How to Choose a Saxophone Mouthpiece - Materials

The mouthpiece is an important part in creating sound production. You can play a variety of tones by changing the type of mouthpiece.

■What is a mouthpiece?

A mouthpiece is the part that is attached to the cork part of the neck. A reed ligature is attached to the mouthpiece.

■Materials of Mouthpiece

A mouthpiece is made of various materials, which are determined by the tone you want, music genre, and compatibility with your reed.

●Hard Rubber

Hard rubber is a mixture of natural rubber and sulfur heated and hardened. It is also called ebonite. It is the most popular material because it has a warm tone and a comfortable touch.

Major Brands: Selmer, Vandoren, Meyer, Theo Wanne, Yanagisawa

Selmer Paris / S80C* Alto Sax Mouthpiece

●Metal

Metal is a popular choice for those who play jazz and rock music. It features a bright metallic sound. Metal can be made of a variety of materials, including brass, stainless steel, and bronze. The tone and feel differ depending on the surface finish, which is called the plating.

Major Brands: Otto Link, Yanagisawa, Theo Wanne, Wood Stone

Theo Wanne / MINDI ABAIR CUSTOM Alto Sax Mouthpiece #7

●Plastic

Plastic is a lightweight and strong material. Since the production cost is low, many starter kits include a plastic mouthpiece.

Major Brands: YAMAHA, Syos

YAMAHA / Standard Mouthpiece for Alto Saxophone 4C

■Conclusion

For this article, I introduced mouthpiece materials that greatly affect the tone of the saxophone. The internal structure of the mouthpiece consists of the baffle and chamber, which also significantly changes the tone and feel. You can combine the mouthpiece of your saxophone with a new reed or ligature for more combinations. The world of saxophone mouthpieces is so deep that you can spend all day studying about them and still find out more new information.