<P> The tenor saxophone is a medium - sized member of the saxophone family , a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s . The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones . The tenor is pitched in the key of B ♭ ( while the Alto is pitched in E ♭ ) , and written as a transposing instrument in the treble clef , sounding an octave and a major second lower than the written pitch . Modern tenor saxophones which have a high F ♯ key have a range from A ♭ to E ( concert ) and are therefore pitched one octave below the soprano saxophone . People who play the tenor saxophone are known as `` tenor saxophonists '' or `` tenor sax players '' . </P>
<P> The tenor saxophone is a medium - sized member of the saxophone family , a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s . The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones . The tenor is pitched in the key of B ♭ ( while the Alto is pitched in E ♭ ) , and written as a transposing instrument in the treble clef , sounding an octave and a major second lower than the written pitch . Modern tenor saxophones which have a high F ♯ key have a range from A ♭ to E ( concert ) and are therefore pitched one octave below the soprano saxophone . People who play the tenor saxophone are known as `` tenor saxophonists '' or `` tenor sax players '' . </P>
what key does a tenor sax play in
what key does a tenor sax play in
B ♭
B ♭