Tenor saxophone

The tenor saxophone is a member of the single-reed instruments (Hornbostel–Sachs 422.212-71). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the tenor saxophone makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tenor saxophone belongs to the single-reed instruments: a single reed beats against a mouthpiece – clarinets and saxophones.

More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.

Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.

Range of the tenor saxophone

The typical range of the tenor saxophone runs from A♭2 (103.8 Hz) to E5 (659 Hz) – about 2.7 octaves. Harmonics extend its sound far higher.

From Wikipedia

The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B♭ (while the alto is pitched in the key of E♭), and is a transposing instrument in the treble clef, sounding an octave and a major second lower than the written pitch. Modern tenor saxophones that have a high F♯ key have a range from A♭2 to E5 (concert) and are therefore pitched one octave below the soprano saxophone. People who play the tenor saxophone are known as "tenor saxophonists", "tenor sax players", or "saxophonists".