Saxophone is a woodwind musical instrument made of brass. It consists of a tube with a mouthpiece at one end and a bell-shaped opening at the other. The saxophone has holes covered by pads operated by small levers called keys. To play, the musician blows on a flat cane reed attached to the mouthpiece and fingers the keys to open and close the holes. The most popular saxophones, from highest to lowest range of pitch, are soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in Paris about 1840. The instrument is popular in concert bands, dance bands, and jazz groups. It is occasionally played in orchestras.
See also Jazz (The reeds); Mulligan, Gerry.
