The facing is the curve in its entirety, it begins on the two side rails and ends with the tip opening of the saxophones mouthpiece whereas the tip opening is not really part of the saxophone mouthpiece’s curve; it’s just the opening.
What does a bigger tip opening do?
a bigger tip can give you more power, a bigger tone and more flexibility to shape the sound. It can add a lush end and more bottom. Therefore it’s harder to play exactly in tune as with a clover tip.
How does tip opening affect sound?
The tip opening is the actual distance that the vibrating reed needs to travel back and forth in order to create your saxophone sound. The smaller the distance, the less energy needed to get that sound going. Smaller tip openings also make it easier to control the sound in terms of timbre and intonation.
What is the difference between saxophone mouthpieces?
For sax mouthpieces the common rule is that softer materials produce a darker sound with less projection, while harder materials just the opposite (brighter and more projection). From plastics to metal though, you have a wide range of options to choose from, allowing you to truly customize your sound.
What makes a mouthpiece free blowing?
A very high baffle will result in a much more “free-blowing” mouthpiece, i.e one where the sound comes out directly without any resistance when the saxophonist blows. The mouthpiece then becomes more difficult to control and riskier, but it allows more freedom when it comes to effects such as bends, grawls…
What does the number on a sax mouthpiece mean?
The Saxophone Mouthpiece (and Clarinet Mouthpiece) Tip Size, or Tip-Opening, is the distance between the reed and mouthpiece tip. This number is usually on the side of the mouthpiece body, or on the table. The smaller the tip size the more narrow the opening; the larger the tip size the larger the opening.
What does the number on a saxophone mouthpiece mean?
How do you measure the tip of an open mouthpiece?
The mouthpiece tip opening corresponds to the distance between the reed and the tip of the mouthpiece. A simple way to see it is to lay the mouthpiece flat on a table: then notice there are a few millimeters between the mouthpiece and the table, this is the tip-opening.
Why are mouthpieces so expensive?
The main factors affecting mouthpiece pricing appear to be: The amount of hand-finishing. The material, e.g., plastic, hard rubber, cheap metal, or costlier metal.
Are sax mouthpieces universal?
Saxophone mouthpieces come in a variety of different sizes and are made of different materials. The size of each mouthpiece refers to the tip opening. Like reeds, different mouthpiece brands have different ways of referring to the size of the tip opening, usually either numerical or alphabetical.
What is the difference between a medium and long facing mouthpiece?
The long facing also allowed them to easily bend notes, produce a nice reedy sound, and fill up the horn at the same time. The medium facing is the balance between the short and long facings and is what the majority of mouthpieces made use. A medium facing creates a quick responding upper and lower register, and is also easy to play.
How hard is it to play a short facing mouthpiece?
At first one may feel a short facing mouthpiece is easy to play. However, after some use, most people find them rather tricky. It is a lot like riding a race car on the city streets – just too hard to control. The long facing curve accentuates the lower register of the horn.
How can I tell if my mouthpiece has a curved face?
The facing curve can be seen on any mouthpiece by looking from the side. The facing varies greatly among mouthpiece brands and plays a crucial role in the response each mouthpiece has.
Why does a high baffle mouthpiece need a longer curve?
Because of the shape of the baffle, a longer curve is actually needed to get the mouthpiece to respond appropriately. A high baffle mouthpiece with a short of medium curve will choke the airstream passing through it. Hence, high baffle mouthpieces with a long facing tend to play like medium baffles with a medium facing.
