When it comes to saxophones, the only thing more complex than choosing one is deciding on the right type of mouthpiece. There are hundreds of sax mouthpieces in the market today. Many of these are categorized in relation to their sound.

Most saxophones are sold with mouthpieces. Manufacturers tend to include fairly affordable plastic mouthpieces for people to start with. More often than not, you're likely to change your default tenor sax mouthpiece once you've gotten the hang of playing your saxophone with some semblance of composure. For the sake of this article let's consider that you're trying to find the perfect tenor sax mouthpiece. The following are some of the details that you will need to take into consideration.

The first thing that you'll notice during your search for a new tenor sax mouthpiece is that mouthpieces are typically made out of metal, ceramic, rubber or hard plastic (also known as ebonite). The type of mouthpiece you choose will largely boil down to your personal taste. Some people believe that an ebonite mouthpiece is inferior to a metal tenor sax mouthpiece because they dampen the sound that a sax makes. However, the dampening effect of plastic mouthpieces makes them better suited to playing classical tunes as opposed to jazz which is enhanced with metal mouthpieces.

Ebonite mouthpieces are more susceptible to weather conditions and tend to crack or deteriorate rapidly with regular use. You'll therefore get better mileage by choosing a metal tenor sax mouthpiece.

Another important factor is the craftsmanship behind the design of the sax mouthpiece. Subtle changes in the design of your tenor sax mouthpiece-such as the size of the chamber or the length of the tip opening-can enhance or reduce the quality. During your search you're bound to find hundreds of different mouthpieces with variations in their style and design. Companies invest a lot trying to get the perfect design. Some of them succeed while others don't. Your aim is to find some of the better models.

Obviously, it's hard to tell which of the many tenor sax mouthpieces has been finely crafted. A good way of getting around this is to read the reviews and views of other players. If a particular brand comes highly recommended then it usually means it can be trusted. Look for tenor mouthpieces online that are designed by respected brand. A good example is Drake Mouthpieces.

For decades, Drake Mouthpieces has been a leading brand among the saxophone community. Among the regular options of metal, you'll also find unique tenor sax mouthpieces which have been carefully designed and engineered out of ceramic and resin. Playing with these mouthpieces will give you richer and clearer notes whether you're playing jazz music or a classical. You can learn more about the different products available at Drake Mouthpieces by visiting http://www.drakemouthpieces.com/Content_Glossary.html.