Re: SAX-O=PHONE

[ah567@xxxxxxxxxxx (George W. Miklas)]

Hello Fellow Harpers!

DISCLAIMER:  This post is F Y I regarding the saxophone.

>The straight sax is a sporano, the highest regular type. 

	The Soprano Sax has been built in two keys:  The Bb Soprano,
	and The C Solo Soprano.

>Others include alto - the next down - 

	The Alto Sax is built in the key of Eb.
	
As well, there are other voicings of instruments in the saxophone
family.  There are:

	Bb Tenor Sax
	Eb Baritone Sax
	Bb Bass Sax
	Eb Contrabass Sax

Notice that all (with the exception of the C Solo) of the saxophones
are either in the key of Bb or Eb.  Did you know that all of the 
instruments of the saxophone family are transposing instruments?  

A transposing instrument is one whose sounding pitch is different 
than the written note in the music. 

	i.e.:  If the desired note is a "middle C", the Bb saxes
		play a "D", while the Eb saxes play a "G".

The Bb Soprano Sax sounds minor seventh higher and the Eb Alto Sax
sounds a minor third higher.  Both of these intervals produce a tone
which is higher than the written note on the musical staff.  The Bb Tenor 
Sax sounds major second lower and the Eb Baritone Sax sounds a major sixth 
lower as well.  Notice that the Sop Alt transpose up and the Ten and Bar 
Saxes transpose down, but all four transpose within one octave from the 
written note.  The Bb Bass Sax sounds a major ninth lower and the Contrabass 
Sax sounds a major thirteenth lower than the written note.  Both of these
saxes transpose greater than an octave.  

What interest does this information have to harmonica players?

I have been reading articles concerning the transcription of sax
licks.  When you transcribe a sax lick from an audio recording,
you would never know (or even need to know) the difference of what
key the sax was in.  But in the event that you were to get your hands 
on some sheet music with a sax lick written out, just remember that
the sax music will be in a different key than the band (or recording) 
is playing.

George 

--
George Miklas, Bass Harmonicist, Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
E-Mail:   ah567@xxxxxxxxxxx   Music SIG: xx102@xxxxxxxxxxx        
"Three Gs and an E flat....who would think this would be 
the main theme of a major symphonic work?" Arthur G. Spiro