Instruments
Saxophone Buyer's Guide
Citation: Saxophone Buyer's Guide. Woodwind & Brasswinds, <http://www.wwbw.com/Buyer-Guides-Saxophone-g25063t0.wwbw>.
Article Title: Saxophone Buyer's Guide
Author: None
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Woodwinds and Brasswinds
Summary:
A. Saxophone Breakdown
1. The parts labeled of the alto saxophone
B. Categories
1. Student
a. For beginners
b. Relatively easy to play, pleasant tone and feels comfortable
2. Intermediate (Step up)
a. Instrument to continue students growth
b. Produce good tone and professional key work
3. Professional
a. Excellent response, intonation and tone
b. Attractive handwork; hand hammered keys and engravings
c Often have silver or gold plating
C. Materials
1. Lacquered Brass: majority of saxes use this
2. Black Lacquer/Matte Finish: Heavier than brass, popular for tenor saxes, thick, husky sound
3. Silver Plating: adds weight, darkens and centers tone like black lacquer, adds greater volume and projection
4. Nickel Plating: extreme hardness, greatest projection and brightest sound, favorite in jazz
5. Copper/Bronze: heavier and softer than brass, darkest and most covered timbres
D. Special Keys
1. High F#: Allows altissimo F# with single key
2. High G: Allows altissimo G with single key
3. Front F: Allows altissimo F with index finger key in front
4. Tilted Spatulas: pinky key, allows for more comfortable hold
E. Family
1. Sopranino Eb
2. Soprano Bb
3. Alto Eb
4. Tenor Bb
5. Baritone Eb
6. Bass Bb
F. Confidence in buying
1. Consider the musician's age and skill level
2. Consult band teacher
Article Title: Saxophone Buyer's Guide
Author: None
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Woodwinds and Brasswinds
Summary:
A. Saxophone Breakdown
1. The parts labeled of the alto saxophone
B. Categories
1. Student
a. For beginners
b. Relatively easy to play, pleasant tone and feels comfortable
2. Intermediate (Step up)
a. Instrument to continue students growth
b. Produce good tone and professional key work
3. Professional
a. Excellent response, intonation and tone
b. Attractive handwork; hand hammered keys and engravings
c Often have silver or gold plating
C. Materials
1. Lacquered Brass: majority of saxes use this
2. Black Lacquer/Matte Finish: Heavier than brass, popular for tenor saxes, thick, husky sound
3. Silver Plating: adds weight, darkens and centers tone like black lacquer, adds greater volume and projection
4. Nickel Plating: extreme hardness, greatest projection and brightest sound, favorite in jazz
5. Copper/Bronze: heavier and softer than brass, darkest and most covered timbres
D. Special Keys
1. High F#: Allows altissimo F# with single key
2. High G: Allows altissimo G with single key
3. Front F: Allows altissimo F with index finger key in front
4. Tilted Spatulas: pinky key, allows for more comfortable hold
E. Family
1. Sopranino Eb
2. Soprano Bb
3. Alto Eb
4. Tenor Bb
5. Baritone Eb
6. Bass Bb
F. Confidence in buying
1. Consider the musician's age and skill level
2. Consult band teacher
Saxophone
Citation: Martinson, Mike and Ben. Saxophone. Begin Band, <http://www.beginband.com/sax.shtml>.
Article Title: Saxophone
Author: Mike and Ben Martinson
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Begin Band
Summary:
A. Saxophone
1.Member of woodwind family but made of metal
2. Single reed
3. Common problems: not wanting to buy higher priced instrument, hands not large enough
4. Can start them on clarinet instead
B. Family
1. 4 members: soprano, alto, tenor, bari
2. Larger hands good for tenor and bari
3. Soprano and bari good for advanced players
4. Also can find C saxophones, novelty
C. Maintenance
1. Store in its case
2. Reeds and ligature is safe
3. Replace reeds regularly or whenever needed
4. Be careful with reeds to extend their life
D. Reeds
1. Strengths go from 1-5; lower numbers softer
2. Beginners start on number 2 reeds
3. Advance in reed number when lip muscles develop
E. Role
1. Plays a large role in bands, jazz and small instrumental groups
2. Common for different sized instruments in ensembles
F. Buying saxes
1. Giardinelli: popular beginning alto sax
2. Vito: good beginning brand as well
3. Older instruments that aren't well maintained may need repair
4. Check pads and keys before buying
5. Buying used: get someone to check for you to make sure it is a good brand
G. Other brands
1. Giardinelli GS312 Alto Saxophone
2. Yamaha YAS-23 Standard Alto Saxophone.
Article Title: Saxophone
Author: Mike and Ben Martinson
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Begin Band
Summary:
A. Saxophone
1.Member of woodwind family but made of metal
2. Single reed
3. Common problems: not wanting to buy higher priced instrument, hands not large enough
4. Can start them on clarinet instead
B. Family
1. 4 members: soprano, alto, tenor, bari
2. Larger hands good for tenor and bari
3. Soprano and bari good for advanced players
4. Also can find C saxophones, novelty
C. Maintenance
1. Store in its case
2. Reeds and ligature is safe
3. Replace reeds regularly or whenever needed
4. Be careful with reeds to extend their life
D. Reeds
1. Strengths go from 1-5; lower numbers softer
2. Beginners start on number 2 reeds
3. Advance in reed number when lip muscles develop
E. Role
1. Plays a large role in bands, jazz and small instrumental groups
2. Common for different sized instruments in ensembles
F. Buying saxes
1. Giardinelli: popular beginning alto sax
2. Vito: good beginning brand as well
3. Older instruments that aren't well maintained may need repair
4. Check pads and keys before buying
5. Buying used: get someone to check for you to make sure it is a good brand
G. Other brands
1. Giardinelli GS312 Alto Saxophone
2. Yamaha YAS-23 Standard Alto Saxophone.
The Saxophone Family
Citation: The Saxophone Family. Saxes Only, <http://cfelts.tripod.com/saxfam.html>
Article Title: The Saxophone Family
Author: N/A
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Saxes Only
Summary:
A. Sax Family
1. 2 most used are alto and tenor
2. Adolphe Sax created saxes
3. Patented in 1846
B. Eb Sopranino
1. Highest pitched
2. Plays on full octave above alto
3. Lacking in literature and accessories
4. Available in both straight and curved versions
C. A Soprano
1. Made between 1915-25
2. No mouthpieces for the A Soprano
D. C Soprano
1. Higher version of the C tenor
2. Play at home craze of the twenties
E. Bb Soprano
1. Second highest pitched
2. In Bb, one octave higher than tenor
3. Medium sized range of literature
4. Large amount of reeds and accessories
5. Many professionals play on this instrument
6. Requires a stronger embouchure than any others
7. Altissimo register is harder due to straight body
8. Available in both straight and curved
F. Eb Alto
1. Most popular
2. Taught to beginners to learn basic idea
3. Mellow quality
4. Most literature and accessories
5. Middle sax; not too high, on too low
6. Altissimo is easy to play
G. Straight Tenor and Alto
1. Same characteristics of the curved
2. Made in the 40's
3. Brighter sound
H. C Melody Tenor
1. Popular in the 1930's
2. No transposition needed
3. Most were silver plated
4. Lacks literature and accessories
5. Can use regular tenor reeds but needs own mouthpiece
I. Bb Tenor
1. Used for all styles of music
2. One octave of the soprano
3. Altissimo easy due to it's size
4. Wide variety of literature and accessories
J. Eb Baritone
1. In Eb, on octave lower than alto
2. Used in jazz ensembles
3. Variety of accessories, but can be costly
4. Higher keys and looped neck
K. C Bass
1. First made in 1842
2. Sax family were the only makers of the Bass Sax
3. Not much information or equipment
L. BBb Bass
1. Largest sax made today
2. Lacks written music, accessories, mouthpieces, and reeds
3. Very expensive, usually special ordered
4. Known for sheer size, and larger neck
M. Contrabass
1. Only 17 are believed to be in existence
2. Few ensembles call for instrument
3. Few written parts, but same key as sopranino, alto, and bari
N. Sub-Contrabass
1. Only 3 ever made
2. Not playable, just used for prop use
3. Too large to move easily, takes more than one person to play
Article Title: The Saxophone Family
Author: N/A
Instrument: Saxophone
Magazine or Journal Title: Saxes Only
Summary:
A. Sax Family
1. 2 most used are alto and tenor
2. Adolphe Sax created saxes
3. Patented in 1846
B. Eb Sopranino
1. Highest pitched
2. Plays on full octave above alto
3. Lacking in literature and accessories
4. Available in both straight and curved versions
C. A Soprano
1. Made between 1915-25
2. No mouthpieces for the A Soprano
D. C Soprano
1. Higher version of the C tenor
2. Play at home craze of the twenties
E. Bb Soprano
1. Second highest pitched
2. In Bb, one octave higher than tenor
3. Medium sized range of literature
4. Large amount of reeds and accessories
5. Many professionals play on this instrument
6. Requires a stronger embouchure than any others
7. Altissimo register is harder due to straight body
8. Available in both straight and curved
F. Eb Alto
1. Most popular
2. Taught to beginners to learn basic idea
3. Mellow quality
4. Most literature and accessories
5. Middle sax; not too high, on too low
6. Altissimo is easy to play
G. Straight Tenor and Alto
1. Same characteristics of the curved
2. Made in the 40's
3. Brighter sound
H. C Melody Tenor
1. Popular in the 1930's
2. No transposition needed
3. Most were silver plated
4. Lacks literature and accessories
5. Can use regular tenor reeds but needs own mouthpiece
I. Bb Tenor
1. Used for all styles of music
2. One octave of the soprano
3. Altissimo easy due to it's size
4. Wide variety of literature and accessories
J. Eb Baritone
1. In Eb, on octave lower than alto
2. Used in jazz ensembles
3. Variety of accessories, but can be costly
4. Higher keys and looped neck
K. C Bass
1. First made in 1842
2. Sax family were the only makers of the Bass Sax
3. Not much information or equipment
L. BBb Bass
1. Largest sax made today
2. Lacks written music, accessories, mouthpieces, and reeds
3. Very expensive, usually special ordered
4. Known for sheer size, and larger neck
M. Contrabass
1. Only 17 are believed to be in existence
2. Few ensembles call for instrument
3. Few written parts, but same key as sopranino, alto, and bari
N. Sub-Contrabass
1. Only 3 ever made
2. Not playable, just used for prop use
3. Too large to move easily, takes more than one person to play