Key Takeaways
- Saxophone is a woodwind instrument, while the trumpet is a brass instrument.
- Saxophone has six main keys and a single reed, while trumpet has three keys and no reed.
- Both instruments are commonly used in classical music, jazz ensembles, and marching bands, but saxophones are also used in military bands.
Saxophone and trumpet are two types of instruments that are often used together. The trumpet belongs to the brass instrument family, while the saxophone is a member of the woodwind instrument family, even though it is made of brass and is often played alongside brass instruments. There are also differences in their shape, size, production of sounds, and use.
What is a Saxophone?
A saxophone is a musical instrument made of brass. However, it falls into the category of woodwind instruments since it has a single-reed mouthpiece. Saxophone shares many similarities with the clarinet, which is a woodwind instrument. Saxophones are often used alongside brass instruments such as trombone and trumpet. Musicians who play saxophones are called saxophonists.
The saxophone consists of a conical tube flared at the tip to form a bell, with about 20 tone holes of different sizes along the tube. There are six main keys in the saxophone. It was invented in the 1840s by Adolphe Sax, who wanted the instrument to fill the middle ground between woodwind and brass families. Today, the saxophone is used in classical music (concert bands, chamber music), marching bands, jazz music, and military bands.
What is a Trumpet?
The trumpet is a member of the brass family of instruments, 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. It 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 the 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 the cornet. Trumpets are commonly used in jazz and classical music.
What is the difference between Saxophone and Trumpet?
Saxophone is a woodwind instrument, while the trumpet is a brass instrument. The saxophone consists of a conical tube flared at the tip to form a bell, while the trumpet consists of a brass tubing bent twice into a rounded oblong shape. Saxophone has six main keys and a single reed, while the trumpet has three keys and no reed.
Saxophones are used in classical music, jazz ensembles, marching bands, and military bands, while 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, while the saxophone is a woodwind instrument with a single reed, even though it is made of brass and is often played alongside brass instruments. Thus, the process of producing sound in these two instruments is different.
