Alto Saxophone

Almost all school saxophonists begin on the Eb Alto sax.

It demands less air than the tenor, is smaller, and is less expensive to buy or rent.  However, a musician who learns to play one saxophone can easily transfer his talents to the other saxophones, as the playing mechanism is virtually the same.  

The alto sax is pitched in the Eb key.  This means that a C played on the alto sax is the same as an Eb on a piano or other C instrument.  As a result, a saxophonist and an accompanist on a piano or other C instrument cannot play from the same sheet of music; the saxophonist’s music must be transposed down three half-steps.

The alto’s sound is smoothest in the middle register.  Control over dynamics is easier in the middle register, too.  The alto sounds reedier in the lower register, and increasingly generic in the higher register.   

Amro carries new alto saxophones by Yamaha, Selmer and Accent, along with used Bundy, Buffet, Armstrong, Conn, King, and Jupiter brands.

Tenor Saxophone                                

The tenor saxophone is only second in popularity to the alto

It is also a popular choice for players who start on altos and want to try another sax.  The similarity of fingering makes for a relatively easy transition between the two. More aggressive in sound than the alto, the tenor saxophone is in the Bb key and best played in the middle register.  It is frequently used in band music, but rare in orchestral scores. 

Soprano Saxophone

 The smallest in the saxophone family

The Bb soprano sax is pitched an octave above the tenor, giving it a sound closer to that of an oboe than that of other saxes.  It is made in both straight and curved models; the straight is more common, but some players find the curved model to have a richer sound that more closely resembles other saxophones.               

The soprano is also considered the most difficult of the saxophones to play: its small mouthpiece requires very precise embouchure and is not recommended for beginners.  As a result, the soprano saxophone is popular in jazz but is seldom used in school bands or orchestras.  Well-known soprano players include Sidney Bechet, John Coltrane, and Kenny G.  

Baritone Saxophone

The baritone sax is the largest of the four most popular saxophones

The baritone is distinguished from smaller saxophones by the double loop below the mouthpiece. Because of its size and weight, the baritone requires a harness for use in marching bands. The baritone’s size can also make it vulnerable to damage. These factors often overshadow the rich sound bari’s provide in lower registers, so alto and tenor saxophones tend to be more popular in school bands.