A question for saxophone players and/or people who have experience with saxophones

[savanniebananie]

I was practicing my saxophone earlier and something in my mind was like, "smell your mouthpiece," so I did. It smelled awful. I'm pretty sure it's not normal, and I don't know how to make the stench go away. I googled stuff, but I'm afraid if I try something, it might ruin the mouthpiece. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[amemome]

Hi! I asked my friend who plays clarinet: Are you swabbing out your instrument after using it? Swabbing thoroughly should prevent the smell.

They also said you can (occasionally) take an alcohol swab and wipe the area. They used a mouthpiece cushion sticker to help reduce direct contact with the wood (and to help prevent damage to the mouthpiece).

I'm hearing this stuff secondhand from a friend (I was a violinist) so feel free to take this with a grain of salt!

 

[savanniebananie]

Hi! I asked my friend who plays clarinet: Are you swabbing out your instrument after using it? Swabbing thoroughly should prevent the smell.

They also said you can (occasionally) take an alcohol swab and wipe the area. They used a mouthpiece cushion sticker to help reduce direct contact with the wood (and to help prevent damage to the mouthpiece).

I'm hearing this stuff secondhand from a friend (I was a violinist) so feel free to take this with a grain of salt!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your help!

 

[your local goomy]

Also make sure you ALWAYS take your reed out when putting the sax away! I played for a good few years (alto and tenor), and there's times when I'm in a hurry and said "screw it, I'll take the reed out later." And then I didn't. It made my mouthpiece and reed both nasty. My band director always questioned why I needed more.

 

[savanniebananie]

Also make sure you ALWAYS take your reed out when putting the sax away! I played for a good few years (alto and tenor), and there's times when I'm in a hurry and said "screw it, I'll take the reed out later." And then I didn't. It made my mouthpiece and reed both nasty. My band director always questioned why I needed more.

I've always made sure to do that! It's very important, and my band director always reminded us about it. Thank you!!

 

[duckykate]

i highly reccomend cleaning it with something like this ( i use it for my tuba and baratone). maybe even after every use. there are a lot of nasty mouth germs in there!!

 

[thatawkwardkid]

How often do you clean the mouthpiece?

 

[savanniebananie]

How often do you clean the mouthpiece?

I'd say at least once a week.

 

[Mikaiah]

I don't play a reeded instrument but my flute tended to get kinda gross as well, also i like biology stuff

brush your teeth often, it really helps, and don't drink or eat anything aside from water while practicing (if you eat before practice brush your teeth!), microbes love sugar. you can snack or have soda/coffee/whatever after you finish. and dry the mouthpiece out, don't seal in the moisture when you put it away. low water content inhibits microbe growth as well