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How to Know If Your Trumpet Mouthpiece Is Too Big

The mouthpiece of a trumpet is the removable cup-shaped brass or steel part that players touch to their lips. The size of the mouthpiece affects the sound and depth of the trumpet by the way the player's lips fit it, and an overly large mouthpiece adversely affects the sound. Mouthpieces vary in cup size and width and are categorized by the combination of a letter and number system. Cup sizes rise from A to C, and width is measured in small increments from 1 to 27.

Things You'll Need

  • Sample mouthpieces
  • Trumpet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the mouthpiece over your mouth. Look at the space around the mouthpiece; there should be about 1/2 inch to 1 inch of space on both sides of your mouth when playing the trumpet.

    • 2

      Replace the mouthpiece with a new one if it covers the entirety of your mouth from side to side. Decrease the size by intervals of 5. For example, if the mouthpiece is a c-27, try a c-22 next. Continue to lessen by these increments until you find the mouthpiece that leaves the correct space on both sides of your mouth.

    • 3

      Place the new mouthpiece to your lips and pucker, as if kissing. If your lips do not touch the back of the cup, the cup is too big. Go down a full cup size, and continue to go down in size until the lips fit snugly inside the cup when puckered.

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