The bass saxophone (or bass sax for short) is the second largest existing member of the saxophone family (or third largest, if the subcontrabass tubax is counted). It is similar in design to a baritone saxophone, but is larger and its loop, near the mouthpiece, extends further vertically. Unlike the baritone, the bass saxophone is not commonly used, and the contrabass voice in wind bands is usually handled by the tuba, or in jazz and other popular-music bands by the double bass or electric bass, all of which have a lower range. Saxophones of different sizes play in different registers. ... A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right). ... Baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone, one of the larger members of the saxophone family, was invented by Adolphe Sax. ... A wind band, also called concert band, symphonic band, or wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, and string bass. ... The tuba is the largest of the low-brass instruments and is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the ophicleide. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Fender Precision Bass Bass Guitar is a commonly spoken phrase used to refer to the electric bass and horizontal acoustic basses, a stringed instrument similar in design to the electric guitar, but larger in size, commonly fretted and sometimes fretless and with a lower range. ...

Although originally available in either B-flat or C (the latter for orchestral use), the modern bass saxophone is pitched in B-flat, a perfect fourth lower than the baritone, and thus the same as the B-flat contrabass clarinet. Sheet music for bass sax is written in treble clef, just as music for the other saxophones is written, but for the bass instrument, it sounds two octaves and a major second lower than written. Like the other members of the saxophone family, the lowest written note is B-flat below the staff; for bass saxophone, this note is a concert-pitch A-flat in the first octave (~ 51.9 Hz). The perfect fourth or diatessaron, abbreviated P4, is one of two musical intervals that span four diatonic scale degrees; the other being the augmented fourth, which is one semitone larger. ... The contrabass clarinet is the largest common member of the clarinet family. ... A clef (French for key) is a symbol used in musical notation that assigns notes to lines and spaces on the musical staff. ... In music, an octave (sometimes abbreviated 8ve or 8va) is the interval between one musical note and another with half or double the frequency. ... A major second is one of three commonly occuring musical intervals that span two diatonic scale degrees; the others being the minor second, which is one semitone smaller, and the augmented second, which is one semitone larger. ... In music theory, the first octave, also called the contra octave, ranges from C1, or about 32. ... The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the SI unit of frequency. ...

The lowest existing member of the saxophone family is the rare (and massive) contrabass, pitched in E-flat and tuned a perfect fifth lower than the bass. Inventor Adolphe Sax had a patent for a subcontrabass saxophone (or bourdon saxophone), but a fully-functioning instrument in that pitch has apparently never been built. If it existed, it would sound an octave lower than the bass. The contrabass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family (the largest being the triple B-flat subcontrabass tubax, although the tubax is not technically a member of the saxophone family due to its narrower bore). ... The perfect fifth or diapente is one of three musical intervals that span five diatonic scale degrees; the others being the diminished fifth, which is one semitone smaller, and the augmented fifth, which is one semitone larger. ... Life-size statue of Adolphe Sax outside his birthplace in Dinant, Belgium. ... A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right), the closest extant instrument to a subcontrabass saxophone. ...

Adolphe Sax, the saxophone's inventor, first exhibited the bass saxophone in C at an exhibition in Brussels in 1841. The bass saxophone thus has the distinction of having been the first saxophone to be presented to the public.

Bass saxophone players

The bass saxophone enjoyed some measure of popularity in jazz combos between World War I and World War II, with the bass saxophone used primarily to provide bass lines (although occasionally players took melodic solos). Notable players of this era include Billy Fowler, Coleman Hawkins, and Adrian Rollini. The American bandleader Boyd Raeburn (1913-1966), who led an avant-garde big band in the 1940s, was a bass saxophonist. Probably the finest revivalist bass saxophonist performing today in the 1920s-1930s style is Vince Giordano. Jazz players using the instrument in a more contemporary style include Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, Peter Brötzmann, Hamiet Bluiett, James Carter, Vinny Golia, Jan Garbarek, and Scott Robinson, though none of these use it as their primary instrument. Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins, nicknamed Hawk and sometimes Bean, (November 21, 1901 or 1904 - May 19, 1969) was a prominent jazz tenor saxophone musician. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an African-American composer and jazz saxophonist. ... Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American composer, multi-reedist and pianist. ... Peter Brötzmann (born March 6, 1941) is a German free jazz saxophonist. ... Hamiet Bluiett (b. ... Order: 39th President Term of Office: January 20, 1977–January 20, 1981 Preceded by: Gerald Ford Succeeded by: Ronald Reagan Date of birth: October 1, 1924 Place of birth: Plains, Georgia Date of death: Place of death: First Lady: Rosalynn Carter Political party: Democratic Vice President: Walter Mondale James Earl... Vinny Golia (b. ... Jan Garbarek (born March 4, 1947 in Mysen, Norway) is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. ...

In the genres of rock and funk, Angelo Moore of the American band Fishbone plays bass saxophone. Fishbone is an extremely influential band that plays a unique fusion of funk, ska, punk rock, reggae, heavy metal, and more. ...

External links

• BassSax.com
• Bass saxophone page at Contrabass Mania site

as did rodney slater of the bonzo dog band who soloed memorably in "my pink half of the drainpipe"