Equipment
Mouthpiece Meditations Part 2: Table of Mouthpiece Elements and Characterstics
| Element | Change | Benefit | Problems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner Diameter | smaller | high register easier to reach, better fit for smaller embouchure | tendency to play sharp, thinner, with a more brittle tone, and lack of endurance |
| larger | low register easier to reach, better fit for larger embouchure | tendency to play flat, darker, with a fuzzy tone, and lack of endurance | |
| Rim Thickness | thicker | more endurance, better for thin lips | less response and flexibility |
| thinner | better response, more definite placement, better for thick lips | less endurance | |
| Rim Contour | flatter | more endurance, more stability | less response and flexibility |
| rounder | better response, more definite placement | less endurance | |
| Crown | higher | better response, more definite placement | less endurance |
| lower | more endurance | less response | |
| Rim Bite | sharper | better response | less endurance |
| rounder | more endurance | less response | |
| Cup | shallower | high register easier to reach, better fit for smaller embouchures | thinner, brighter tone |
| deeper | low register easier to reach, better fit for larger embouchures, bigger, darker sound | darker, fuzzy tone | |
| "C" | bigger, darker sound with more warmth | more resistance, larger volume of air to control | |
| "V" | brighter sound, more projection | less resistance, thinner sound | |
| Throat | larger | less resistance, darker sound | high register harder to attain, fuzzy sound |
| smaller | brighter sound, more projection | more resistance, thinner sound | |
| Bore | larger | less resistance, darker sound | high register harder to attain, fuzzy sound |
| smaller | more resistance, brighter sound | stuffy, thinner sound | |
| Backbore | larger | less resistance, darker sound | high register harder to attain, fuzzy sound |
| smaller | more resistance, brighter sound | stuffy, thinner sound | |
| Mass | less | increased projection, response, comfort | thinner sound |
| more | intensify, darken, and stabilize tone | decrease projection and response |