What is c melody saxophone?

The C melody saxophone is a type of saxophone that is pitched in the key of C, as opposed to most saxophones which are pitched in Bb or Eb. It was popular in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s, and was marketed as an instrument that could be played without transposing music.

The C melody saxophone is slightly smaller than a tenor saxophone and has a straight neck and bore, as opposed to the curved design of other saxophones. It is often seen as a transitional instrument between the larger tenor and smaller alto saxophones.

While the C melody saxophone was popular in the early 20th century, it fell out of favor by the 1940s as alto and tenor saxophones became more standard in jazz and popular music. Today, the C melody saxophone is considered a rare and vintage instrument, with only a small number of players and enthusiasts still using and collecting them.