Sam Newsome

Sam Newsome
"The potential for the saxophone is unlimited." - Steve Lacy



Now available of Bandcamp!

Now available on Bandcamp!

Now available on Bandcamp!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Soprano Mouthpieces: Help!

Finding the right mouthpiece for your soprano can be a frustrating and daunting task. There are three main issues you're having to deal with: (1) you don't play the instrument that often, so you don't know if it's the equipment or you, (2) by design the instrument is inherently out of tune, so even when you have a great mouthpiece, you're using it to play an instrument that may be out of wack , and (3) let's face it, many of the sopranos and soprano mouthpieces are horribly made.



That being said, here are a few mouthpieces that I’ve come across that seem to get the job done: the Bari, Selmer, and Vandoren.



Bari mouthpieces are pretty good if you’re looking for something nice and easy blowing. They are especially good if you’re looking to double. You can really push them as far as the volume. So if you’re coming to the soprano from the tenor or baritone saxophones, this might be the mouthpiece for you. They tend to get a little sharp in the higher register, but nothing a tuner and some long tones won’t take care of. The actual sound of the Bari mouthpieces, however, is somewhat built in, so it’s hard to really personalize—which is fine if you want something to get you through the gig.




When I first began looking for a set-up to play on, I tried hard rubber and the metal Selmers of various sizes. Selmers are probably the most consistent mouthpieces I’ve played. The sound is pretty uniform from the lowest register of the horn to the highest. In some ways they are just the opposite of the Bari’s because they can be difficult to push. I eventually gave up on them because I couldn’t find one that could stand up to the kind of intensity I wanted to play at. But they worked well for Lacy and Coltrane. Another thing. If you are in an acoustic situation that doesn’t require you to blow very hard, like a sax quartet or a recording with softer sounding instruments, this could the mouthpiece of choice. But if you’re going to play a two set gig, with no mic, and a loud drummer, this may not work very well.



I find the Vandoren to be somewhere in between the Bari and Selmer. It’s not quite as easy blowing as the Bari, which is good. If the mouthpiece is too easy blowing, it ends up calling the shots more than you. It took me a while to really learn how to project over a rhythm section, but when I did, it was more because of my ability, and less having to do with the mouthpiece. Vandoren’s also have a very dark sound, similar to the Selmer, which is good since sopranos tend to run a little on the bright and harsh side. And let me say, there’s nothing worse than hearing a lovely ballad being destroyed by a bright, loud, and harsh soprano sound. Lastly, Vandoren’s don’t sound as uniform throughout the entire register of the instrument like Selmers. But that’s OK. It’s the little imperfections that give your sound character. We want our sound to be in-tune and consistent, but we don’t want to sound like a midi file either.

Now all of the things mentioned are what worked or didn’t work for me. Everyone has a different sound that they’re hearing as well as different needs.

But at the end of the day, you have to find something that's workable and stick to it until you figure it out. Sound production on the soprano saxophone is not a linear process.

17 comments:

Chad Eby said...

hey sam,

i use a selmer "e" (a hand-me-down from branford). it definitely has enough presence (with the right reed setup) to hold it's own, even in a big band, but youre right - if i had to cut through for an hour or two, i'd probably be hurting...

My Profile said...

Hey Chad,
As far as hurting, that will happen with any set-up, until you build up the endurance. I was speaking more of having the flexibility to be able to play a gig with many dynamic levels and not just play loudly, or maxing out the horn, which is what found myself doing for the first 10 years or so. It took a while before I developed a developed a nice subtone. Then you learn to develop different personalities on the instrument. When people play the soprano it tends to be one sound,all the time. Which is fine for a tune of two. But when you play exclusively, that one sound starts to wear then.

But I appreciate your response.

Dan said...

Hello Mr Newsome,

thank you for your blog it is really giving me a lot to think about and to try out.

I just got myself a soprano saxophone as I could never really relate to the alto I was playing for the past 2.5 years which is also for how long I have been playing a saxophone.

My sax teacher basically suggested the same mouth pieces as you do and from what I read it seems that the Bari are quite close to the alto Meyer which is what I am currently playing.

Would you suggest that I wait before picking a mouthpiece until my embouchure is more solid?
Should I pick the Bari which is probably the easiest way for me or should I pick one that would take me longer getting used to but would ultimately be mine then?

I really like the soprano saxophone as it is the most artistic one for me so my vision is to be able to do something like this at some point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcWMtfD41DA

Thanks again.
Dan

darĂ­o dolci said...

hello Mr Newsome, I"m a soprano saxplayer from Argentine, what do you think about selmer soloist mouthpiece?

Mia007 said...

What soprano sax do you recommend for best intonationa nand soulful sounds

mohamed said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

FASTEST WAY IN WINNING THE LOTTERY WITH A GREAT LOTTERY SPELL CASTER CALLED DR OGUDU IS HERE TO HELP YOU WIN TODAY CONTACT HIM NOW AND GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIM ON HIS WEBSITE: https://oguduspelltemple.com/


ATTENTION EVERYONE, This is my testimony on how I won $3,471,009 million,I'm PATRICK FISHER from USA I want to use this opportunity to thank Great DR OGUDU for helping me to win the lottery of $66 million lottery ticket draw. All lottery winners has a secrets they will never share to the public 70% will keep the secret of their success to the grave, but in this life of no mans own,you have to help others in other for you to gain more help in the future,I am a man who believe that one day i will win the lottery. Finally my dreams came through when i came across thousands of testifers about OGUDU SPELL TEMPLE on a site, I contact him directly and explain my predicaments ti himregarding wooping failure in lottery games and debts I have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never knew that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell with winning numbers. My Heart is fill with joy today after Dr Ogudu cast the Lottery spell for me, I felt enveloped by the control of the spell. This spell has change my life into riches,i now have my own car and a house. I am now out of debts and experiencing the most amazing good luck with lottery after i won a huge amount of money. My life have totally changed for good and many more which he have done for me too numerous to mention if you have tried winning the lottery but no results contact Dr Ogduu for life changing tickets and lottery numbers now. Contact him now and live a fulfill life

EMAIL ADDRESS:::::OGUDUSPELLTEMPLE@YAHOO.COM
WHATSAPP NUMBER:::+2348106058254
WEBSIE::::::: https://oguduspelltemple.com/

Anonymous said...

I Am Marie Holmes From North Carolina!!!! This is My Testimony on How i Won 188.000000 Dollars. on Power ball jackpot lottery, The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i win the lottery. I am a woman who believe that one day i will win the lottery.finally my dreams came through when i Email Dr Miracle. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting Lottery spell with winning numbers, I contacted this man and he did the spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i won (ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS ) This Man is a very strong voodoo Dr who gives out the numbers that can never fail. Dr Miracle, Truly you are The best, with these man you can win millions of Money Through Lottery,, Thank You Very Much Sir,Please Sir keep Your Good Work Because People Need Your Help in Their lives,, Contact Via Email,,,MIRACLESPELLHOME@YAHOO.COM !!!!!

Anonymous said...

I want to use this opportunity to thank Dr Zuma Zuk for helping me to will the lottery.I have been playing lottery for the past 6 years now and the only big money I have ever won was 7000$ ever since then I have not been able to win again and I was so upset and I need help to win the lottery so I decided to go to a friend of mine call lipa, and she introduce me to Dr Zuma Zuk, there I saw so many good talk about this man called Dr Zuma Zuk of how he have cast spell for people to win the lottery.I contact him also and tell him I want to win a lottery he cast a spell for me which I use and I play and won 50million GBP.I am so grateful to this man just incase you also need him to help you win, you can contact him through his email: spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com anytime or Whatsapp him :+2349055637784 is my part of promise I made, that if I win I tell the word how I win my game.

Anonymous said...

I want to use this opportunity to thank Dr Zuma Zuk for helping me to will the lottery.I have been playing lottery for the past 6 years now and the only big money I have ever won was 7000$ ever since then I have not been able to win again and I was so upset and I need help to win the lottery so I decided to go to a friend of mine call lipa, and she introduce me to Dr Zuma Zuk, there I saw so many good talk about this man called Dr Zuma Zuk of how he have cast spell for people to win the lottery.I contact him also and tell him I want to win a lottery he cast a spell for me which I use and I play and won 50million GBP.I am so grateful to this man just incase you also need him to help you win, you can contact him through his email: spiritualherbalisthealing@gmail.com anytime or Whatsapp him :+2349055637784 is my part of promise I made, that if I win I tell the word how I win my game.

Unknown said...

Hi Sam, glad to rediscover your blog ! Thank you for sharing your ideas, your experiences and your music with us, also the interviews and the other people ideas about sound, technics etc. Many greetings from Cologne and best wishes, ciao, Nicolas Simion.

Anonymous said...


i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you,how Dr.Okaya win lottery number,and is The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i won the lottery. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster called Dr.Okaya online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, so i decide to give it a try.I contacted this Dr.Okaya and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i win ( thirty Five million,thirty five thousand,three hundred and twenty three Dollars). Dr Okaya truly you are the best, with these man you can will millions of money through lottery. i am so very happy to meet these man, i will forever be grateful to you. Email him OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM for your own winning lottery numbers, is the only way out and answer to that your problem call/Whats app +27814506790 for More Information on Dr Okaya

Anonymous said...


i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you,how Dr.Okaya win lottery number,and is The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i won the lottery. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster called Dr.Okaya online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, so i decide to give it a try.I contacted this Dr.Okaya and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i win ( thirty Five million,thirty five thousand,three hundred and twenty three Dollars). Dr Okaya truly you are the best, with these man you can will millions of money through lottery. i am so very happy to meet these man, i will forever be grateful to you. Email him OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM for your own winning lottery numbers, is the only way out and answer to that your problem call/Whats app +27814506790 for More Information on Dr Okaya

Anonymous said...


i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you,how Dr.Okaya win lottery number,and is The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i won the lottery. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster called Dr.Okaya online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, so i decide to give it a try.I contacted this Dr.Okaya and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i win ( thirty Five million,thirty five thousand,three hundred and twenty three Dollars). Dr Okaya truly you are the best, with these man you can will millions of money through lottery. i am so very happy to meet these man, i will forever be grateful to you. Email him OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM for your own winning lottery numbers, is the only way out and answer to that your problem call/Whats app +27814506790 for More Information on Dr Okaya

Anonymous said...


i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you,how Dr.Okaya win lottery number,and is The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i won the lottery. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster called Dr.Okaya online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, so i decide to give it a try.I contacted this Dr.Okaya and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i win ( thirty Five million,thirty five thousand,three hundred and twenty three Dollars). Dr Okaya truly you are the best, with these man you can will millions of money through lottery. i am so very happy to meet these man, i will forever be grateful to you. Email him OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM for your own winning lottery numbers, is the only way out and answer to that your problem call/Whats app +27814506790 for More Information on Dr Okaya

Anonymous said...


i am very grateful sharing this great testimonies with you,how Dr.Okaya win lottery number,and is The best thing that has ever happened in my life is how i won the lottery. and tell him i need the lottery numbers. i have come a long way spending money on ticket just to make sure i win. But i never know that winning was so easy until the day i meant the spell caster called Dr.Okaya online which so many people has talked about that he is very great in casting lottery spell, so i decide to give it a try.I contacted this Dr.Okaya and he did a spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out i was among winners. i win ( thirty Five million,thirty five thousand,three hundred and twenty three Dollars). Dr Okaya truly you are the best, with these man you can will millions of money through lottery. i am so very happy to meet these man, i will forever be grateful to you. Email him OKAYASPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM for your own winning lottery numbers, is the only way out and answer to that your problem call/Whats app +27814506790 for More Information on Dr Okaya

Blank Page Syndrome

Sydney Sheldon's poignant quote, "A blank piece of paper is God's way of showing you how hard it is to be God," deeply res...