Acoustics of the saxophone

Bb saxophone

multiphonic
F4 & G#5

Music Acoustics UNSW


multiphonics    
Multiphonic 1 Multiphonic 2 Multiphonic 3
Multiphonic 4 Multiphonic 5 Multiphonic 6
Multiphonic 7 Multiphonic 8  
 

Impedance

Fingering
a key depressed
a key not depressed
a hole covered
a hole uncovered
a part of the mechanism that is not normally touched
Details in fingering legend.

Acoustic schematic
a closed tone hole
an open tone hole

Non-specialist introduction to acoustic impedance
Non-specialist introduction to saxophone acoustics

Notes are the written pitch.
Frequencies are the sounding frequency, for Bb saxophone.
Unless otherwise stated, the impedance spectrum is for a Bb saxophone.


Impedance spectrum of a Bb saxophone measured using fingering for the multiphonic F4 with G#5.

Sound


Sound spectrum of a Bb saxophone played using fingering for the multiphonic F4 with G#5. Note that F4 plays flat.
For more explanation, see Introduction to saxophone acoustics

Sound Clip

You can hear the multiphonic F4 with G#5 played.


Fingering legend
How were these results obtained?

Contact: Joe Wolfe / J.Wolfe@unsw.edu.au
phone 61-2-9385-4954 (UT +10, +11 Oct-Mar)
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