In the terms of musical history the saxophone is a baby. It was patented in 1846 by Adolphe Sax who had unveiled it two years earlier in 1844. The very first model was the C bass sax. It was a little risky to unveil the instrument before the paten was gained. The sax is an all brass woodwind.

The saxophone’s history and how it came to be are both a little cloudy. Many think that Sax wanted the big sound of a brass, but the versatility of a wood wind. Some think it had to do with being able to overblow an octave. Whatever method there was to his madness, the sax became the sax.

The original patent called for one design with fourteen variations that were split into two groups of seven. One group was meant for concert play and the other for marching bands. They were meant to be the: E flat sopranino, the F sopranino, the B flat soprano, c soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass, and F contrabass. There was supposed to be a fourteenth, but a working model was never made.

Composers from the 19th century utilized the sax frequently. Even writing especially for them. It began to be used by marching bands after sax organized a playoff between his band and another. Sax replaced the oboes and bassoons with saxophones and won the competition.

During the history of the sax there have been many changes made. The early instruments did not have as many keys nor did they have the F# key.

Throughout their history the sax has steadily become more and more popular. They have found their way into mainstream rock and roll.