---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/can-you-play-carnatic-music-on-the-saxophone'
title: 'Can you play Carnatic music on the saxophone?'
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date: '2026-10-19T15:13:54+00:00'
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summary: 'Yes: Kadri Gopalnath (1949 to 2019) played Carnatic music on a modified alto saxophone and was the first Carnatic musician at the BBC Proms.'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# Can you play Carnatic music on the saxophone?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

Yes: Kadri Gopalnath (1949 to 2019) played Carnatic music on the alto **[saxophone](/en-int/instrument/saxophone)**, which he modified for the purpose. He first learned the nadaswaram from his father, turned to the saxophone after hearing the Mysore Palace band, and trained in Carnatic music with N. Gopalakrishna Iyer and T. V. Gopalakrishnan. In 1994 he became the first Carnatic musician invited to the BBC Proms.



 

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## Related pages

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###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Saxophone The Carnatic saxophone is the E-flat alto Kadri Gopalnath established for South Indian raga, with gamaka bent through the embouchure. A Padma Shri, he was the…     ](/en-int/instrument/saxophone)
 
  

 

 

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