Parts of a Saxophone: Labeled Diagram and Part Names

A saxophone case can be a surprise the first time it opens: a big golden body, a curved neck tucked in a separate spot, a mouthpiece, a box of reeds and a neck strap. Once you know the names of the parts, it all comes together quickly. This guide walks down the saxophone from the mouthpiece to the bell, the same way the diagram above does. It uses the alto saxophone, the one most students start on. The tenor and baritone saxophones have the same parts in larger sizes, and the soprano is often straight, with no bow.

The mouthpiece, reed and ligature

These three small parts make the sound. The rest of the saxophone turns that sound into notes.

• Mouthpiece. The tapered piece you put in your mouth. It is hollow, with a flat side (called the table) where the reed sits. Most student mouthpieces are hard black rubber or plastic. The open end slides onto the cork at the top of the neck.
• Reed. A flat strip of cane, thick at one end and shaved very thin at the tip. When you blow, the tip vibrates against the mouthpiece and starts the sound. Alto saxophone reeds are a little wider than clarinet reeds, so the two are not interchangeable. Reeds are numbered by strength; most beginners start on a 2 or a 2.5.
• Ligature. The band that holds the reed on the mouthpiece. Most are metal with one or two screws; some are fabric or leather. It should hold the reed still without squeezing it.
• Mouthpiece cap. A cover that slips over the reed and ligature when you are not playing, to protect the reed's delicate tip.

The neck

• Neck. The curved tube between the mouthpiece and the body. It comes off for storage and slides into the top of the body. Some players call it the crook.
• Neck cork. The band of cork at the top of the neck. The mouthpiece slides onto it, and how far you push the mouthpiece on is how you tune the saxophone: farther on makes it sound higher, farther off makes it sound lower. A little cork grease helps the mouthpiece slide without tearing the cork.
• Octave key. The long lever that runs along the top of the neck, with a small pad that covers a tiny hole called an octave vent. It is worked by the octave thumb key on the back of the body (see below). When you press the thumb key, the right octave vent opens and the same fingering plays one octave higher.
• Neck screw. The small screw at the bottom of the neck receiver, where the neck meets the body. Tightening it holds the neck firmly in place while you play.

The body

• Body. The long cone-shaped tube that holds most of the keys. It gets wider all the way from the neck to the bell, which helps give the saxophone its full sound.
• Keys. The saxophone has more than 20 keys. Each one covers a tone hole with a padded cup. The main finger keys have pearl-like buttons, sometimes called pearls or key touches, where your fingertips rest: three for the left hand near the top and three for the right hand lower down. The rest are side keys and palm keys for the higher notes, and pinky keys for the lowest notes.
• Pads. Soft leather-covered discs inside each key cup. When a key closes, its pad seals the tone hole. A pad that does not seal is the most common reason a note stops working.
• Left thumb rest. A small round button on the back of the body, near the top. Your left thumb rests on it, and rolls up from it onto the octave thumb key just above.
• Right thumb rest. Also called the thumb hook. It is lower down on the back of the body. Your right thumb sits under it, balancing the saxophone while the neck strap carries the weight.
• Neck strap ring. The metal ring on the back of the body where the neck strap hooks on. On an alto, the strap carries almost all of the instrument's weight, so your hands are free to move.
• Key guards. The curved metal guards over some of the lower keys. They protect the key cups from being knocked out of place.

The bow and bell

• Bow. The U-shaped bend at the bottom of the saxophone. It turns the tube back upward so the instrument is a comfortable size to hold. On most student saxophones, the bow and the body are joined permanently.
• Bell. The wide flared opening at the end. It sends the sound out into the room.
• Bell keys. The large keys on the side of the bell. They close the biggest tone holes and play the lowest notes on the saxophone, low B and low B-flat.

How to put a saxophone together

The saxophone's keys and its octave key linkage are easy to bend, so the rule is: hold the body by the bell, never by the keys, and go gently.

1. Put on the neck strap first. Hang it around your neck before you lift the saxophone out of the case.
2. Lift the body out by the bell. Remove the end plug or cap from the top of the body and hook the strap onto the neck strap ring.
3. Add the neck. Loosen the neck screw. Hold the neck near its bottom end, away from the octave key, and slide it into the body with a slight twist. Line it up so the mouthpiece end points straight out from the front of the body, and so the octave key lever on the neck sits over its partner on the body without pressing on it. Then tighten the neck screw.
4. Add the mouthpiece. If the neck cork feels dry, rub in a little cork grease. Twist the mouthpiece onto the cork, with the flat table facing down. A common starting point is about halfway onto the cork; your teacher will fine-tune it with a tuner.
5. Add the reed and ligature last. Wet the reed in your mouth for a moment. Set its flat side on the table, with the tip of the reed lined up with the tip of the mouthpiece. Slide the ligature over both and tighten it just until the reed stays put.

Taking it apart is the same steps in reverse. Take the reed off first and store it in its holder.

Basic saxophone care

A saxophone needs a few minutes of care after each practice. It keeps the pads dry and the instrument playing well for years.

• Swab the body. Drop the weighted end of a body swab into the bell and pull it out through the top. Do it a couple of times to remove moisture.
• Swab the neck. A smaller neck swab or cloth does the same job for the neck, where moisture collects quickly.
• Look after the reeds. Take the reed off after playing, wipe it, and let it dry flat in a reed holder. Rotating between a few reeds makes each one last longer.
• Clean the mouthpiece. Rinse it now and then in lukewarm water, never hot, and let it dry.
• Store the neck in its own spot. Never store the neck inside the body, and put the end plug back in. It protects the top of the body and the octave key mechanism.
• Wipe off fingerprints. A soft cloth keeps the lacquer looking its best.
• Keep it away from heat and cold. Do not leave the saxophone in a hot or freezing car.

If a key sticks, a note stops working, or a pad looks torn, take the saxophone to a repair technician rather than adjusting it yourself.

Saxophones to learn the parts on

Every saxophone below has the parts described in this guide. Prices and stock update automatically.

Choosing a first saxophone? Our beginner alto sax buying guide explains what to look for, and the school band instrument guide covers every instrument your child might be offered. You can also browse all of our band and orchestral instruments. Learning more than one instrument? See the parts of a clarinet and the parts of a flute.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main parts of a saxophone?

The mouthpiece (with the reed and ligature), the neck, the body with its keys, the bow and the bell. A neck strap holds the saxophone up while you play.

What does the octave key on a saxophone do?

Pressing the octave key with your left thumb opens a small vent that makes the saxophone play the same note one octave higher, using the same fingers.

How far should the mouthpiece go on a saxophone?

A common starting point is about halfway onto the neck cork. Pushing it farther on raises the pitch and pulling it back lowers it, so the exact spot is set with a tuner.

Is a saxophone a woodwind or a brass instrument?

A woodwind. It is made of brass, but its sound comes from a vibrating reed, the same way a clarinet's does. Brass instruments make their sound from buzzing lips in a cup-shaped mouthpiece.

What is the neck strap ring for?

It is the ring on the back of the body where the neck strap hooks on. The strap carries the saxophone's weight so your hands can move freely over the keys.

Can you use a clarinet reed on an alto saxophone?

No. Alto saxophone reeds are wider and longer than clarinet reeds, so each instrument needs its own reeds.