What qualities should I look for in a good reed?

• easy response: notes come out well in all registers

• plays well in all dynamics: not all loud or all soft

• flexibility: is successful at large slurs, changing dynamics, different types of articulation, etc.

• plays mostly in tune in all registers

 Possible problems

A.  too hard

1.  the reed will not produce sound easily

2.  you have to blow very strongly to get sound to occur

3.  the low register is very loud

4.  the reed will not play very loudly even if you are blowing hard

B.  too soft

1.  when you articulate an F major scale (low octave), the E (LH1) cracks and comes out too low in pitch

2. the reed will not play loud dynamics

3.  the upper register is difficult to get out and sags in pitch

C. too closed

1.  the tip opening is not large enough that a dime will fit between the blades

2. if too closed, the reed will not produce sound easily

3. the reed will not play loud dynamics

D. too open

1.  the tip opening is larger than the width of a dime between the blades

2. the reed will not produce sound easily

3.  you need to blow very strongly to get sound to occur

E. cracked/corners missing from the tip

1. you can visibly see a crack or lack of corners

2. the reed will not produce sound as easily

3. there will often be a buzz in the sound

F. wires are loose

1.  you can move the wires on the reed by hand after it has been soaked

2. there will often be a buzz in the sound

3.  the reed will behave as though it is too soft

G. moldy reed

1.  you visibly see mold growing on the reed

2. when you hold the reed up to a light source, it looks mottled and spotty

 Possible solutions

A.  too hard

1.  scrape the the tip of the reed (this is not a fix all, more often then not the tip of a reed that is too hard will be too thick, though this is not always the case.), as always be sure to crow your reed before scraping anything.

2.  check the tip opening to make sure it isn't too wide

B. too soft

1. check the wires to make sure they aren't too lose, especially the 2nd wire

2. you can sand the inside of the blade by inserting a piece of sandpaper, squeezing the blades together, and pulling the sandpaper out.  repeat on both sides

3.  if both of these don't bring the E up to pitch, you will need to clip the tip of the reed with tip clippers or a razor blade

C. too closed

1. you can open the tip by adjusting the wires: 1st wire squeeze from sides, 2nd wire squeeze from top and bottom

2.  the reed may be too soft and needs to be clipped

D.  too open

1.  you can close the tip by adjusting the wires: 1st wire squeeze from top and bottom, 2nd wire squeeze from sides

2.  the reed maybe too hard and needs to be scraped thinner

E. tip cracked/chipped/missing corners

1. throw reed away!

F. loose wires

1.  you can tighten the wires using pliers and a forming mandrel

2.  pull "twist" so that it is perpendicular to the reed.  Clasp twist in jaws of pliers.  Pull twist away from reed and wiggle, pulling out the slack in the wire.  Re-twist to make up for extra wire. Push twist back flush against the reed.

G. moldy reed

1. throw reed away!!