How to Use a Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

One of the first things a tenor saxophone beginner must learn is how to manage and protect the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece holds the reed and is responsible for the sound the tenor saxophone makes. Proper use of the mouthpiece is a crucial early step in becoming a good tenor saxophone player.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose the right mouthpiece and reed combination. The mouthpiece's lay, the distance between the mouthpiece and the reed, determines the strength of the reed you need. Most standard mouthpieces have a medium lay requiring a medium strength reed. However, wide lays require a soft reed and narrow lays require a strong reed.

2. Consider the mouthpiece's baffle. The baffle is the amount of empty space in the mouthpiece between the reed and the top of the mouthpiece. Choose a mouthpiece with a small distance for a clean, crisp sound. For a more classic, diffused sound you'll need a large distance.

3. Protect the reed. Any minor damage to the tenor saxophone's reed can have a major impact on the sound. To ensure your reed is not damaged during installation, place the ligature on first. Then slide your reed in and tighten the ligature.

4. Place the mouthpiece on the tenor saxophone. The saxophone will sound different depending on how far up the cork you push the mouthpiece. Experiment and once you have found the perfect spot, mark the spot on the cork with a pen. The further down the cork the mouthpiece is placed, the easier the tenor saxophone will be to blow, so beginners may want to start with the mouthpiece installed only an inch up the cork.

5. Remove the reed and ligature when your playing session is over. Loosen the ligature, slide the reed off and then slide the ligature off.

6. Keep the reed and mouthpiece in a safe place. The reed should go into a flat reed protector. The mouthpiece should go into a mouthpiece case, called a cap, or a soft cloth bag.