Saxophone Keywords
Reed
A reed is made from a type of cane and is used in saxophones to produce a sound from the instrument. The sound is produced from the reed when it is blown into, the reed vibrates and the sound is produced from there. Most reeds are made from raw cane, which is then whittled down to the exacting specifications that reeds have. Reeds come in different thicknesses which are called ‘grades’ with grade 1 being the softest reed and grade 5 being the toughest reed. It is harder to get a sound out of a higher graded reed than a lower graded reed. Some reeds can also be made of a fibreglass and plastic mix. These reeds are able to be played straight out of the box as they do not require wetting before being played.
Ligature
Saxophone ligatures are made mostly of leather and this is how they differ from other woodwind ligatures. A ligature holds the reed in place, it has two screws which can be tightened or loosened to suit the instrument. Not all saxophones are made exactly the same and therefore they will all have slightly different measurements. Ligatures can be bought fairly cheaply and many saxophonists carry around a spare in their cases.
Bell
The bell of the saxophone is the part of the saxophone where the sound emerges. It is called the bell because it is shaped like a bell. The bell is situated halfway down the saxophone and is much bigger than a clarinet bell.
Straps
Sax straps are what a saxophonist attaches to their saxophone to be able to hold it around their neck. This is a system of safety for both the saxophone itself and the saxophonist. The saxophone will benefit by having a safety net as such, there won’t be as much risk of it being dropped.
Keys
Saxophone keys are what the saxophonist presses to change the pitch of the sound that is coming from their instrument. The keys are usually plated in a precious metal so that they don’t rust or corrode easily.
Reed trimmer
A reed trimmer is an accessory used by all woodwind players who use reeds in their instruments. Reed clippers are very similar to nail clippers, they simply clip the reeds to the exact length that they need it. Reed trimmers aren’t used by all saxophonists and they are usually kept by people who manufacture reeds and sell them on to companies who sell them.
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