A bad ligature can spoil a good reed on a good mouthpiece by binding the sides of the reed, thus preventing the reed from vibrating freely. The Bonade ligature employs this principle by means of "pressure ribs", which hold the reed securely at points just off-center of the reed, allowing the reed's edges to vibrate freely. As a result, more reeds are playable with this ligature. Another advantage is that 20 to 30 percent more tone may be produced, for greater carrying power.

Tenor saxophone model shown in picture