If you’re having trouble making a nice tone every time, then it could be worthwhile to check the way you’ve set your reed. One thing you need to remember about setting the reed is that a tiny change in the position of the reed can make a huge difference in the sound. After you have dampened the reed, place it on the mouthpiece. Secure it loosely with the ligature, then adjust it so that there is only a hairline of mouthpiece showing behind the tip. Tighten the ligature screws.

1. If it’s too low, the sound will be hissy, because there will not be enough reed to vibrate fully in the mouthpiece chamber. It will be hard to blow, and there will be too much noise and not enough saxophone sound.
2. If the reed is too high, the sound won’t be as badly affected, but the reed will wear out too quickly, as the end of it will become stressed because of the reed overhanging the end of the mouthpiece.
3. If the reed is even a little off centre, to the right or the left on the mouthpiece, you will have the same effect as condition 1 – lack of tone quality.

There are many other things that affect the sound of your saxophone, but the reed is the first place to check if you are wondering why your sax doesn’t sound as good as you once had it.

The numbers range from 1 to 4, and are a measure of the hardness, or strength of the reed.A number 1 reed is the softest, number 4 is the hardest.The higher the number, the harder the reed is to blow, but the louder the sound.

Happy playing!

Andrew Scott