

Nevertheless, the term “Saxello” has since expanded to encompass any soprano saxophone with a curved bell, regardless of its precise design.

These instruments share the same keys and range as the traditional straight B♭ soprano saxophone, but with the added benefit of the curved neck.

The Saxello’s distinctive appearance is matched by its tonality, often described as warmer compared to the straight soprano.

Some players and manufacturers suggest that the curved design can influence the saxophone’s tone and projection, resulting in a warmer and less nasal sound.

According to the H.N. White Company, the Saxello offered a better sound, a more comfortable playing experience, easier technique, and a more visually appealing design.

Tubax

Crafted by German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim in 1999, the tubax is a modified contrabass saxophone.

The name blends “tuba” and “saxophone,” hinting at the instrument’s unique nature.

While the tubax retains the same fingering as a standard saxophone, Eppelsheim’s design introduces a crucial difference.

By reducing the expansion in the conical bore relative to the length of tubing, the tubax yields a smaller volume of resonant air column.

Additionally, whereas saxophones typically fold a maximum of three times, the tubax folds its tubing four times.

This four-fold tubing contributes to the tubax’s more condensed form factor.

This compact design allows the tubax to use a smaller mouthpiece, such as a baritone or bass mouthpiece, instead of the larger contrabass mouthpiece.

Available in E♭ contrabass and B♭ or C subcontrabass versions, the tubax mirrors the tubing lengths of its contrabass and subcontrabass saxophone counterparts but in a much more space-efficient package.

The tubax stands just 114 centimeters (3 feet, 9 inches) tall for the E♭ model—not much taller than a baritone saxophone, yet an octave lower in pitch.

Despite its short history and rarity, the tubax’s range matches that of its larger saxophone siblings.

The E♭ model spans from D♭1, an octave below the baritone saxophone’s lowest note.

The B♭ subcontrabass tubax reaches as low as A♭0, a semitone below the lowest note on the piano keyboard.

Though little repertoire has been specifically written for the tubax, it can readily be used in place of bass or contrabass saxophones because it is also a transposing instrument notated in treble clef.

Subcontrabass Saxophone

The subcontrabass saxophone is the largest member of the saxophone family, as described by Adolphe Sax in his 1846 patent.

Sax named it the “saxophone Bourdon” after the very low-pitched 32’ Bourdon pedal stop on large pipe organs.

Although Sax planned to build one, the first playable subcontrabass saxophone wasn’t constructed until 2010.

In 2010, J’Élle Stainer unveiled the first true playable subcontrabass saxophone, featuring a compact design.

Then, in September 2012, Benedikt Eppelsheim completed the first full-sized subcontrabass saxophone, which extended down to low A and stood 7 feet 4.5 inches tall.

J’Élle Stainer made the second full-sized subcontrabass saxophone in 2013.

This instrument stands 2.74 meters (8 feet, 11.87 inches) tall and weighs 28.6 kilograms (63.05 pounds), making it the largest saxophone in the world.

While standing at an average height of 6 feet 7 inches, players can operate the subcontrabass from a seated position, provided they possess sufficient expertise.

However, a tripod support is necessary, as the sheer size of the “sub-contrabass” prevents even an adult from lifting or supporting it alone.

Like other saxophones, the subcontrabass is a transposing instrument pitched in B♭.

It sounds one octave below the bass saxophone, two octaves below the tenor, and three octaves and a major second below its written pitch.

Depending on the manufacturer, the subcontrabass’ written range spans from B♭3 to F#6, with a sounding range of A♭0 to E3.

From this immense instrument, players can produce a heavy, undulating bass tone that is two octaves lower than the tenor saxophone.

The subcontrabass’ sound is incredibly full and uniform across all registers, despite the tremendous air expenditure required in the low end.

Final Thoughts

The saxophone family extends far beyond the familiar soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone models.

Rare and unusual variants offer musicians a wider range of sounds and playing options.

From the highest-pitched sopranino to the low-pitched subcontrabass, these specialized saxophones expand musical possibilities.

While the main four saxophones are ubiquitous across various genres, the saxophone family as a whole is remarkably diverse.

For those starting their saxophone journey, the alto is a recommended choice.

However, ambitious musicians or those seeking an upgrade can explore other saxophone types that align with their personal style.

Learning one member of the saxophone family provides a fingering foundation that can be readily applied to all others.

This allows musicians to seamlessly transition between different models, enhancing their versatility and musical expression.

This comprehensive overview of the entire saxophone family, including lesser-known variants, offers a deeper understanding of this instrument’s workings and history.

Hopefully, it has illuminated the diverse range of saxophones available, enabling you to confidently identify and name the various types.

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