The saxophone family was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in

1840.[2][3] Adolphe Sax wanted to create a group or series of instruments that would be the most
powerful and vocal of the woodwinds, and the most adaptive of the brass instruments, that would
fill the vacant middle ground between the two sections. Sax patented the saxophone on June 28,
1846, in two groups of seven instruments each. Each series consisted of instruments of various
sizes in alternating transposition. The series pitched in B♭ and E♭, designed for military bands,
have proved popular and most saxophones encountered today are from this series. Instruments
from the so-called "orchestral" series, pitched in C and F, never gained a foothold, and the
B♭ and E♭ instruments have now replaced the C and F instruments when the saxophone is used
in an orchestra.
The saxophone is used in classical music (such as concert bands, chamber music, solo
repertoire, and, occasionally, orchestras), military bands, marching bands, jazz (such as big
bands and jazz combos), and contemporary music. The saxophone is also used as a soloing and
melody instrument or as a member of a horn section in some styles of rock and roll and popular
music. Saxophone players are called saxophonists.[2]