The saxophone was made to bridge the sound gap in between the woodwinds and the brass instruments. The saxophone is made of brass but uses a wooden reed to make it's sound, therefore the saxophone is a woodwind instrument. In a concert band the saxophones are in the middle of the band so that they are in between the brass which are at the back and the other woodwind instruments which are in the front.
There are many different types of saxophones.
-The Sopranino saxophone, is an E flat instrument and plays an octave above the Alto saxophone. The first Sopranino saxophone was made in 1846. The sopranino is notable for it's part in the orchestra song Boléro.
-The Soprano saxophone, is a B flat instrument and is one octave above the Tenor saxophone. It was made in 1846.
-The Alto saxophone, is an E flat instrument and is one of the most commonly used saxophones. It was made in 1846.
-The Tenor saxophone is a B flat instrument and is one of the most commonly used saxophones. It was made in 1846
-The Baritone saxophone is the lowest-pitched saxophone most commonly used and is tuned at a low B flat. It was made in 1846.
-The Bass and Subcontrabass are not commonly played saxophones. The Bass was made in 1846. The Subcontrabass was made in the mid-1960s.
-The Sopranino saxophone, is an E flat instrument and plays an octave above the Alto saxophone. The first Sopranino saxophone was made in 1846. The sopranino is notable for it's part in the orchestra song Boléro.
-The Soprano saxophone, is a B flat instrument and is one octave above the Tenor saxophone. It was made in 1846.
-The Alto saxophone, is an E flat instrument and is one of the most commonly used saxophones. It was made in 1846.
-The Tenor saxophone is a B flat instrument and is one of the most commonly used saxophones. It was made in 1846
-The Baritone saxophone is the lowest-pitched saxophone most commonly used and is tuned at a low B flat. It was made in 1846.
-The Bass and Subcontrabass are not commonly played saxophones. The Bass was made in 1846. The Subcontrabass was made in the mid-1960s.
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The Subcontrabass was made in the mid-1960s. It is more of a show instrument and is not commonly used. It has been up for debate as to whether or not the Subcontrabass Saxophone is actually a saxophone, due to some technicalities in it's design. As you can see in the photo, it is an impractical size of 2.8 meters or 9.2 feet.