Mouthpieces Will my mouthpiece limit my sound?

[Jackal293]

Hello all,

I have been practicing on my Yamaha tenor sax for about a year now using Jazz method for saxophone and McGill music saxophone online lessons while using the Yamaha 4C mouthpiece.

A lot of the tunes I listen to and try to play utilise various "tricks" to colour them such as vibrato, bends, scoops, sub tones, overtones altissimo and growling etc.

I was wondering whether my mouthpiece is able to pull off all of these techniques (assuming eventually my playing ability can) or whether an upgrade of mouthpiece would be required in order to develop all of these properly.

Thanks in advance

 

[Nick Wyver]

You can do all of those and more on a Yamaha 4C.

 

[Colin the Bear]

None of the effects you mention are made by the mouthpiece. Vibrato comes from your diaphragm, bends come from your embouchure and oral cavity and growling is accomplished by adding voice.

The player creates most of the sound, however you may have more to give than your set up will let you give.

Don't think of a change of mouthpiece as an upgrade but a better fit. A change should give you more of what you're looking for and make it easier to get there.

 

[kevgermany]

In fact some of the more radical mouthpieces WILL force your sound in a specific direction.

 

[Chilli]

Don't think of a change of mouthpiece as an upgrade but a better fit.

That pretty much sums it all. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, there's no such thing as a "one fits all" mouthpiece.
I would add that some effects such as bending might be easier on a more open mouthpiece than a 4C, but that doesn't mean a 4C wouldn't make it. It's pretty much about comfort, really.

 

[Jackal293]

Thank you for the replies. I will continue to persevere with the 4C and keep practicing.