History of the Saxophone Timeline

High-pitch (also marked "H" or "HP") saxophones tuned sharper than the A = 440 Hz standard were produced into the early twentieth century for sonic qualities suited for outdoor use, but are not playable to modern tuning and are considered obsolete.

In 1887, the Buffet Crampon company obtained a patent for extending the bell and adding an extra key to extend the range downwards by one semitone to B♭, improving the instrument's low register.

Around the turn of the century, mechanisms were developed to operate both octave vents with a single key using the left thumb, simplifying playability of the upper register of the saxophone.

C soprano and C melody saxophones were produced for the casual market as parlor instruments during the early twentieth century, allowing amateurs to play along with piano music without transposition.

Image source: C melody saxophone

The Martin Band Instrument Company started producing saxophones between 1905 and 1912, and the Cleveland Band Instrument Company started producing saxophones under contract to the H. White Company in 1916, expanding American manufacturing of the instrument.

Image source: Martin Band Instrument Company

Saxophones in F were introduced during the late 1920s but never gained acceptance, remaining a brief experiment alongside other alternate-keying schemes of the period.

Conn introduced two new variants in 1928–1929: the Conn-O-Sax and the mezzo-soprano saxophone, both keyed in F. The straight-necked Conn-O-Sax was produced only in 1929 and 1930 and intended to imitate the form and timbre of the cor anglais.

Image source: Saxophone

The mechanics of the left hand table were revolutionized by Selmer with their Balanced Action instruments in 1936, capitalizing on the right-side bell key layout to improve ergonomics.

In 1948, Selmer introduced their Super Action saxophones (often called the "Super Balanced Action") with offset left and right hand stack keys. Thirty to forty years later, this 1948 Selmer layout became nearly universal.

Image source: Selmer Mark VI

Most saxophonists use reeds made from Arundo donax cane, but since the middle of the twentieth century some have been made of fiberglass or other composite materials, offering alternatives with different durability and tone characteristics.

Image source: Reed (mouthpiece)

While the saxophone remained marginal, used mainly as a novelty instrument in the classical world, many new musical niches were established for it during the early decades of the twentieth century.

Coincident with the more widespread availability of saxophones in the US around the turn of the century was the rise of ragtime music. Its early use in vaudeville and ragtime bands laid the groundwork for its use in dance orchestras and eventually jazz.

Image source: Ragtime

Europe's 369th Infantry Regiment Band popularized ragtime in France during its 1918 tour, introducing European audiences to African-American musical styles featuring the saxophone during World War I.

Image source: 369th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, formed in 1923, featured arrangements to back up improvisation, bringing the first elements of jazz to the large dance band format and showcasing the saxophone section.

Image source: Fletcher Henderson

Coleman Hawkins established the tenor saxophone as a jazz solo instrument during his stint with Fletcher Henderson from 1923 to 1934, demonstrating the expressive potential of the saxophone as a lead improvising voice.

Image source: Coleman Hawkins

The influence of Lester Young with the Count Basie Orchestra in the late 1930s and the popularity of Hawkins's 1939 recording of "Body and Soul" marked the saxophone as an influence on jazz equal to the trumpet, which had defined jazz since its beginnings in New Orleans.

Image source: Body and Soul (1930 song)

Inexpensive keyless folk versions of the saxophone made of bamboo, recalling a chalumeau, were developed in the 20th century by instrument makers in Hawaii, Jamaica, Thailand, Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Argentina.

In Argentina, Ángel Sampedro del Río and Mariana García have produced bamboo saxophones of various sizes since 1985, continuing the folk tradition of bamboo saxophone construction.

The contralto saxophone, similar in size to the orchestral C melody saxophone, was developed in the late 20th century by California instrument maker Jim Schmidt, featuring a novel fingering system.

The tubax, developed in 1999 by Eppelsheim, plays the same range and with the same fingering as the E♭ contrabass saxophone, but in a narrower bore that makes it more manageable and better balanced.

Image source: Tubax

Among the 2000s developments is the aulochrome, a double soprano saxophone invented by Belgian instrument maker François Louis in 2001, capable of playing two notes simultaneously.

Image source: Aulochrome