Optimizing Your Saxophone Setup: How to Choose a Mouthpiece, Ligature…

SUMMARY

Key takeaways

Uses a Selmer 170 mouthpiece for saxophone. It offers easy control and produces a rich, dense tone
Uses a 0.2mm silicone mouthpiece patch. Chosen for its durability
Uses a Wood Stone gold-plated ligature. It has a characteristic of blending the tone nicely
Uses Vandoren Traditional (blue box) strength 3.5 reeds
Uses a BG Breathtaking neck strap. The width can be selected to fit your neck size

The saxophone setup is a crucial element that greatly affects your playing. The choice and adjustment of each component—mouthpiece, ligature, reed, neck strap, and more—can significantly change your tone and ease of playing. Here, we will explain the key points of each element while introducing specific setup examples.

An Example of an Ideal Setup

For the saxophone mouthpiece, I use the Selmer 170. I always go back and forth between the 170 and 180, but I use the 170 more often. The 170 is relatively easy to control and produces a rich, dense tone, making it a mouthpiece favored by many players. I apply a mouthpiece patch—specifically a 0.2mm patch that comes on a pink backing card. Many players around me use the white patches made by Breathtaking, but those tend to wear out and become unusable in about 30 minutes. By using a silicone patch instead, it lasts much longer.

Choosing a Ligature and Reed

For the saxophone ligature, I use a Wood Stone ligature—the gold-plated model. The characteristic of the Wood Stone ligature is that it blends the tone nicely, making it well-suited for adjusting resonance. As for reeds, I use Vandoren Traditional (blue box) strength 3.5. Reed selection varies depending on personal preference and playing style, but it is important to choose one that strikes a good balance between stable resonance and controllability.

🔒

Members only beyond this point

Full article, examples, and practice steps after this heading are for paid members. Sign up or log in to unlock the rest.

ログインして続きを読む

The Instrument Body and Neck Strap

For the saxophone body, I use a Selmer Series III gold-plated model, the pre-Jubilee version. Previously, I used a Selmer Action 80 gold lacquer model. Selmer instruments are favored by many professional players, offering stable tone and excellent playability. For the neck strap, I use a Breathtaking strap. The Breathtaking strap now allows you to choose the width of the opening, and since I have a somewhat thick neck, using one with a slightly wider opening allows for more comfortable playing.

Select a mouthpiece. Consider ease of control and tonal characteristics
Apply a patch to the mouthpiece. Choose a silicone patch for durability
Select a ligature. Choose one that blends the tone well
Select a reed. Prioritize a balance between stable resonance and controllability
Adjust the neck strap. Choose a width that allows comfortable playing based on your neck size and body type
Combine all the elements to find the setup that works best for you

The optimal setup combination differs for each saxophonist. The setup introduced here is just one example, and it is important to try various combinations to find the optimal setup that matches your playing style and tonal preferences. Since each element—mouthpiece, ligature, reed, neck strap, and more—influences one another, achieving your ideal tone and playability comes from adjusting them in a well-balanced manner.