A student recently came to me, eager for advice on enhancing his saxophone’s sound quality. I emphasized the critical role of selecting the appropriate reed and understanding reed strength to make a real difference.
The reed strength is the reed’s stiffness set by manufacturers. Some label their reeds as soft, medium, and hard, while others use numbers from 1 to 5. Usually, you’ll see the reed strength printed as a number from 1 to 5 on the packaging, with 5 being the hardest and 1 the softest.
Key takeaways
- Reed Strength refers to stiffness, usually rated from 1 to 5, where 1 is softest and 5 is hardest. Beginners should start with a softer reed around strength 2.
- Skill Level impacts reed choice. Softer reeds are better for beginners, while more advanced players might opt for harder reeds to improve tone and range.
- Filed vs. Unfiled Reeds: Filed reeds are easier to blow and produce a brighter tone, ideal for jazz and pop. Unfiled reeds offer more resistance and broader tones, suitable for classical music.
- Reed Materials: Natural cane reeds are preferred by professionals for better tone quality, though synthetic reeds are more durable and convenient.
- Brand Matters: Different brands offer varying qualities. It’s helpful to experiment with multiple brands like D’Addario and Vandoren to find the best fit for your saxophone and playing style.
Understanding Reed Ratings
The reed strength indicates stiffness, categorized as soft, medium, or hard, or by numbers from 1 to 5. For beginners, starting with softer reeds around strength 2 is best. As your skills improve, you can move to harder reeds.
Here’s a simple reason: advanced breath control is necessary for harder reeds, something beginners usually lack. As a newbie, you’ll struggle to produce sound with them.
At first, you might think using softer reeds makes you a less experienced saxophonist. That’s not true! Beginners do start with reasonably soft reeds, but even experienced players can benefit from them.
Heavier reeds let you hit altissimo notes and play louder. However, harder reeds make note blending and vibrato challenging. Many experienced saxophonists prefer softer reeds for easier vibrato and blending. It’s best to pick a reed strength that suits your experience and playing style.
What is Reed Comparison Chart?
Once you grasp reed strength’s value, the reed comparison chart becomes handy, especially if you’re trying different reeds. For instance, if you’re using a 3 Reserve reed and wish to switch to D’Addario’s Plasticover synthetic reed, refer to this chart.
You might think that using a 3 Reserve reed means you can easily switch to a 3 Plasticover. However, if you glance at D’Addario’s reed comparison chart, you’ll see the better choice is Plasticover 3.5. Consulting the Reed Comparison Chart ensures the right reed selection.
The number on the reed’s back indicates its resistance to breath pressure, not just its gauge or thickness. A higher number means the reed is stiffer and has more resistance to breath pressure.
I’ve explained reed strength’s importance. A higher reed rating means it’s more resistant to air pressure and vibrates longer.
Tips on Choosing the Right Reed
The reed vibrates to create the sound of your saxophone. Most reeds come from a hardy grass found in southern France and similar climates. Some are made from synthetic materials, but these often deliver poorer tone quality. That’s why most professional saxophonists choose natural reeds.
Reeds are specific to each instrument. You can’t use alto saxophone reeds for clarinets or vice versa because mouthpieces vary in size. Keep this in mind and consider the following factors when choosing a suitable reed:
Consider Your Skills and Experience
When picking reeds, figure out which reed strength you need. Strength refers to a reed’s density and flexibility, not size. You’ll see numbers 1 to 5 on the back, while double reeds for bassoon, oboe, and English horn are rated as hard, medium-hard, medium, medium-soft, and soft. Note that different manufacturers offer varying strength ratings.
As a music instructor, I’d suggest beginners use 2 or 2.5 reed strength to produce sound more easily. Avoid reeds with lower ratings than 2, as they may produce weak sounds.
As you build muscle around your mouth through practice, you can switch to stiffer reeds to enhance intonation and tone, particularly with high notes. As an instructor, I’d guide you on when you’re ready for stronger reeds. The mouthpiece brand and the music style you play also impact your reed’s performance.
Filed and Unfiled
When you’re searching for the right reed, you’ll notice some are unfiled while others are filed. If you look closely at the structure, you’ll see the French File behind the vamp, where the bark has been sanded off.
Filed reeds are ideal for those using moderately resistant traditional and dark-sounding mouthpieces. They allow mouthpieces to blow more freely and produce a brighter tone. This makes them perfect for pop and jazz sax mouthpieces with a high baffle.
On the other hand, those who play moderate, bright, easy-blowing mouthpieces prefer the unfiled ones. The unfiled reeds, however, offer more resistance and darker tones.
Consider the Brand
Reeds come in different brands. As you master the saxophone, try various brands to find which makes the best sound for you. Remember, there is no right reed, so find what suits you best.
Choosing a reed is a personal decision. Your instructor can help you determine the ideal reed strength and brand for your saxophone.
Robustness
Durability is key when buying a reed. Plastic reeds last longer than cane reeds but become unusable when they fail. Always keep a spare reed handy.
Synthetic reeds work without being damp. Musicians who switch saxes frequently prefer them. However, cane reeds are better as they produce a more authentic sound you will love.
Try Various Reeds as Possible
Try different reeds to find the best fit for your saxophone. Using just one won’t help determine the ideal choice, so test at least three to see which one suits you best.
Saxophones and mouthpieces are crafted with precision using ebonite and metal. Reeds, on the other hand, can vary because they come from different canes. Some may suit your needs perfectly, while others might not.