Dale Wolford

Saxophonist

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Recommended Mouthpieces

There are an overwhelming number of saxophone mouthpieces on the market today. With so many choices, it is hard to know where to start. Hopefully this article will help you begin.

Each mouthpiece manufacturer has it’s own numbering and/or lettering system that determines the facing and tip opening. This will obviously affect the quality of sound (dark-bright), resonance of sound, response and of course the choice of both the strength and brand of the reed. Some manufacturers even have different systems from one model to the next, like Selmer!

Here you'll find my
recommended mouthpieces for either classical/concert band playing or jazz/contemporary playing. It is important to have a different mouthpiece for each style, since classical playing needs a darker, more focused tone, while jazz and contemporary playing needs a brighter, more spread tone to be heard above the trumpets or electronic instruments.

It's important to try several mouthpieces with your own good reeds and ligature. I prefer to do this at a local music store—give them a call to see what they have in stock before going. If they don't have ones you want to try, they might order and have them available if you can come in later. Also, bring your tuner—because a mouthpiece that is way out of tune will not play properly!

Another option is to order several from an online store like
Woodwind and Brasswind. They allow you to try them for 45 days, then charge a cleaning fee to return any you don't keep.

Let me know if you have questions or additional recommendations!