| Reeds are basically a piece of cane (wood) that is cut | | | | your mouthpiece always use the sides and back of |
| down to be very thin on one side and thicker on the | | | | the reed to move it and NOT the tip! If you live in a dry |
| other. The reed works by blowing air across it and | | | | climate, your reed could dry out while you are resting |
| then it starts to vibrate and make a high "squeally" | | | | for a few minutes. Always keep your reed wet when |
| sound. | | | | it is on your mouthpiece. If you are in school and your |
| First, if you spend any time at a music store, you will | | | | teacher is talking to another section, you can put your |
| notice many brands and styles of reeds. Let's talk | | | | mouthpiece cap on your mouthpiece to keep it wet. A |
| about some options. It is cheaper to buy reeds in a | | | | good trick is to lick the reed first, then put the cap on. I |
| box rather than individually. Always buy reeds for your | | | | prefer taking some tape and covering the holes on the |
| type of saxophone i.e. alto buys alto reeds, tenor buys | | | | mouthpiece cap. If you live in a humid climate, you |
| tenor reeds etc. You will also see that reeds are sized | | | | won't have as many problems with reeds drying out. |
| in numbers 1-5, and in another system that goes soft | | | | Keep in mind that air conditioners and heaters take the |
| to hard. Most reeds are using the number system. | | | | moisture out of the air. |
| More expensive does not mean better. I would start | | | | Another useful tip to help reeds last longer is to rub the |
| out with a Rico Royal size 2.5. If you go with a | | | | reed with your thumb from back to front pushing very |
| Vandoren reed (a little more expensive) go with a size | | | | hard. This should be done on a flat surface. This will |
| 2. The Vandoren reeds and the Rico Royals come in | | | | crush the fibers in the reed and make the reed |
| a variety of different cuts. On Vandorens choose the | | | | "waterproof". When you are done playing you should |
| one in the blue box. They also make Java, V-12 etc. | | | | always remove your reed and place it in a reed guard. |
| but just choose the regular old blue box reed. On Rico | | | | Several companies make reed guards. I'd probably get |
| Royals, just pick the Rico Royal brand. | | | | one that holds four reeds. You should always have |
| Not the Jazz cut and not Rico. Rico is not the same | | | | four good reeds that you rotate on a daily basis. |
| quality as the Rico Royal. The size of reed you | | | | When one is no longer usable, replace with a new one. |
| choose has to do with a couple of factors. The | | | | Wipe off your reed before you place it in the reed |
| biggest factor is probably the size of your mouthpiece. | | | | guard. The key to keeping a reed from warping is to |
| Another factor is embouchure strength. After a couple | | | | let it dry out slowly. If a reed dries out quickly, the thin |
| of months of steady practice, you may want to move | | | | ends dry first and the reed warps up. When it is |
| up a 1/2 size. | | | | warped, it will no longer lay flat on the table of the |
| In general reeds need to be soaked before you can | | | | mouthpiece, and will need to be sanded down. This |
| play them. A reed can be soaked in a cup of water, or | | | | subject is a little complicated, and I won't address it in |
| in your mouth. All parts of the reed must be completely | | | | this article. You can prevent reeds from drying quickly |
| soaked before it will play its best; this usually means | | | | by putting them in the reed guard, placing the guard in |
| about two minutes in the mouth. Don't forget to soak | | | | a plastic bag and folding it once. You don't want it to |
| the back! Take care that you don't nick the tip of the | | | | be air-tight. If it is air-tight, you will grow mold on your |
| reed with your teeth. If the tip appears to be "wavy" | | | | reeds. Wash it off, and don't fold so tightly next time. If |
| soak it longer. After three minutes you can set the | | | | mold continues to be a problem, take a teaspoon of |
| reed on a flat surface and rub your thumb from the | | | | rock salt and wrap it in some old pantyhose. This will |
| back of the reed to the tip and off the end. NEVER | | | | keep the mold away. |
| rub the reed from the tip back up, you can damage | | | | The average reed will last about 20 to 30 playing |
| the tip and make the reed worthless. Once the reed is | | | | hours. If you break the tip or take a good chunk out of |
| properly soaked, take your mouthpiece and lick the | | | | it, it may last only 30 seconds! You will know when a |
| table. Now take the reed and line up the tip of the | | | | reed is no longer usable, because it will be broken at |
| mouthpiece with the tip of the reed. I prefer to line it up | | | | the tip, or the reed will feel soft when you play. It will |
| just a little short of the tip of the mouthpiece. If the | | | | blow really easy, and close off when you play higher. If |
| reed is over the tip, it won't play the same. You can | | | | a reed is not sounding good, and it sounds like there is |
| never be too picky on the placement of your reed. | | | | too much air in your sound, the reed may be too hard, |
| ALWAYS make sure it is perfectly lined up. | | | | or may not be on straight. If you do play on a reed too |
| Now, take your ligature and slide the big end onto the | | | | long, it can become water-logged. It will appear to have |
| tip of the mouthpiece. Be careful not to touch the tip of | | | | water inside of the reed and will look darker in certain |
| the reed with the ligature. The ligature will always be | | | | spots. You want to avoid this by switching reeds daily. |
| placed with the screws on the right side when the | | | | TAKE CARE OF YOU REEDS AND THEY WILL |
| reed is facing you. Sometimes the screws are on the | | | | TAKE CARE OF YOU! |
| top and sometimes on the bottom, but always on the | | | | A note on synthetic reeds. I have played a lot of reeds |
| right. You'll notice that the ligature is tapered (big and | | | | in my day, and discovered that the plastic reeds |
| little ends). Your mouthpiece is also tapered. You will | | | | generally don't sound as good. The only exception to |
| need to put the big end on first so it slides down to the | | | | that is the Fibracell reed. I love these reeds. They |
| big end of the mouthpiece. Put the ligature back far | | | | sound excellent and can be played for up to a year. |
| enough so that it is on the bark portion of the reed. | | | | They will break, but are water proof, always flat on |
| Fasten the screw(s) tight enough so that the reed will | | | | the back and will not warp. I'd start out with a cane |
| not move around on the mouthpiece. | | | | reed, and later if you want, try a fibracell with a similar |
| A word on reed care. Reeds are expensive and | | | | size to the cane reed that you are playing. Just |
| delicate. They will easily break if you touch the tip of | | | | recently I've had good success with a brand called |
| the reed with your finger. To move the reed around on | | | | HAHN. It might be worth checking out! |