What Kind of Saxophone Does Kenny G Play?
Chances are you’re familiar with Kenny G. If you’ve listened to him but aren’t too familiar with saxophones, then you may be wondering what kind of saxophone he plays.
Kenny G plays primarily the soprano saxophone, but he also plays the alto and tenor saxophones. All of the saxophones he uses are the Selmer Mark VI model.
Not sure what a soprano saxophone is, or what a Selmer Mark VI is? That’s what we’re getting to.
The soprano sax – what Kenny G is known for
The soprano saxophone is one which plays in a higher register than most other saxophones, and it is the instrument which Kenny G is most commonly seen playing. Unlike most saxophones, it typically uses a straight design, and so it is sometimes mistaken for being a type of clarinet.
Curved Soprano & Saxello
Soprano’s also come in the curved and saxello variants. Curved sopranos have the characteristic bent shape. Some people like them as they are easier to mic when performing live or in the studio. Players can hear the true sound of the soprano more easily when playing a curved soprano.
The saxello has a bent neck and slightly bent upwards at the bell. This makes the saxello play somewhat in between the straight and curved sopranos. The vintage King Saxello is one of the most famous and sought after. Several companies like Rampone & Cazzani also make great sounding saxellos.
Is the soprano saxophone difficult to play?
Out of the four most commonly played types of saxophones, the soprano sax is sometimes considered the most difficult to play well. The reason for this is that the smaller mouthpiece makes the instrument more difficult to control.
The smaller size of the instrument, however, also means that one is able to play it even while using less air support. This makes it easier to circular breathe on, which is part of the reason why Kenny G decided to use this instrument for the purposes of setting a world record for the longest saxophone note held.
Most of Kenny G’s well known songs were played on the soprano saxophone. Songbird, Forever in Love, and The Moment are all classic Kenny G songs that feature the soprano saxophone. You can find a playlist of his greatest hits below.
How the soprano sax is different from the alto and tenor saxophones
While Kenny G is known to usually play the soprano sax, he also has several recordings in which he plays the alto and tenor saxophones as well.
The alto saxophone is larger than the soprano saxophone and is one of the most common saxophones for beginners to start on. Kenny G doesn’t perform on the alto saxophone nearly as much as the soprano, but some songs, such as Against Doctor’s Orders, showcase the alto sax.
The tenor saxophone is even larger than the alto sax, and has a deeper sound to it. Kenny G has several songs which he plays on the tenor, such as Midnight Motion and Don’t Make Me Wait for Love.
The alto and tenor saxophones at first glance appear similar, but there is an easy way to distinguish between them. The tenor saxophone has an extra curve in its neck, while the alto saxophone has no such additional curve.
If you are just listening to a song, you might actually find it difficult to tell which saxophone is being used. The saxophone is a flexible instrument which can produce a wide variety of sounds, and it is not uncommon for one saxophone to sound like a different type of saxophone.
The Selmer Mark VI – Kenny G’s preferred model
Selmer Paris is a company which manufactures instruments like the saxophone, flute and clarinet. They’re based in Paris, France and have a reputation for producing some of the best saxophones in the world.
The Selmer Mark VI is the model of saxophone that Kenny G plays on his soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones. It’s actually one of Selmer’s older saxophone designs, manufactured from the years 1954 to 1981. Mark VI saxophones are still widely circulated due to the sheer number that were created, but the price has been greatly driven up, with price tags that often fall over $10,000.
The reason that Kenny G uses this particular model of saxophone, according to him, is because it is the model he grew up playing. He has owned his current soprano sax since high school. Granted, the Mark VI was one of the most loved models of saxophone ever created. Many of the early saxophone greats in both the classical and jazz worlds were known for playing on the Mark VI, such as Marcel Mule, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, David Sanborn, Boney James and Eric Marienthal.
Kenny G also has his own brand of saxophones known as the “Kenny G Saxophones.” They’re closely based on the design of the Mark VI while integrating features of more modern saxophones. Kenny G himself uses exclusively the Mark VI, however, rather than his own brand.
What Mouthpiece Does Kenny G Play?
Keep in mind that many other factors contribute to Kenny G’s sound other than just the kind of saxophone he uses. The choice of mouthpiece and reed that a saxophonist uses often has a more noticeable impact on their sound than the actual saxophone.
Kenny G actually uses different types of mouthpieces for soprano, alto, and tenor sax. On soprano, he uses a Dukoff D8, which is a metal mouthpiece designed to produce a loud and cutting sound. For alto sax, he uses a Beechler Diamond S5S, which is a mouthpiece that is made of hard rubber, and produces a completely different sound than a metal mouthpiece. He goes back to a metal mouthpiece when he pulls out the tenor sax, playing on an RIA 8. For all saxophones, Kenny G uses Hemke reeds, which are known to be reliable, professional-quality reeds.
What Microphone does Kenny G use?
Not even these accessories complete Kenny G’s sound, however. He plays with an AKG 747 mini-shotgun microphone and uses a Lexicon 200 processing unit to electronically alter his sound and reverb. So, Kenny G’s sound is not actually pure unaltered saxophone, but rather a blend of saxophone and electronic alteration.
How to sound like Kenny G
If you are a saxophonist who aspires to sound like Kenny G, I wouldn’t immediately go and start buying all the equipment that he uses. Keep in mind that his sound is a combination of his style, his saxophone setup, and the electronic modifications that he makes to his sound. Certainly don’t go out and buy a Mark VI unless you are willing to invest $10,000 or more. High-quality modern saxophones tend to work just as well.
A good starting point is to listen to Kenny G and carefully observe his style. Notice his wide vibrato, and how he tapers off on the ends of notes, and how he sometimes begins notes at a quieter volume than the remainder of the note. If you can find sheet music of some of his songs, try to play them in the same style that he does. Try to mimic his tendencies as you practice, and try to emulate his sound and style.
Then, if you have some money to invest, you can focus on the reeds and mouthpiece. Hemke reeds are usually effective and consistent, and you probably won’t go wrong with buying a few to try out.
The mouthpiece you might have to be careful with. A mouthpiece is a larger investment and usually costs more than $100. Metal mouthpieces in particular can often cost over $300. Combine this with the fact that mouthpieces are rarely consistent (no two mouthpieces, even of the exact same kind, play the same way), and it is very possible that you make a large investment in a mouthpiece that is no good.
The best recommendation is to go to a physical music store and ask them if you can test out a mouthpiece before you buy it. Better would be to test out multiple mouthpieces of the exact same brand and model, and see if they play any differently. If you have a reasonable amount of experience on the saxophone, you are probably knowledgeable enough to determine which mouthpieces are good and which ones are not. If you’re a beginner, consider waiting a bit.
Related Questions
What is Kenny G’s net worth? Kenny G has a net worth of about $100 million. This money comes from a combination of selling 75 million albums worldwide and being a successful financial and real estate investor. Most notably, Kenny G gained a large amount of wealth from investing in Starbucks before it took off.
What made Kenny G famous? Kenny G was accelerated into fame by performing at age 17 with Barry White and his Love Unlimited Orchestra. Kenny G’s second album, Duotones, was the one which made him an international celebrity.
