Reviews

In the community of people who are playing or learning to play the saxophone, there's the general consensus that one mouthpiece is different from another.

But how do you really accurately test these different pieces of equipment? What goes into determining which mouthpiece you like best?

Many people would say that there's actually an amount of subjectivity here – but in general, some specific techniques can help beginners to evaluate a specific type of mouthpiece.

First of all, what are you looking for? It may come as a surprise to people who aren't part of the music community, but in playing different mouthpieces, saxophone players are evaluating very specific aspects of sound – some call it ‘soul’ or tone. Some people talk about power and fullness and warmth and clarity. Technical aspects like resistance are also part of the player’s lexicon. Some of these things are subjective – you know them when you hear them. 

With that in mind, use these three tips to more fully evaluate what a mouthpiece sounds like in practice. Take the extra time to “find your mouthpiece” and you’re likely to get more out of your horn in the long run. 

Variation of Breath

Here’s one excellent way to test the mouthpiece that doesn’t take a long time: in a few minutes, you can practice blowing different variations into the horn.

Although the mouthpiece determines many aspects of tone and sound, so does the player’s breath. Much like a jockey on a horse, the horn and the player combine to create the sound. So as you practice with different breath variations, you hear the impact. You hear the shrillness of a strong note, or the mildness of a soft note, that you will probably hear more and more as you use a given model with your saxophone. 

Play Different Songs

Going through your repertoire, you can hear how your mouthpiece holds up in playing different types of tunes. For example, a rapid tempo is going to sound different than those mournful slow notes in some kinds of cool jazz or other genres.

Ruffle the Scales

If you have a go-to scale, it's also a good idea to become put your mouthpiece through those paces to listen to how the tone holds up across a particular range. Being able to play through the scale is also great when you want to show off your chops and show people how well you can play.

With these simple tips, you’re on your way to getting more confident about the accessories that you choose. Drop us a line with any questions – and have fun!