How to Choose the Perfect Mouthpiece for Saxophone
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.
How to Choose a Saxophone Mouthpiece?
If you’re a saxophone player, then you know the importance of choosing a new mouthpiece.
In the world of saxophone mouthpieces, great saxophone mouthpieces play a significant role in your saxophone sound and playing experience.
But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to make an informed decision about which one is best for you.
Let's take a look at different types of saxophone mouthpieces and how to choose the right one.
Selmer C Star (left), Vandoren V16 (right)
These two mouthpieces were all I needed to last me through middle school and high school. I used the Selmer for classical band music and used the Vandoren V16 for Jazz and Rock music.
Choosing The Right Mouthpiece
Before you get started, be sure to find a music store that has an above average mouthpiece selection. Having a large selection will work to your advantage by helping you find a mouthpiece you love.
Mouthpiece selection will play the largest role in which mouthpiece you end up with. If you have a moderate skill level to begin with, that'll help during your selection process.
Now, When choosing a mouthpiece for your saxophone, there are several factors that you should consider.
First...
Music Style
It's important to think about what style of music you'll primarily be playing and choose a mouthpiece accordingly.
Be sure to go into the store with an idea of the kind of sound you are looking for; a rounded sound, bright sound, dark sound etc. to match the genre of music you'll be playing.
For instance, if you're playing jazz music then you may want to choose from jazz mouthpieces with larger chambers and tip openings that produce more volume and depth in sound.
On the other hand, classical music requires a dark tone on saxophone, so opting for a classical mouthpiece with a small chamber would be best for this style of music.
Mouthpiece Brands
If you’re searching for best seller mouthpieces or searching for specific brands like Selmer Paris, that's really not the best approach to finding an alto saxophone mouthpieces that will best meet your needs.
Large Selection
I recommend locating a music store with the largest selection of saxophone mouthpieces and seek guidance from a saxophone player there.
Types of Saxophone Mouthpieces
The first step in finding great sax mouthpieces is to understand which type of gear are available.
There are two main types: metal or ebonite hard rubber mouthpieces.
Metal
Mouthpieces tend to have a much brighter tone and are often used for Jazz music and Rock and Roll.
I owned a David Sanborn mouthpiece that was metallic. It was fun to purchase dreaming of all the possibilities, however, it wasn't the right mouthpiece for me.
I've since given the mouthpiece away to someone else who would use it better than I.
Hard Rubber Mouthpiece
Ebonite (hard rubber/plastic) mouthpieces have a warmer tone and are better suited for classical music or orchestra performance. (In high school I did at times play in the Orchestra on Alto Sax!)
Sizing
Another important factor to consider when choosing a saxophone mouthpiece is its size.
Most alto saxophonists use a medium-large bore size, but some prefer smaller bores for more control over their sound.
Sizes are largely determined by the size of the tip opening. The larger the number, the larger the tip opening and as a result a brighter sound.
Reed Selection
The reed strength also plays a role; if you have been playing on a beginner level reed hardness, you may want to graduate to working with harder reeds paired with hard rubber jazz mouthpieces.
This will both challenge your strength as a saxophone player as well as prepare you for higher quality saxophone supplies in general.
I can't recommend the V16 well enough! It's a versatile mouthpiece that is suitable for those leveling up from beginner mouthpieces.
Brands of Different Mouthpieces for Sax
Here I'll discuss a few different mouthpiece designs by different brands. Primarily, I'll describe the type of music each mouthpiece plays with best.
Vandoren - V16 A5 Alto Mouthpiece
This is one popular brand for alto saxophone mouthpieces in particular. I use the "V16" which has been my favorite alto saxophone mouthpiece since I purchased it more than 15 years ago!
Vandoren is popular for classical as well, however, my mouthpiece is more closely associated with jazz mouthpieces.
It's a hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece, which has great versatility for jazz saxophone practice and performance.
The V16 has a powerful sound for those who want something with more grit and energy. It has a bigger sound than the Selmer C star I owned previously.
Here's a video of my review of the V16 A5 Alto Sax Mouthpiece by Vandoren, a truly great mouthpiece!
Selmer
One of my favorite classical saxophone mouthpieces is my C star from Selmer Paris.
My Selmer Paris sax mouthpiece is a popular choice for classical musicians and has worked well with my classical repertoire since I was in middle school.
The usage of this hard rubber mouthpiece quickly set me apart from other beginners when I started out.
I strongly recommend it for sax players looking for alto saxophone mouthpieces.
Here in this video I am playing a Violin Etude by Rode, edited by Jean Marie Londeix.
This mouthpiece is perfect for classical music. It makes it easier to produce pure tones mixed with precise articulation.
I couldn't recommend the Selmer C Star mouthpiece more, especially for beginner alto sax players.
Otto Link
I don’t have experience with an Otto link but I know that it's a best seller among Metallic saxophone mouthpieces.
I imagine the Otto link has better projection because of its metallic properties. This isn’t surprising, as it’s what is expected!
It has been a long standing brand for jazz mouthpieces for alto sax. However, I still have yet to try an Otto Link alto saxophone mouthpiece.
Meyer
The Meyer alto saxophone mouthpiece brand is another great company to select from for advanced players.
I have only tried out the Meyer brand mouthpieces in stores. I do like them a lot, but they never were as good as my V16.
I must say it that I really do like the sound that they produce, however, it never had quite the warmth as when I play with my Vandoren V16 alto sax mouthpiece.
The Anatomy of a Saxophone Mouthpiece
A saxophone mouthpiece is made up of four main components.
The first component is whether it is a metal mouthpiece or a hard rubber/plastic mouthpiece.
The second component is the tip opening, which effects your embouchure.
The third component is the chamber size which can increase projection and deliver a bright sound.
The final componenet is the brand like selmer, Meyer, Vandoren or Otto Link.
Getting this combination correct is best done between you and your saxophone instructor.
Which part is the Mouthpiece?
To put it simply, the sax mouthpiece is the piece that connects the reed (the thin strip of cane attached with a ligature) to the neck of the instrument.
The position of the mouthpiece changes the flatness or sharpness of the saxophone by a simple push or pull on the cork of the neck on the horn. Push it in and the sound goes sharp, pull it out and the sound goes flat.
It's made from hard rubber or metal and has either a small chamber, large chamber and various sized tip openings.
The shape and size affect how easily sound is produced, which will make your playing experience vary from difficult to superior.
Why Do Saxophone Mouthpieces Matter?
The type of mouthpiece you use will have a direct impact on your ability to produce sound as well as its quality and tone.
This is why it is critical for a beginner to find an alto saxophone mouthpiece that will suit a beginner sax player's embouchure.
Different types of saxophone mouthpieces can produce different sounds; Generally the difference is that some may be louder while others may be more mellow.
If you're looking for more volume in your performance, then choosing a large tip opening mouthpiece might be best; if you want a softer sound with increased control over articulation then opting for a smaller tip opening would work much better for you.
The size of the chamber also plays a role similarly in the way in which the tip openings do for the sound.
Ultimately, choosing the right saxophone mouthpiece depends on your individual needs as a musician; whether that's a regular alto saxophone mouthpiece, rock, or jazz mouthpieces.
Conclusion:
Saxophone mouthpieces are incredibly important when it comes to producing quality sounds from your saxophone.
Finding the right saxophone mouthpiece can be tricky but with some research and trial-and-error, you’ll eventually find something that works best for you!
There are plenty of options available so make sure to do some research before making a purchase - consider factors like price point, material used (hard rubber vs metal), chamber size etc - then pick one that suits both your playing ability and budget!
Understanding how they work and choosing one that suits both your playing ability and comfort level can be challenging at first but once mastered will allow you greater mastery over sound production than ever before!
Related:
Learn How to Draw an Alto Saxophone in 2 Different Easy Ways
Alto Vs. Tenor: What's The Difference?
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.