SAXOPHONE MOUTHPIECE Guide - For a Better Way to Play Saxophone

Two mouthpieces for tenor saxophone: the one on the left is rubber; the one on the right is metal.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The saxophone is an instrument that is well appreciated in a variety of musical genres including jazz, rock, and pop. For saxophone players, add-ons like saxophone mouthpieces are essential if they want to be able to play better and produce a better sound. This saxophone mouthpiece guide can help you choose the best one for your type of sound.

Characteristics

The saxophone mouthpiece is attached to the instrument and is useful in shaping and producing the sound coming from the instrument. The saxophone player blows into the mouthpiece to create vibrations that can produce the sound. It is also helpful in holding the reed in its proper place so it won't flutter while creating a chamber to allow for sound modification which, in turn, makes it possible to create the right tone.

What's it made of?

In a saxophone mouthpiece guide, you will see that this component can be classified according to the tone and pitch that it can produce: baritone, soprano, tenor, and alto. Higher notes and pitches are basically produced by sopranos while lower and graver tones are produced with baritones. You can also classify saxophone mouthpieces according to the material from which it is made of:

Hard rubber: Molded with heat, it is known as the best type of mouthpiece since it dampens lighter sounds with its dense properties. This mouthpiece is ideal for classical music.

Plastic: Although inexpensive, it can warp with over-usage, giving way to tone imbalance and squeaks. It also contracts and expands according to temperature, giving way to intonation problems.

Metal: Less dense than rubber, it enhances higher tones so it is ideal for playing solo jazz tunes. It is also more durable but requires high maintenance.

Check the quality and the tip opening

Ending this saxophone mouthpiece guide are buying tips you can use to check the quality. Make sure it is easy to blow while being able to produce a good sound. Check the tip opening, too. Beginners are better off with narrow tips for a clearer tone and easy response while professionals with a good control of the saxophone can use wider tips for greater projection and volume.

By Ilse Hagen - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Sound Dependency on SAXOPHONE Mouthpiece Kit

Two mouthpieces for tenor saxophone: the one on the left is rubber; the one on the right is metal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The most important question to be answered is: What kind of music we wish to play? The answer could be: Classical, Jazz, Pop or All and based on your answer the horn mouthpiece should be selected. It will have an effect on the type of sound your saxophone makes. There are a few things to be considered when buying a mouthpiece. Some of these include material, opening, and tone chamber. These notes will try to give a few tips for choosing a saxophone mouthpiece.

A professionally selected mouthpiece will improve sound more than any other part of the saxophone. For general playing - classical mouthpiece is good enough. They are plastic but look like made from hard rubber. There are three excellent mouthpieces which are reasonably priced: Rousseau 4R is about $70, Selmer S80 C* is about $100 and the new Rousseau plays like an S80 with a little different sound. All three of them could be recommended for all of the saxophones. Jazz mouthpieces are a little more complicated. If you play Alto sax, most people will go for a hard rubber mouthpiece as opposed to the metal, which tends to be a little bright for the Alto Sax. If you are going to play a lot of rock music,  you may want that bright sound. The favorite mouthpiece for the Alto Saxophones for general jazz playing is the Meyer 6M. This is a classic that has been around for a long time.

It would be smart to start here before anything else for Alto saxophone. Tenor and Baritone sax is generally preferred to a metal mouthpiece. For Tenor Horn musicians really like the Otto Link 7 or 6. These mouthpieces have a good sound and are pretty popular all around. Before paying the big bucks for a mouthpiece, you should always try it out first. If you bought 10 of the same exact brand and tried them all, you'd find that they all play differently. Always try out first and pick the one that works best for you. Later on, you may want to buy a handmade mouthpiece and enjoy the wonderful sound that comes from that. 

Be prepared to pay the big bucks for one of these! You will definitely need a different size of Reed for jazz mouthpiece. Then use a classical one. Most people use a little shorter size of the jazz mouthpiece. Also, if the mouthpiece feels funny on the teeth, a musician can buy a patch to put on the mouthpiece. This will feel more comfortable on the front teeth and protect the mouthpiece for a longer time. If a person just begins to learn to play the saxophone, he really should stick with the classical piece. After he advanced, he will probably want the jazz piece for all other styles. 

If you are not interested in popular styles of music, you won't need the jazz piece. There is a  great difference between the two types, and if you plan on playing all styles, you will definitely need both types of mouthpieces.

Submitted by: Lars Zenin - Source: www.isnare.com

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What You Should Know About Buying A Sax And A MOUTHPIECE

Photo  by David Reber’s Hammer Photography 

Playing music would definitely give you a lot of things to enjoy. It would let you express yourself. It would be a means of also releasing the stress and tension that you feel. When you play music, creativity would also flow. That is why it would be worthwhile to learn how to play an instrument. If you are a fan of jazz and blues, it would be actually great if you learn how to play the sax. This instrument can be found from various sources. It is also crucial that you choose the right denis wick mouthpieces for your instrument. Learn then more about these things and how you can choose one.

It is very important that you know how to choose the right sax. You can choose to either buy something new or something secondhand or vintage. It would be good to buy something new especially if you are still starting and do not have much idea about vintage pieces just yet. However, if you want to make savings, you can choose to buy secondhand ones.

One can also choose to have good vintage saxophones if they want. This is more of a choice for those who are already familiar with the instrument and adept in its quality and playing. It would be a great choice as you may actually save money. You can also choose this if you want to play saxophone that is rare and has greatly appreciated value over time.

The first step that you would need to do before the actual buying would be to do research. Get to know about each piece and model in advance. The materials which make the instrument and the specifications of each model will be real of importance.

Before you buy, you need to ascertain the conditions of the instrument. If this is a secondhand piece, buy only those in mint conditions or those needing only very minor repairs. It is not wise to spend more on the repairs than the actual piece.

Listening to the instrument is also important. You would have to listen to how it sounds. This will be the best way of checking the quality.

Use the right denis wick mouthpieces as well. You should check the baffles, sidewalls, chambers, and rails. Check also the quality and form of the reed and facing table.

Always have these things in mind. They would be of great help to you. You can then find the best sax and mouthpiece that would suit your needs.

Author: Michael Henry When you need information about top quality Denis Wick mouthpieces, go to the web pages online here today. You can see details at http://www.auroramusicalinstruments.com/Denis-Wick-Product-Info.html now. ArticleSource: GoArticles

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