Abstract: A tone enhancing element incorporated within the mouthpiece of a reed type musical instrument, such as a saxophone or clarinet, has two steps projecting into the air flow-through passage of the mouthpiece at a point opposite the opening over which the reed is mounted. The first step in from the outward end of the mouthpiece is the lower of the two, projecting into the passage less than the second step. The element may be a removable element that can be taken out for cleaning, for example, or it may be an integral portion of the mouthpiece structure.