Each element of the clarinet is designed to produce a great sound. However, the most important element is a very thin piece of wood about six centimeters long called a reed. Reeds can have different lengths and cuts, good and less good. A quality reed is vital for having great sounds and tonalities, and it is therefore very important to be able to evaluate them.
Steps
Step 1. Choose a brand
There are several brands to choose from, and the difference is in the details. Rico, a US brand, is very popular with clarinet players and is usually recommended for beginners. Rico also creates the reeds under the names of LaVoz and Mitchell Lurie. Vandoren, which also makes mouthpieces, is a popular French brand. Other French brands, some less well known than others, include Selmer, which also makes clarinets, Rigotti, Marca, Glotin and Brancher. Other less common brands are Alexander Superial, Japanese, Reeds Australia, Peter Ponzol, which also makes mouthpieces, RKM and Zonda. If you are still a beginner, the most recommended brands are Rico and Vandoren.
Step 2. Choose the hardness
Most brands sell reeds between 1 and 5 hardness, often with intermediate sizes too. A 1 reed is very light, while a 5 is very hard. Other brands indicate hardness with "soft", "medium" and "hard". The best way to start for beginners is with a 2, 2, 5 or 3 reed, called a "medium". Remember that the measurements are not the same for all brands. Furthermore, the 2,5 reeds contained in the same box may vary, some are more similar to the 2, while others to the 3. A comparison chart between reeds like the one you find at this link can help you to notice the difference in hardness between different brands.
- A harder reed will give a stronger and fuller sound. It is much more difficult to correct the intonation of a clarinet with a hard reed. However, changing dynamics will not be easy in pitch changes. It is also much more difficult to gently play low tones with a hard reed, while higher notes will be easier to reach.
- A clarinet with a soft reed is easier to play, and gives a lighter and brighter sound. However, there are many more chances that the intonation will vary during performance, even if it is much easier to correct it with the embouchure. With a soft reed it is much more difficult to reach the high notes.
Step 3. Choose the cut
The reeds can have both "regular" and "French" cuts. The cut shouldn't appeal to a beginner, although French-cut reeds generally have a faster reaction time, and cost more, but it's definitely worth it. You can recognize the regular cut from the lower part of the wood which has a U-shaped frosted part. The French cut is instead filed to create a flat curve on thicker wood, as in the image. Players with a darker sounding mouthpiece may prefer the French cut, while brighter sounding ones prefer the regular cut.
Step 4. Go to the music store to buy a box of reeds
You can also buy them in bulk, but the more you buy, the more likely you are to have good ones. Also, by buying the box, you will avoid having to go to the music store several times. A box of ten should last you a few weeks. You can also decide to buy more.
Step 5. Take the reeds out of the box and start evaluating them
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Check that they are not broken or cracked. Throw away any broken reeds, because they are not needed.
Choose a Reed for a Clarinet Step 5Bullet1 - Pass them under the light, one at a time. You should see an inverted "V". A good reed has a perfectly centered and symmetrical "V". A "ruined" V will be difficult to play and there is a risk that it will emit whistles.
- A reed with an uneven grain, that is, when the small vertical lines of the reed are opposite the V instead of following it, it will not sound good.
- A reed with knots, that is, small dots or black veins, will vibrate irregularly and will be defective.
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Check the color. A good reed ranges from yellow to golden. A green reed is too unripe and will not sound good if it does sound. Take the green reeds and set them aside for a few months, as sometimes it takes time for them to improve.
Choose a Reed for a Clarinet Step 5Bullet5
Step 6. Test the new reeds
Once you put away the defective reeds and the ones that have yet to mature, you should find yourself the best ones. Test them to experience the sound and always have at least three reeds on hand. You can also buy a special reed container.
Advice
- If you are allergic to wood, coated reeds are also available on the market.
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Also available are new generation synthetic reeds, i.e. plastic, distributed by brands such as: BARI, Fiberreed, Fibracell, Hahn, Hartmann, Legere, Olivieri and RKM. They cost between 25 and 30 euros each, they do not need to be moistened at the beginning, they last longer and are much more consistent. However, many players find their sound shrill and harsh. In addition to plastic reeds, coated ones are also available.
Since they are durable and easy to use, synthetic reeds are useful for a band season. Wooden reeds last much less if you play outdoors and if you "mistreat" the instrument, and they can also be difficult to play. Synthetic reeds are more expensive, last 15 times longer than a wooden reed and many people find it much more useful to spend 25 euros for a reed that lasts for a month rather than for a box of reeds to change every week. Also, synthetic reeds tend to have a brighter, or squeaky sound, which can be useful when playing in a band because they are easier to play louder
- You can brand your reeds with the + or - sign system. After evaluating each reed, mark the reeds with two positive signs if they are very good or two negative signs if they are bad.
- If you have a soprano clarinet your reed will be 2.5. A bass clarinet goes up to 2, but it's personal, because you might as well go down to 1.5.
- If you don't like the taste of wood, you can also buy reeds of different flavors.
- An experienced clarinet player may want to fix the reeds in poor condition by cutting them at the edges with a reed cutter (for the softer reeds) or by filing them with a knife or sandpaper (for the harder reeds). Avoid this procedure if you do not know how to proceed, also you must consider that some reeds are impossible to fix, no matter what you do.
Warnings
- When arranging the reeds remember to be very careful as you may be removing more wood than you should. By removing even 1/100 of a millimeter you can make the reed 10% thinner and it is impossible to fix a reed once you have ruined it.
- Don't complain about the boxes with "bad" reeds, because they have traveled a long way to get to you and the quality of the wood varies. It can happen that you find bad reeds once in a while. Get used to it and buy another box if necessary.
