Kenny G’s main instrument is the soprano saxophone. That is the bright, singing sound most people recognise from his biggest hits.
He also plays alto saxophone and tenor saxophone. Beyond the saxophone family, he plays flute, clarinet and oboe, and a little piano. He said so himself in a University of Washington interview, when asked what other instruments he plays.
In short: saxophone first, soprano above all, with flute, clarinet, oboe and a little piano alongside it.
The Full List
| Instrument | Role |
|---|---|
| Soprano saxophone | His primary instrument and signature sound |
| Alto saxophone | The first saxophone he learned, at age 10 |
| Tenor saxophone | Also played on stage and on record |
| Flute | Played on stage and on early recordings |
| Clarinet | Learned in private lessons as a young player |
| Oboe | Named by Kenny G himself among the instruments he plays |
| Piano | Only a little, by his own description |
He is not known as a trombone player. The trombone does not appear in his listed instruments, in his own account of his playing, or in his recording credits.
The Soprano Saxophone: His Signature Sound
The soprano saxophone is the smallest commonly played saxophone, apart from the rarer sopranino. It sits higher in pitch than the alto and tenor, which gives it the clear, vocal quality heard in Kenny G’s smooth jazz style.
His breakthrough album, Duotones, released in 1986, made that sound famous worldwide. The soprano saxophone has stayed at the centre of his playing ever since.
Kenny G is known for playing Selmer Mark VI soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. The Mark VI, made by Henri Selmer Paris, debuted in 1954 and became one of the most respected professional saxophone lines in jazz.
The Alto Saxophone: Where He Started
Kenny G, born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick on June 5, 1956, in Seattle, started on the alto saxophone at age 10 in 1966.
His first saxophone was a Buffet Crampon alto. He was inspired to take up the instrument after hearing a saxophonist perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.
He also took private lessons on saxophone and clarinet from Johnny Jessen, once a week for a year, while he was still at school in Seattle.
The Tenor Saxophone
The tenor saxophone is larger and lower in pitch than the alto. It gives a warmer, fuller sound, and Kenny G has played it both as a sideman and on his own recordings.
His recording credits list tenor saxophone alongside soprano and alto work, including guest appearances early in his career. The tenor is a regular part of his range, even though the soprano remains his main voice.
Flute, Clarinet and Oboe
Kenny G’s non-saxophone playing is easy to miss, because the saxophone dominates his solo career. It is still well documented.
He played flute and saxophones with the Seattle funk band Cold, Bold & Together in 1975 and 1976. His early album credits also list flute, including alto flute, as well as clarinet work from his school years.
In his University of Washington interview, he answered the question directly: “I play clarinet, flute, oboe, and a tiny bit of piano.” That is the clearest statement of his wider range, in his own words.
How He Learned: Seattle, Not Berklee
Kenny G grew up in Seattle and went to school there, including Franklin High School and the University of Washington. He did not study at Berklee.
At the University of Washington, he studied accounting, not music. He graduated magna cum laude, and he has said his accounting degree helped him handle his band’s books in the early years of his career.
His professional career started while he was still in high school. At age 17, in 1973, he played as a sideman for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra. He then joined the Jeff Lorber Fusion in 1980, before focusing on his solo career.
The Record-Breaking Note
In 1997, Kenny G set a Guinness record for the longest continuous saxophone note using circular breathing. He held an E-flat for 45 minutes and 47 seconds at J&R Music World in New York City.
Circular breathing lets a player breathe in through the nose while still pushing air out through the instrument, so the note never stops. The record has since been passed by other players, and Guinness later rested the category on medical advice, so Kenny G is no longer described here as the current record holder.
Sales and Career in Brief
Kenny G is one of the best-selling instrumental musicians of all time. Guinness updated his worldwide album sales record to 75 million in 2011, including more than 12 million copies of his 1992 album Breathless.
That success rests on the soprano saxophone sound described above, not on a synthesizer effect. His tone comes from the instrument, his breath control and his melodic style, rather than from playing a saxophone through a synthesizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kenny G’s main instrument?
The soprano saxophone. It is his primary instrument and the sound he is best known for.
Does Kenny G play the alto and tenor saxophone?
Yes. He started on alto at age 10, and he also plays tenor. His Selmer Mark VI instruments cover soprano, alto and tenor.
Does Kenny G play the flute?
Yes. He has played flute on stage and on record, and he named flute among the instruments he plays in a University of Washington interview.
Does Kenny G play the clarinet?
Yes. He took private clarinet lessons as a young player, alongside saxophone lessons, and he still lists clarinet among the instruments he plays.
Does Kenny G play the piano?
Only a little, by his own description. Piano is not one of his main instruments.
What saxophone does Kenny G play?
He is known for playing Selmer Mark VI soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. The Mark VI line debuted in 1954.
