The saxophone is a woodwind instrument because it is played with a reed mouthpiece. The reed is inserted into the saxophone’s mouthpiece, and when air is blown through it, the reed vibrates, producing the sound of the saxophone.
The saxophone, though primarily made of brass, is actually a woodwind instrument because of its playing technique.
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What are Woodwind Instruments?
Woodwind instruments are a type of wind instruments played with a reed.
These instruments, originally made of wood, now use brass, plastic, or other materials. Players blow into a mouthpiece with a reed attached. Common woodwind instruments include saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and oboes.
The saxophone, a popular woodwind instrument in jazz and classical music, was invented by Belgian musician Adolphe Sax. He aimed to create an instrument that combined the qualities of both woodwind and brass instruments.
The saxophone, made of brass but played with a reed, comes in various sizes, from soprano to baritone. You can play it chromatically, covering all 12 notes in an octave.
What are Brass Instruments?
Brass instruments are wind instruments played by vibrating your lips on the mouthpiece.
Amplified air vibrates through the instrument’s tubing, producing sound in brass instruments. Musicians buzz their lips into a metal cup-shaped mouthpiece to create this sound. Common brass instruments include the trumpet, trombone, and French horn.
Differences Between Brass and Woodwind Instruments
The key difference between woodwind and brass instruments is how you play them: woodwinds use a reed, while brass instruments rely on vibrating lips on the mouthpiece. Brass instruments are heavier and produce a louder sound due to their larger bells.
Woodwinds can be wood, plastic, or metal, and brass instruments are metal or brass. For instance, the saxophone is a brass-made woodwind. Brass instruments feature in classical and jazz music, while woodwinds are found in classical, jazz, and popular music.
Though both instruments use air to create sound, brass instruments don’t need reeds like woodwinds. They use a cup-shaped mouthpiece instead. Brass instruments are also larger than woodwinds, making them less portable.
Also, woodwinds are non-directional, meaning the direction and volume of their sound can’t be controlled, unlike the directional brass instruments.
