Soprano saxophone
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The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument. The soprano is the second in size of the sax family which consists, as generally accepted, (from smallest to largest) of sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, and contrabass. (Benedikt Eppelsheim has constructed a new "Soprillo" saxophone, which sounds an octave above soprano.) Of these, only the soprano through baritone are commonly used. The less tubing an instrument has, the higher it sounds. A transposing instrument pitched in the key of B♭, the soprano saxophone plays an octave above the commonly used tenor saxophone. Some saxophones have an additional key allowing them to play an additional F# at the top of the range. These extra keys are commonly found on modern saxophones. There is also a soprano pitched in C, which is less common and has not been made since around 1930.
The soprano sax can be compared to the clarinet; it generally has a louder and more penetrating sound than the clarinet in the extreme high notes. Due to the smaller bore of the soprano, it is less forgiving with respect to intonation, though an experienced player will use alternate fingerings or vary breath support to compensate. Due to its similarity in tone to the instrument, the soprano saxophone is sometimes used as a substitute for the oboe.
Soprano saxophones are usually straight, but sometimes have slightly or fully curved necks and bells. The fully curved variety looking much like a small alto saxophone with a straighter crook.
Musicians especially known for playing the soprano saxophone include jazz musicians Sidney Bechet, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Joe Farrell, Steve Lacy, Paul Winter and Dave Liebman; smooth jazz saxophonists Kenny G and Dave Koz; and Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Fela Kuti.
[edit] See also
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| Members of the Saxophone family |
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| True saxophones: †Soprillo saxophone • Sopranino saxophone • Soprano saxophone • Alto saxophone • Tenor saxophone • Baritone saxophone • Bass saxophone • Contrabass saxophone • ‡Subcontrabass saxophone |
| Tubaxes: †Contrabass tubax • †Subcontrabass tubax |
| † denotes saxophone not designed by Adolphe Sax• ‡ denotes saxophone proposed by Adolphe Sax |
