Woodwinds · Single reed · Saxophone family
Baritone Saxophone
Sounds an octave and a major sixth below written pitch.
Quick facts
| Family | Woodwinds — Single reed |
|---|---|
| Hornbostel–Sachs | 422.212-71 |
| Pitched in | E♭ |
| Transposition | Sounds a octave + major sixth lower than written |
| Written range | A3 – F♯6 |
| Sounding range | C2 – A4 (65.41 – 440 Hz) |
| Clef | Treble |
| Inventor | Adolphe Sax |
| Other names | Baritonsaxophon, Saxophone baryton, saxofón barítono |
Player's notes
- Sounds an octave and a major sixth below written pitch.
- Most modern instruments add a low A key operated by the left thumb.
About the baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, commonly abbreviated to "bari sax", is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use – the bass, contrabass and subcontrabass saxophones are relatively uncommon. Like all saxophones, it is a single-reed instrument. It is commonly used in concert bands, chamber music, military bands, big bands, and jazz combos. It can also be found in other ensembles such as rock bands and marching bands. Modern baritone saxophones are pitched in E♭.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article “Baritone saxophone”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Listen
Recordings from Wikimedia Commons, found via Openverse.
Notable repertoire
- méringue — Unknown
- saxophone repertoire — Unknown
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the baritone saxophone?
The practical written range of the baritone saxophone is A3 to F♯6, which sounds C2 to A4 (65.4 Hz to 440 Hz at A4 = 440 Hz).
Is the baritone saxophone a transposing instrument?
Yes. The baritone saxophone is pitched in E♭: sounds a octave + major sixth lower than written. A written C sounds E♭.
What clef does the baritone saxophone read?
The baritone saxophone reads treble clef.
How is the baritone saxophone classified?
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system the baritone saxophone is classified as 422.212-71.
