How to Deal With Clarinet Reeds
Reeds are the worst, but they’re also the foundation of the clarinet sound. Let’s talk about how to tame the reed beast, from which reeds to get, breaking them in and when to say goodbye.
(This article is going to focus on cane reeds, but I know many musicians who have success with plastic reeds. For those, try Légère reeds in a few different cuts and strengths, and remember that they still need to be replaced every few months.)
What reeds should you use?
You have to decide what brand, cut, and strength to get. This is a very personal decision, so if you’re a relatively advanced player (if you’ve been playing for about 4 years or more), the best thing you can do is try a bunch out and see what you like. For new clarinetists, I always recommend Vandoren blue box reeds. They might not get the most vibrant sound, but they work, and they basically work for everybody.
My recommendations for brand are Vandoren and D’Addario. In my experience, the competitors are basically not good. I personally play on a mix of V12 (silver box) Vandoren reeds, because I like the brightness of the sound, and D’Addario Classic Reserve, because I like the fast response and how well they play right out of the box. In my experience, the Vandoren reeds last longer than the D’Addario reeds. I like having both kinds in my reed case because they’ll react differently to temperature and humidity changes, so even though I only have 12 reeds broken in at a time, I basically always have something that works well enough for performances.
Beginners should start on a size 2 reed and work up from there. Harder reeds will give you a fuller sound in the upper register and give you a better resistance for articulation, and they’ll also hide the sounds of embouchure-bobbling. That being said, you should play on the hardest reed that you can play COMFORTABLY. Do not hurt yourself for a harder reed; it’s not worth it. If you buy size 4’s and you feel like you’re running a marathon every time you play, stop and buy some 3.5+’s. Playing the clarinet should be 1. easy and 2. fun. Also remember that different mouthpieces need different reeds; if you switch mouthpieces, you should reevaluate what cut and size works best for your new mouthpiece.
As a side note, remember that reed strength is not an indication of thickness but rather flexibility. Reeds are all pretty much the same physical size, but a machine in the factory tests the tips to see how much they bend, and that’s how the strength is determined.
How to Break-In Reeds
Some people have elaborate rituals that border on witchcraft for breaking-in reeds. It should be done carefully, but remember that your time is valuable, and the most expensive thing you can do is waste it. If a reed sucks while you’re breaking it in, it will always suck. Throw it out!
Flatten the backs
I use a Vandoren reed glass for this; it’s a flat piece of glass with a rough side for filing. While the reed is dry, I hold the tip of the reed over the edge and sand down the back only on the bottom half (where the stamp is). Do this only briefly, like three seconds or so.Play them briefly
I don’t even put the ligature on, I just hold the reed on the mouthpiece with my thumb and play for maybe 10 seconds. If the reed sounds terrible, I put it back in the box and try another. It might get better with time (or it might live in the box forever).Date them
I write the dates on the butt (the tiny flat end opposite the tip) so I can see them easily while they’re in my reed case, using this format: 9/26Let them dry upside down
Stamp-side up, on a table or other flat surfaceDay Two: One Minute Each
Play each new reed for one minute the second day, ideally something slow like long tones.Keep Adding a Minute
I add one minute of playing each day (so two minutes on day three, three minutes on day four) up until I reach day five or six, then I consider them basically ready to go.Be Gentle
Don’t play a reed that’s less than a week or two old for an entire practice session or rehearsal. Generally speaking, the newer they are, the less you should play them. If you play them too much too quickly, they’ll die on you, and then you have to start over!
Reed Storage
There are many options for reed storage, but remember that the most important aspects are as follows: the reed should be held firmly against a flat surface to help prevent warping, and the moisture in the reed should have an escape route. Then, your reed case should be in an airtight container with some kind of humidity control. Some people use reeds’ original cases and keep them in thick plastic bags, which is fine. Here’s my setup for reed storage:
A Protec reed case that has slots for each reed; holds 12 reeds
Inside of an airtight Tupperware-type case
With a Boveda humidity pack in it
(I buy 72% from Amazon, which is much cheaper than you’ll get them at a music store, because people mostly buy them for cigar storage!)
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Your reeds will die. Depending on how much I’m playing, I can usually get about 2 months’ use out of my best reeds. If I’m preparing for a big performance or audition, I’ll be very picky about my reeds: one bad day and they go in the trash, because I can’t afford to have unpredictable reeds in my rotation with a recital or whatever coming up. However, if there’s nothing major going on, I’ll be more forgiving. If a reed is around the 2 month mark and it starts to go buzzy, feel fluffy and unresponsive, or just generally feel strange, I’ll assume that it’s dead, and it goes in the trash.
In regular times, my system for weeding out bad reeds is as follows: if it plays so badly that I can’t stand it, I’ll put a pencil line on the back just above the stamp. If the reed sucks again and I find that line on the back, it goes in the trash. Two strikes, you’re out!
And remember, a chipped reed or a reed with a visibly-warped (not straight across) tip is NOT your friend. If it still plays ok, you can use it for practice, but I wouldn’t trust it in a public performance situation.
Have questions or want to share your thoughts on reeds? Leave a comment below!
