This isn't as much for "brass players", though. It's about the saxophone.
The sax body is made mostly of brass but the instrument is considered part of the woodwind family rather than the brass instrument family, primarily because of the fingering system.
It's always good to re-read about the inventors of what became our modern instruments. Thanks for sharing.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Lots of blurred lines, though, Bob. Understandable.
In junior high, I got my first silver-plated trumpet. The other kids joked I shouldn't play when the band director said, "OK, brass only...".
And there's more brass in a sax than in a trumpet.
But "brass" normally means trumpets/cornets/flugelhorns, trombones, baritone/euphonium, and tuba/sousaphone. But usually not French horns, made of brass...
Perfectly clear, right?
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
The definition of a "brass" instrument gets even more fun: A didgeridoo is made of wood, but is technically a brass instrument: it uses a "lip reed" (I.E. you blow raspberries into it all same as a trumpet or 'bone etc.), then there's the good old conch shell - same deal but it's made of Calcium Carbonate, the Serpent - wood again, the Cornett (Cornetti or Zink) - also wood but often with a leather cover...
Any others?
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--
Once got to see a realworld "Brake Drum Banjo" in use by the old guy who had built it in his youth. While he was not exactly a stellar player, his musical endeavors being strictly parttime for the old coal miner, his banjo struck me as being particularly sonorous and loud for its diameter.
The really neat thing about that instrument was in the close examination of its overall construction, everything on it but the tuning machines was uniquely home-brew, including the fretwires.
I've talked before about my paternal grandfather's self-built fiddle, also had a great uncle who had built his own small 8-string "guitar" in which there were doubles of each of 4 strings, like as done with a modern 12-string. Again, the only thing on that little ukelele sized guitar (mandolin? don't know, was too young at the time to know about such and the other men called it, his "guitar" as did he...) but only the tuners appeared to be "store-boughten" on it, that much I recall, as the tuners were metal with some sort of "plastic" buttons on them, yellowed and mellowed over the years with the tiny crazing cracks that most plastics of the era would suffer. The mechanism was nickel plated steel with bronze gears turned by the common steel screw gears.
Wish I had either in my possession today, the city fellers at the Antique Road Show would likely come unglued while assessing the value of the "folk art" instrument, eh?
I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a Model T Ford brake drum banjo, but I’ve seen a few pics of them and read about them.
It’s cool that the mountain folk took whatever they could find and made instruments out of them.
As far as the 8 string guitar/ mandolin, I can see where those old guys would call it a guitar! It was probably close to what we would call an octave mandolin today.
There are two things that the article failed to mention which any student of musical instruments may be interested to learn.
The Saxophone is one of the earliest and, and possibly the very first example, of a deliberate and completely systematic design of a musical instrument, as opposed to all of the musical instruments which evolved gradually during human history. Consequently, the fingering was intelligently designed to be as easy as possible and allow playing difficult musical passages.
In contrast, the flute evolved over thousands of years -a very ancient bone flute was found in a cave of our early ancestors. One of the most recent improvements of the flute fingering is the Boehm system. The Clarinet has also undergone improvements in modern times to improve the playing of difficult musical passages etc, although it's origin is also believed to have been in the very far past.
Many of the modern musical instruments may have been born independently in various regions of the world, just consider the wide variety of bowed string instruments currently available in Africa, South America, Asia, as well as in various parts of Europe and America. Some may have been dispersed by ancient travelers.
By the time of Adolphe Sax's instrument making, the most sophisticated instrument makers understood much of the practical acoustics necessary for constructing differently scaled versions of their instruments -they were no longer limited to trial and error (where to place the holes in a tube and what size to make them).
The second thing the article fails to point out is that Adolphe Sax was also one of the first instrument makers who revolutionized the manufacture of musical instruments because he designed standardized, interchangeable instruments parts. Thus if your a part broke you could replace it without having the part custom crafted and it would fit. Of course this made mass production possible on a scale previously impossible, very useful if the order came in to supply a nations entire army -not every soldier, only the ones that played : )
Finally, Sax also designed lots of other musical instruments such as the Saxhorns.
The design of the saxophone is really an Organ Pipe, driven by a single reed, that allows the player to change the length of the pipe via the holes placed along the pipe via that system of keys and pads.
Unlike the Brass, where the total sound emanates entirely from the Bell, the Woodwinds sound actually emanates from any point along the length of the tube, depending upon the note being played at the time. This is why I always laff when I see a saxophone on a stage with a Mic pointed into the Sax Bell. But I digress, as usual.
Good point. If you look at my current Facebook profile pic where I'm playing soprano, I have the mic positioned to point at my left hand, about two thirds of the way up from the bell. The soprano sax low notes carry well on their own, and it's a pretty dreadfull sound right at the bell!
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
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Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
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Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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