A saxophone is a musical instrument that belongs in the woodwind category. It is one of the youngest musical instruments. The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian, in the 1840s. Later, many people made their own alterations to the instrument. Saxophones were generally used in the military and in big orchestras but are now found in smaller bands as well. They are generally used for big band music, pop music and jazz.

The saxophone is similar to a clarinet, in that both use a single mouthpiece. However, it has a square or round evacuated inner chamber. The body is conical in shape, like the oboe, though the curve is more distinctive at the bell. Saxophones may be straight or curved, though straight ones are more common. Though there are many kinds of saxophones, these four are the most common: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone saxophones.

The tenor saxophone is the second most common saxophone, after the alto. It is slightly larger than the alto, with a small bend in the neck. The rods and tone holes are also longer and larger than those of the alto. The longer neck is the main reason for neck damage in a tenor. The tenor is a typical jazz saxophone, although it is also used for classical music.

The main parts in a tenor saxophone are: the mouth-piece, including the ligature and the reed; the main tube that has tone holes and keys; a series of rods that connect the keys to the tone holes; the pads that securely cover the tone holes and, most importantly, the bell.

The local music store, mail-order service, a private party or the Internet are various places where one can buy tenor saxophones. The main aspects to be considered are the quality, service, price and the model. The Internet is a good source of information about tenor saxophones, but it is a good idea to test a few of them before buying.