The soprano saxophone is a small, high-pitched instrument in the saxophone family. It was invented in the 1840s by a Belgian instrument maker named Adolphe Sax. It is built in the key of B♭, which is one octave higher than the tenor saxophone, or sometimes slightly smaller and built in the key of C. The soprano saxophone is the smallest of the four most commonly used saxophones. The other three are the alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. However, there are even smaller saxophones that are not commonly used, such as the soprillo and sopranino.

The instrument

The soprano saxophone is a musical instrument that plays in the key of B♭. The modern soprano saxophone with a high F♯ key can play from concert A♭3 to E6 (written as low B♭ to high F♯) and is one octave higher than the tenor saxophone. There is also a soprano saxophone in the key of C, but it is rare; most were made in America during the 1920s.

The soprano saxophone has all the keys found on other saxophones, except for the low A on some baritone and alto models. Originally, sopranos were keyed from low B to high E♭, but a low B♭ mechanism was invented in 1887. By 1910, most saxophones, including sopranos, were keyed to low B♭. In the 1920s, it became standard for sopranos to be keyed to high F. Starting in the 1950s, some sopranos included a high F♯ key, and by the 1970s, most professional models had this key. Today, nearly all sopranos are keyed to high F♯ by default. Some recent professional models, such as those made by Yanagisawa, Selmer, and Yamaha, may also have a high G key next to the F♯ key. Skilled players can use the altissimo register, which allows them to play notes higher than the instrument’s standard range.

Many sopranos made since the 1990s have detachable necks, offering one straight and one downward-curved neck. A fully straight soprano must be held upward and outward, which helps the sound project and can create a more energetic look during performances. A curved neck allows the instrument to be held downward, making it easier to use a music stand and reducing arm fatigue for some players. Some players believe curved necks produce a warmer, less nasal tone, though this is debated. However, some players and technicians prefer one-piece saxophones because detachable necks can wear out over time, causing leaks that affect playability. To meet player preferences, some one-piece sopranos are bent during manufacturing above the octave key, like the Yamaha YSS-62R and YSS-82ZR. Some manufacturers also make fully curved sopranos that resemble small alto saxophones with straighter necks, as well as "tipped-bell" sopranos, which are straight but have the bell angled upward. These are often called "saxellos" because they look similar to the rare Saxello model from the 1920s. All these designs have the same keys and range as traditional straight sopranos, though some players believe curved and tipped-bell models sound warmer.

Because the soprano saxophone is higher in pitch, it is more sensitive to intonation than lower saxophones. Players must use more skill with breath support, tongue and soft palate position, and embouchure (how the mouth is formed around the mouthpiece) to play it well. It is also more affected by poor maintenance than lower saxophones.

Soprano saxophone mouthpieces come in different designs, allowing players to choose the tone they prefer.

In classical music

The soprano saxophone is often used for individual performances and in small groups within classical music. It is sometimes played in concert bands or orchestras. The instrument is part of a group called a saxophone quartet and plays an important part in these ensembles. Many solo pieces have been written for it by composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos, Alan Hovhaness, Jennifer Higdon, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Charles Koechlin, John Mackey, John Corigliano, Rolf Martinsson, Sven-David Sandström, Kalevi Aho, Anders Hillborg, Britta Byström, Victoria Borisova-Ollas, and Andrea Tarrodi.

As an instrument in orchestras, it has been used in several musical works. Richard Strauss included it in his composition Sinfonia Domestica, which features parts for four saxophones, including a soprano saxophone in C. It also appears in Maurice Ravel's Boléro, where it has a solo section that follows the tenor saxophone's solo. Vincent d'Indy included a soprano saxophone in his opera Fervaal.

Famous classical musicians who play the soprano saxophone include Carina Rascher, Christine Rall, Eugene Rousseau, Kenneth Tse, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, John Harle, Claude Delangle, Arno Bornkamp, Timothy McAllister, and Anders Paulsson.

In jazz

The soprano saxophone is not as widely used in jazz as the alto or tenor saxophones, but it has contributed to the development of the genre. Important jazz musicians who played the soprano saxophone include Sidney Bechet in the 1930s, Steve Lacy in the 1950s, and John Coltrane, who began playing the instrument with his famous 1961 album My Favorite Things.

Other well-known jazz saxophonists who have played the soprano saxophone include Wayne Shorter, Paul McCandless, Johnny Hodges, Walter Parazaider, Oliver Nelson, Bob Berg, Joe Farrell, Lucky Thompson, Sonny Fortune, Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers, Gary Bartz, Bennie Maupin, Branford Marsalis, Kirk Whalum, Jan Garbarek, Paul Winter, Dave Liebman, Evan Parker, Sam Newsome, Kenny G, Jane Ira Bloom, and Charlie Mariano, who worked with bassist Eberhard Weber.

Additional notable soprano saxophonists are Julian Smith, Joshua Redman, Jay Beckenstein, Dave Koz, Grover Washington Jr., Ronnie Laws, LeRoi Moore, Sarah Skinner of Red Dirt Skinners, and Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician known for Afrobeat.

In big band music, it is sometimes required for an alto or tenor saxophone player to also play the soprano saxophone, especially the lead alto player.

In popular culture

Kenny G is a well-known figure associated with the saxophone, appearing in some commercials and online jokes. Julian Smith, who was inspired by Kenny G's music, came in third place on Britain's Got Talent in 2009. During each of his three appearances on the show, Julian performed alone using a soprano saxophone.

Similar instruments

The soprano saxophone sometimes sounds similar to the oboe, which can cause listeners to confuse the two instruments. When an oboe is not available, the soprano saxophone may be used instead.

The soprano saxophone is also sometimes mistaken for the B♭ clarinet. The clarinet has a different sound quality, is usually quieter, and can play notes much lower than the soprano saxophone. It is also commonly played higher than the soprano saxophone, though the saxophone can reach these high notes with a special technique called altissimo, which is rarely used. The saxophone is made of brass and is often covered with lacquer or plated with silver, gold, or black nickel. The clarinet is typically made of wood or has a wood-like appearance, with silver or gold keys.

In 2001, François Louis invented the aulochrome, a woodwind instrument made by joining two soprano saxophones together. This instrument can be played in unison or in harmony.

Gallery

• A comparison of sizes showing a curved B flat soprano saxophone (center), an E flat alto saxophone (left), and a B flat tenor saxophone (right)
• From top to bottom: E flat sopranino saxophones, both curved and straight; soprano saxophones in C and B flat
• A B flat soprano saxophone (left), a C soprano saxophone (center), and an E flat sopranino saxophone (right)
• A tenor saxophone (left) and a soprano saxophone (right) made of phosphor bronze, showing their sizes
• A curved soprano saxophone being played by Jan Garbarek