The ophicleide has approximately the same range as the euphonium
which replaced it, and a similar type of mouthpiece. However,
unlike the euphonium, which has piston valves that lower the pitch
of the instrument to fill in the gaps between the notes of the
natural harmonic series, the ophicleide has between 9 and 12 keys,
similar to those of a saxophone, which raise it. The ophicleide
differs from the saxophone, however, in that all but one of the the
keys are closed when not in use. The fingering pattern is not such
as to make sense to a woodwind player, but is analagous to the use
of the valve combinations of modern brass.