Tenor Saxophone

Also called the “tenor sax,” this is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor sax is pitched in the key of Bb; modern tenor saxophones have a high F# key and a range from Ab2 to E5 (concert) and are therefore pitched one octave below the soprano saxophone. The tenor saxophone consists of a larger mouthpiece, reed, and ligature than the alto and soprano saxophones. Visually, it is easily distinguished by the bend in its neck, or its crook, near the mouthpiece. The alto saxophone lacks this and its neck goes straight to the mouthpiece.