Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Saxophone - Task 2

Saxophone is a musical instrument that is part of woodwind family. However, nowadays it is usually made of brass instead of wood, and plated with gold or silver plating to protect the brass from corrosion. Saxophone basically consists of the reed, the body, the holes and the bell. It is played with a single-reed that is made of rubber, plastic, bamboo or metal. The body of saxophone is a conical tube with its bell flaring at the tip of the body. Along the body, there are 20 to 23 holes of varying size. These holes are covered with pads in order to airtight seal the holes when the player are playing certain notes. Saxophone’s bell is uniquely formed in U-shape and nowadays has been the icon of saxophone.

Basically, there are two designs of saxophone body; the straight one, which is used by the higher-pitched instruments, such as soprano saxophone that is played in B-flat key; and the bent one which is used by the lower-pitched instruments, such as alto, baritone, and contra-bass saxophone that are played in E-flat key.

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