human
I'm interested in learning about the history of the saxophone.
assistant
The saxophone is a woodwind instrument that was invented by Adolphe Sax in the late 1800s. It has been popularized as an instrument for jazz music and other genres since the early 1900s. The saxophone's sound comes from the vibration of the air column inside its tubing, which causes the reed to vibrate against the mouthpiece. The first commercially successful version of the saxophone was made of brass and had four valves (similar to those on a trumpet). This allowed players to play notes in a range similar to that of a clarinet or oboe. Later versions were made of wood and had fewer valves, allowing players to play more notes. Today, there are many different types of saxophones, including sopranos, tenors, altoes, baritones, and basses.