MouthpieceThe piece the player's mouth goes round; the reed vibrates against it. Hard rubber, plastic or metal.
ReedA thin strip that vibrates against the mouthpiece to make the sound. It is cane, or fiberglass and other composites.
LigatureThe band that holds the reed on the mouthpiece. Its screw is tightened once the reed is in place.
NeckThe detachable curved tube at the top. It joins the mouthpiece to the body.
BodyThe main conical brass tube. It carries most of the keys and tone holes.
Pearls (key touches)The round touches under the fingers, of plastic or mother of pearl. Each works a key whose padded cup closes a tone hole.
BowThe U-shaped bend that turns the tube upward toward the bell.
BellThe round, flared end of the tube, where the sound comes out.
Mouthpiece and neck 3
CorkIt is on the end of the neck. The mouthpiece slides onto it. It lets different mouthpieces fit.
Octave keyThe register key that raises the lower notes by an octave. The left thumb works it through the lever on the back of the body.
Neck screwThe screw that holds the neck in the top of the body. Also called the butterfly screw.
Keys and holds 2
Thumb hookThe hook on the back of the body for the right thumb.
Key guardA metal guard over the low keys on the bell.
Body, bow and bell 2
Bow guardA guard fitted on the underside of the bow.
Body-to-bell braceThe brace that joins the body to the bell.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. (1) Yamaha Musical Instrument Guide, the structure of the saxophone, https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/saxophone/mechanism/ : four fundamental parts, the neck, the body, the U-shaped bow and the round flared bell; 25 tone holes; the labelled parts neck, octave key, cork, mouthpiece, ligature, reed, body, key, pearls, thumb hook, octave key (lever), bow, bow guard, bell, key guard, joint ring, body to bell brace and butterfly screw/neck screw; keys and levers so a few fingers close distant holes; the round tone-hole covers are pads of felt and sheep leather. The reed page (mechanism002.html): the reed attached to the mouthpiece, held by tightening the ligature. The neck page (mechanism004.html): the cork on the end of the neck lets a variety of mouthpieces be attached. (2) Wikipedia, Saxophone, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxophone : a single-reed woodwind with a conical body, usually brass; tone holes closed by leather pads on keys; an octave (register) key that raises the lower notes an octave; the detachable curved neck and U-shaped bow turning the tube up to the bell; key touches of plastic or mother of pearl; reeds of Arundo donax cane or fiberglass and composites; mouthpieces of hard rubber, plastic or metal. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
The parts of an alto saxophone on one upright drawing, keys down the front. Start with the 8 main parts, then the mouthpiece and neck, the keys, and the tube.
Read the full guide
Four sections
A saxophone has four main sections: the curved neck at the top, the long conical body, the U-shaped bow at the bottom and the flared bell. The mouthpiece fits on the neck's cork, with the reed held under it by the ligature.
Keys and holds
Keys with leather pads close its 25 tone holes; the fingers press the pearls. The octave key on the neck raises the low notes an octave, worked by a thumb lever on the back, near the thumb hook.
The same fingering plays the same written note on every saxophone, so the parts here carry over from alto to tenor.
Questions and answers
What are the main parts of a saxophone?
Four sections: the neck, the body, the U-shaped bow and the bell. The mouthpiece, reed and ligature fit on the end of the neck.
What holds the reed on a saxophone?
The ligature, a band round the mouthpiece. The reed goes on flat against the mouthpiece and the ligature is tightened to hold it.
What does the octave key do on a saxophone?
It raises the lower notes' pitch by one octave. Its small key sits on top of the neck, and the left thumb works it through a lever on the back of the body.