Key Difference – Saxophone vs Trumpet
Saxophone and trumpet are two types of instruments that are used often together. The trumpet is a member of the brass instrument family. The saxophone is a member of the woodwind instrument family even though it is made of brass and is often played alongside brass instruments. This is the key difference between saxophone and trumpet. There are also other differences in the shape, size, production of sounds as well as use.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Saxophone
3. What is a Trumpet
4. Side by Side Comparison – Saxophone vs Trumpet
5. Summary
What is a Saxophone?
A saxophone is a musical instrument that is made of brass. However, it falls into the category of woodwind instruments since it has a single-reed mouthpiece. Saxophone shares many similarities with clarinet, which is a woodwind instrument. But saxophones are often used alongside brass instruments such as trombone and trumpet. Musicians who play saxophones are called saxophonists.
Saxophone basically consists of a conical tube flared at the tip to form a bell. There are about 20 tone holes of different sizes along the tube. There are six main keys in the saxophone.
The saxophone was invented in the 1840s by Adolphe Sax, who wanted to instrument to fill the middle ground between woodwind and brass families. This instrument is today used in classical music (concert bands, chamber music), marching bands, jazz music, and military bands.
Figure 01: Saxophone
What is a Trumpet?
The trumpet is a member of the brass family of instruments. It is made of a brass tubing bent twice into a rounded oblong shape. The sound is produced by blowing into the embouchure (mouthpiece) and making a ‘buzzing’ sound, which starts a standing wave vibration in the air column inside the trumpet. This has three valves (keys) that have to be pressed to change the pitch.
There are many different types of trumpets such as A trumpet, C trumpet, and D trumpet, but B flat is the most common type. A typical trumpet range spreads from written F♯ immediately below Middle C up to about three octaves higher. The trumpet is the second smallest instrument in the brass family, the smallest being cornet. The trumpet is commonly used in jazz and classical music.
Figure 2: Trumpet
What is the difference between Saxophone and Trumpet?
Saxophone and Trumpet |
|
| Saxophone is a woodwind instrument. | Trumpet is a brass instrument. |
| Shape | |
| Saxophone basically consists of a conical tube flared at the tip to form a bell. | Trumpet consist of a brass tubing bent twice into a rounded oblong shape. |
| Keys | |
| Saxophone has six main keys. | Trumpet has three keys. |
| Reed | |
| Saxophone has a single reed. | Trumpet doesn’t have reeds since it is a brass instrument. |
| Use | |
| Saxophones are used in classical music, jazz ensembles, marching bands, and military bands. | Trumpets are used for classical and jazz music. |
Summary – Saxophone vs Trumpet
The main difference between saxophone and trumpet is the families they belong to. Trumpet belongs to the brass instrument family. Although saxophones are often alongside instruments of the brass family, it is a woodwind instrument with a single reed. Thus, the process of producing sound in these two instruments are different.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Trumpet 1” (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Yamaha Saxophone YAS-62” By Yamaha Corporation – Yamaha Music Europe (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia