Saxophones (or saxes) comprise a family of woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in 1840. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was initially pitched at Bb and Eb, and was designed for use in military bands. The instrument proved extremely popular, and was adopted in other genres and ensembles. There was another so-called “orchestral” series of saxophones pitched in C and F, but they never gained a foothold, and the Bb and Eb instruments supplanted the C and F instruments almost totally. Saxophones are used in everything from classical to jazz, rock to experimental music.
The saxophone family is extensive; commonly used types include the Bb tenor and Eb alto, and the soprano (octave higher than tenor) and baritone (octave lower than alto). Additional family members include the sopranissimo (octave higher than soprano), sopranino (octave higher than alto), bass (octave lower than tenor), contrabass (octave lower than baritone), and sub-contrabass (octave lower than bass).