7. Mouthpieces and Reeds

These days, saxophone players face a flood of mouthpiece models and reed types. How can you tell which is the best for you?

This is a very difficult question, which can only be answered on an individual basis. Some players use only one single mouthpiece throughout their entire life, while others change their setup more often. You should not make the mistake of basing your choice of mouthpiece on those of famous players. Using the identical mouthpiece as your idol will not make you sound just they did on your favourite record or at that amazing gig you went to. Only a fraction of the sound you hear is shaped by the mouthpiece and reed. Mostly you’re hearing the instrumentalist's use of their body and playing style. Reed and mouthpiece combine to form a complex assemblage that should be selected using one major deciding factor: "Does it help me to find my sound?" Once again, that means trying out a lot of different models and types.

When you start digging into the world of mouthpieces and reeds, you’ll probably need a well-stocked wallet. Comparing mouthpieces is not easy, because every manufacturer uses different terms for tip opening (gap distance between reed and tip of mouthpiece) and facing (length of the tip opening/the free resonating part of the reed).

It’s a point of hot debate whether the different materials of mouthpieces (wood, ebonite, metal, glass) actually produce different sounds. This cannot be answered with a clear yes or no.