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When we consider the myriad of ways the mouthpiece of a saxophone affects the sound emanating from the instrument, it is easy to confuse a loud sound with a big sound. Loud and big sound is not always the same, which is why we decided to delve a little deeper into how saxophone mouthpiece design can influence its sound.

The Shape Of Sound

Apart from the musician, the shape of a saxophone’s mouthpiece affects two main aspects of the instrument’s sound, loudness and tone. As tone is relatively simple to understand, let’s take a look at the concept of loudness. 

Regardless of our ability to measure volume in decibels, loudness is, in fact, subjective. How people perceive a sound as quiet or loud is not as easily measured. The component of sound that we can measure in decibels is its pressure. People can perceive various frequencies at the same levels of decibels in a range of more or less loud. 

Human Perception Of Sound Volume

The sound of a saxophone is comprised of many overtones and, thus, frequencies. Our ears and brains work congruently to make up the human hearing system, which interprets a range of frequencies into sound. 

In early life, people are capable of hearing higher or brighter frequencies. As we age, we become less sensitive to the more brilliant frequencies, which is why mouthpieces are designed to exaggerate certain overtones of a saxophone’s sound. In general, mouthpieces can make these overtones appear louder depending on how a person interprets the sound. 

When Loudness Is Needed

Loudness is necessary for a variety of circumstances in which your instrument needs to be heard. Such cases can be when sound reinforcement amplification is not ample such as in an acoustic ensemble, on stage when amplification favors other instruments, and in any instance when acoustics are an issue. 

In these cases, you would want to ensure your instrument is loud enough to not only be heard but also loud enough that you can easily control your dynamics. If you can not hear your instrument, you can not control its range; it’s that simple. 

Loud Isn’t A Negative

When trying out a new mouthpiece, consider that loud sound can be a good thing. While we can enjoy music with a range of dynamic sounds, loud music tends to be more pleasing than soft music. Up to a point, loud sounds offer the listener a higher quality experience than softer sounds. 

When it comes to choosing the right mouthpiece for your saxophone, remember that your music is meant to be heard.