Yamaha uses plastic resin to produce the mouthpiece. That makes it durable, so you can get a lot of use out of it as you get better at playing the saxophone. It comes with a metal ligature and a plastic cap to help protect your mouthpiece when you aren’t playing. The hard rubber is durable and easy to play, and it’s perfect for playing jazz. I’d recommend the Yamaha 4C or 6C for beginners and the J & D Hite for intermediate players. If you’re a professional, you should try the Vandoren and Otto Link mouthpieces. Beginners have less control of their mouths and their facial muscles and indeed their saxophones. As such a smaller sized mouthpiece makes it easier to get a great sound.

Bottom Line Up Front: The Yamaha 4C is one of the best alto sax mouthpieces. However, you should learn about other mouthpieces to help choose the right one for you. Best Alto Sax Mouthpieces However, if you’re looking for an upgrade, you might need the whole set. Sure, you can buy a ligature and mouthpiece cap separately, but you’ll want to think about how much that will cost. Tip Opening What I was asking is, while I am able to get a 4C, would a 5C be a good substitute?, would it play similar and have a similar tone, or is it something entirely different? Is it too open, or hard to play for a beginner, or whatever (I don't know much, but I figure you get the kind of questions I'm asking)? Would it give the headaches the Rico Royal has given me? Not all mouthpieces come in different sizes, though, so you’ll need to go with the standard size. But if a mouthpiece you like comes in a few sizes, try them all if you can.

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You don’t have to spend hundreds on a good mouthpiece. Just research the brand if you haven’t heard of it to make sure you’ll get a good product. Materials Another thing to think about is the material of the mouthpiece, which can affect your sound. You can find mouthpieces made of plastic, rubber, and metal. The Selmer S-80 C* is an amazing choice for a step-up alto sax mouthpiece. Its tip opening is 1.7, and the facing length is 22; I assume that refers to millimeters, but it’s unclear. Many experts believe that the length of the facing is the most important factor to consider when selecting an alto sax mouthpiece. The perfect response from the mouthpiece is mostly determined by the facing length of the saxophone mouthpiece.

You will get a consistent response from this high-quality mouthpiece each and every time you use it. Consequently, you will feel completely at ease when performing on your instrument. They will allow the beginner and/or intermediate saxophonist to play any kind and any style of music.This mouthpiece appears to be gold-plated, but I can’t tell for sure. Either way, it looks great and can help you get a fantastic sound out of your sax. It’s an excellent choice for classical players, and it has a bit more edge than the S80 I mentioned earlier. I love that it’s easy to blend with other instruments when you play in a concert band or wind ensemble. I love that it’s easy to play in all of the registers, so you don’t have to switch mouthpieces often. The model should work with any alto sax, regardless of the brand you play. Pros

Sadly, it costs a lot more than the mouthpieces I’ve shared so far. It’s not as expensive as some, but you might want to save up for it over a few weeks or months. Pros

D’Addario Rico Graftonite

Not only does the superb Yamaha 4C Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece deliver on the harmony and clarity of the intonation, but it also delivers on the incredibly consistent performance. Each mouthpiece is handmade and play tested to make sure it works well. Unfortunately, you’ll need to get a ligature and mouthpiece cap separately. Pros