Saxophone Mouthpieces
When you are learning to play the saxophone, it is a good idea to get an understanding of the mouthpiece. You need to have your teeth and lips around the mouthpiece of you sax. Otherwise, you may hear very unpleasant squeaky tones. Experiment with keeping more or less of the mouthpiece in your mouth until you have a position that makes a pleasant sound while still being comfortable for you to play.
The mouthpiece of a saxophone holds its reed in place and is the key component to playing your saxophone correctly. The reed aligns on the plate with the flat section at the end of the mouthpiece. You position the reed so you can see a small portion of black where the reed meets the mouthpiece. Next, you need the ligature, which is a band that keeps the reed in position. It slips around the mouthpiece and you tighten it with either one or two screws. The ligature must be snug or the reed will not hold still.
There is a cork where the mouthpiece is attached to the saxophone. You need to make sure the cork stays in good condition and is not worn down. Otherwise, the mouthpiece slides and you won’t be able to make the pleasing tones you need.
Before you begin playing the saxophone, you should moisten the edge of the mouthpiece. Just enough to prevent it from sticking to your lips. You don’t want to be playing a tune unless your lips are able to move. Make sure the center of the mouthpiece is perpendicular.
To get the very best mouthpiece possible, test out as many as you possibly can. Make a visit to your local music store and ask to borrow some. If the store is small, odds are it is not going to have a large selection, but should have enough for a beginning player. To get a professional mouthpiece, you’ll need to visit a larger store, and to do that you’ll probably need to go to a large city. Sometimes, you can contact the maker of the mouthpiece and ask if you can receive test mouthpieces in the mail that you can check out.
When you’re testing the mouthpiece, make sure you are using a good reed. Use the same reed, ligature and other accessories, for each mouthpiece you test. Play different styles of music with each mouthpiece, checking its performance at extreme high and low notes. You also want to vary the speed of music you’re playing to see how well the mouthpiece responds.
If possible, have other saxophone players or other music lovers listen to you test out the different mouthpieces. You want to make sure the mouthpiece is a good fit for you and your playing style. Have everyone listen to the tones and make sure you find them pleasant.
The saxophone mouthpiece is a vital component for producing the melodious sounds that make saxophones so popular. Make sure you choose the right one. Having a mouthpiece that is right for you makes all the difference when you are playing in the next concert or other venue.