Reviews

The three most important components of playing the saxophone are the reed, ligature, and mouthpiece. These impact the sound produced by the instrument, so it is essential to make sure they are the highest quality and suit the individual’s needs.

Keep in mind though, the mouthpiece of your saxophone has several parts, too. One of these is the baffle. It is found right above the reed and is the surface air travels above. This means the geometry of the baffle is essential.The shape of your baffle determines the acoustic properties of the mouthpieces and how comfortable it is to play.

While baffle shape plays a huge role in the sound that comes out of a saxophone, so does its height. It is possible to raise or lower the baffle, which lets you change the brightness or brilliance of the mouthpiece without modifying it too much.

For example, with a lower baffle, more air volume is necessary to create the desired sound. With a higher baffle, though, you have a more “free-blowing” style of mouthpiece. This means the sound is going to come out directly with less resistance when you blow. However, with a higher baffle, it is harder to control the sound and presents more risks, but it provides you with more liberties in various effects, such as growls, altissimo and bends.

When it comes to high baffles vs. low baffles, some distinct things set them apart. These include:

• High baffles, which are thicker, provides a buzz or an edge to the sound produced.
• Low baffles, which are thinner, will not project as much, but it will create a sound that is somewhat darker and usually more resistant.

It is no exaggeration to say the mouthpiece you choose for your saxophone is crucial. Some claim it is more important than the instrument itself. If you consider the airstream that goes in the instrument to create a note, you know the path it follows – player, mouthpiece and reed combo, into the saxophone – this sums up the order of the importance of the components in creating a specific sound.

While the player is the most crucial factor, you see in this chain of events the mouthpiece chamber. This is where your breath is a focused column of air and eventually turns into the note being played as it moves through the baffle and into the body of the saxophone.

Most people choose between a high vs. low baffle based on the sound they are trying to produce. Even slight variations to the baffle selected can impact the sound created by a player. Be sure to keep the information here in mind when deciding the components that you need to invest in as you play the saxophone. Being informed and knowing what parts make specific sounds will ensure you create the music desired with your instrument.