What is a saxophone and how does it work?

The saxophone (also referred to as the Sax) is a type of musical instrument that belongs to the woodwind family. 

It is a single-reed musical instrument that produces sound when the reed on the mouthpiece vibrates to send a sound wave through the instrument’s body.

The Saxophone’s pitch can be regulated by altering the effective length of its body; this is done by opening and closing its holes with the help of the keys present in its body.

Saxophone: A brief history

The Saxophone family was invented by a Belgian instrument maker called Adolphe Sax in the early 1840s, and the instrument has since made significant contributions to countless genres of music, especially Jazz, classical and rock,

The instrument was invented keeping in mind the best attributes of woodwind and brass instruments, thus offering the best of both worlds.

What are the different types of Saxophones?

Saxophones mainly come in the following four sizes:

Alto

They are tuned to Eb, two-and-a-half steps higher than the tenor size. Intermediate and professional players looking to grow their skills would consider Alto saxophone. Many jazz and other genres of musicians have found their signature style in the instrument’s higher range.

Tenor

The tenor saxophone is the one most closely associated with jazz players, as it is a mainstay in that genre. It is tuned to Bb and since it is not heavy, the tenor is somewhat easier for young beginners to play.

Bass & Baritone 

Bass and Baritone are the lowest-pitched instruments. They are tuned to Eb and are very large. They are almost always played in a seated position. 

Soprano

It is a fairly low-priced instrument when compared to the other Saxophone types because its smaller body requires less material to construct. It is tuned to Bb, two-and-a-half steps higher than the alto, and it fits in particularly well with orchestras and concert bands.

Which Saxophone to buy for beginners?

The more extreme sizes are usually not a good idea to start learning on, hence, most beginners tend to choose an Alto or Tenor. However, the Tenor being bigger in size than the Alto can be a little difficult to handle for some beginners, especially, the younger ones.

Therefore, the Alto in our opinion is the best type of saxophone for beginners. It is also the most commonly found type of Saxophone.

How much does an Alto Saxophone cost?

New good quality alto saxophones should approximately cost anywhere around 40,000 rupees. whereas, new soprano saxophones can range from 25,000 to 1,00,000, and new tenor saxophones start at 45,000 and go up to 1,50,000. A used saxophone in decent condition, on the other hand, can cost a little less than that depending on its material, model, and the way it was used.

However, you should do complete market research and know what you’re looking for in terms of brand, quality and price before purchasing a Saxophone.

There can be many models of saxophone costing way less than known brands but it is safe to say that their quality will be reflected in their price. 

We offer premium quality Saxophones that are trusted by professional players for their commendable tonal output. Our Saxophones are competitively priced without compromising on quality by any means.