Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [mouthpieces]

The part of a wind or brass instrument which is in contact with the players mouth. As the initial chamber in which the air is passed through, the mouthpiece can play a big part in the overall sound quality.

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Why do some trombone players put their index finger over the mouthpiece while playing?

I've recently started playing the trombone for fun (read: I'm not taking lessons). I've noticed when watching many trombonists on video and in pictures that they often put their index finger over the top of the mouthpiece while playing. I've tried…
pixelearth
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Single reed mouthpieces: How do Facing Lengths, Tip Openings, and Chamber Sizes affect playing?

When buying a new mouthpiece for a clarinet/saxophone - you're faced with a whole table of information on facing lengths, tip openings and chamber sizes. How do all these specifications relate to how a mouthpiece plays? I'm interested in where each…
Chris
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I have to loosen my jaw to play the lowest notes on my Bari. Is that normal?

I've been playing saxophone for 50 years, mostly alto but more recently tenor. Just recently I acquired a baritone saxophone, and I've had it tuned by a seasoned technician, so I'm pretty sure it's in great shape. The issue is that, unlike my other…
Cary Jensen
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Vintage vs Modern Saxophone Mouthpieces

Believe it or not, there aren't too many resources stressing the differences between vintage and modern saxophone mouthpieces. What makes an old Otto Link from the 1950s justify a $500-1000 price tag? Why are the new ones only $200-250? Is there a…
daOnlyBG
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Clarinet mouthpiece suggestions for an adult learner

I am looking for a mouthpiece for my B♭ clarinet. I am an adult but have only been playing for a few months. I also play the recorder and have done so for about 5 years, and so I have some confidence with the recorder, which has helped me with the…
Diana G
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Buzzing into the mouthpiece of a transposing instrument

I have just started to learning how to play a brass instrument. The instrument that I have is a transposing instrument that can easily be tuned into either Bb or A with some slides. (I think I will be using the Bb tuning most often.) When I am…
Elements in Space
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Clarinet Ligature on Alto Sax?

I bought a semi expensive ligature for my clarinet, and I would like to know if it is a good idea to use it on an Alto Sax. I've tried using a cheap one on my alto sax, and it seemed to work alright (they're not that different in size). I hope I can…
Erik
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Offset Teeth Placement On Clarinet Mouthpiece

My two front teeth aren't the same height. One of them extends lower than the other by about 2mm. I've noticed recently that my mouthpiece patch on my clarinet mouthpiece shows two marks (from my teeth) way off center. However, If I try to correct…
Erik
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How to practice trumpet with mouthpiece alone?

I heard that trumpeters in a mariachi band are not allowed to pick up the trumpet until they have mastered playing with just the mouthpiece. How would I go about replicating this technique of mastering playing with only the mouthpiece? Are there any…
DireDocks54
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Is any trumpet mouthpiece brand valid for any trumpet?

I bought a cheap trumpet and came with a mouthpiece that I've read it is sometimes recommended to change for another one. If I buy any mouthpiece of a different brand in the future , will it fit and work fine on my trumpet? Are receivers universal…
Mister Equis
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Will bite marks on my clarinet mouthpiece affect my playing?

I'm a student who has been playing the clarinet for about 3 years now. Within that span, I never used a mouthpiece patch until my music teacher recommended it, and I also bite quite hard on my mouthpiece. I recently got a mouthpiece patch and am…
Erik
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Alto Saxophone: spit on sides of mouthpiece?

I have been playing the alto sax for a few years now, and this problem has come up a lot recently. Every time I play a long piece, spit starts foaming on the sides of my mouthpiece, right next to the reed. I have tried to adjust my mouth position,…
Xcoder
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What is the diameter of a clarinet and bass clarinet mouthpiece?

I'm looking for the diameter of the connection point for both the clarinet and bass clarinet. The part in red below.
ThomasReggi
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A tenor mouthpiece made to use alto reeds

Around 15 years ago I played in a band with a tenor sax player who had a metal (silver or aluminum finish) mouthpiece but he used alto reeds. This seems strange to me, but I know this to be true because I only ever carried alto reeds and used to…
EngBIRD
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How can you definitively and scientifically test mouthpieces?

How / Can you definitively and accurately test an instruments mouthpiece (brass) and scientifically quantify and express that data beyond just a simple "On a scale of 1-5 how would you..." style survey? Are there machines or instruments used by…
Chase Cromwell
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