Musical Instrument - Saxophone
Saxophone A saxophone features a conical metal (originally brass) tube with about 24 openings controlled by padded keys; the mouthpiece is analogous thereto of a clarinet. Two octave key vents allow the instrument to overblow to a better register at the octave. Except for the sopranino and one form of the B♭ soprano saxophone, built straight like a clarinet, saxophones have an upturned lower end and a detachable crook, or neck, at the upper end. The normal compass originally extended from B (B below middle C) to f‴ (the third F above middle C), but it soon was expanded downward one semitone to incorporate B♭. The compass of the foremost commonly used members of the saxophone family has been further increased: the alto and tenor can sound one semitone above f‴, and the baritone can sound one half step below B♭. The compass is pitched differently for every member of the family: the B♭ soprano, a tone less than written;