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A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument. The reeds of woodwind instruments are made from Arundo donax or synthetic material; tuned reeds (as in harmonicas and accordions) are made of metal or synthetics. ImageMetadata File history File links Saxophone_reeds-alto,_tenor. ...
ImageMetadata File history File links Saxophone_reeds-alto,_tenor. ...
The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ...
A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ...
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument in which sound is produced by blowing through a mouthpiece against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch is varied by opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument. ...
Binomial name Arundo donax L. Arundo donax L. (Giant Reed) is a tall perennial reed, native to fresh waters in the Mediterranean region. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
This article is about the instrument as a whole. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Single reeds
Single reeds are used on the mouthpieces of clarinets and saxophones. They have a flat (back) side which fits against the mouthpiece and a top side which tapers to a thin tip. They are rectangular in shape except for the thin vibrating tip, which is curved to match the curve of the mouthpiece tip. Although all single reeds are shaped similarly, they vary in size to fit the appropriate mouthpiece. The mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument is that part of the instrument which is placed partly in the players mouth. ...
Two soprano clarinets: a Bâ™ clarinet (left, with capped mouthpiece) and an A clarinet (right, with no mouthpiece). ...
The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ...
The mouthpiece of a woodwind instrument is that part of the instrument which is placed partly in the players mouth. ...
The most obvious variation in reeds designed for the same instrument is a variation in thickness ("hardness" or "strength"), generally measured on a scale of 1 through 5 from softest to hardest. This is not a standardized scale and reed strengths vary between manufacturers. The thickness of the tip and heel and the profile in between also affect the sound and playability. Cane of different grades (density, stiffness), even if cut with the same profile, will also respond differently.
Double reeds Double reeds are used on the oboe, oboe d'amore, english horn, bassoon, contrabassoon, and bagpipes. They are typically not used in conjunction with a mouthpiece; rather the two reeds vibrate against each other. However, in the case of the crumhorn, bagpipes, and shawm, a reed cap that contains an airway is placed over the reeds and blown without the reeds actually coming in contact with the player's mouth. Reed strengths are graded, as an approximate guide to users, from 1 through 5, as with single reeds. Image File history File linksMetadata Bassoon_Reeds. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Bassoon_Reeds. ...
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers and occasionally even higher. ...
A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. ...
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. ...
Baroque oboe damore, Denner copy The oboe damore is a woodwind instrument. ...
Cor anglais The cor anglais or English horn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ...
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers and occasionally even higher. ...
This is a contrabassoon. ...
A piper playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. ...
Various Crumhorns The crumhorn is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. ...
A piper playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. ...
The shawm was a Renaissance musical instrument of the woodwind family, made in Europe from the late 13th century until the 17th century. ...
Materials Most reeds are made from cane, but synthetic reeds made from various substances are used by a small number of clarinetists and saxophonists. Synthetic reeds are generally more durable than their natural counterparts, do not need to be moistened prior to playing, and can be more consistent in quality. Many players consider them to have poor sound, or use them only in a context where tone quality is less important, such as a marching band. In music, timbre, or sometimes timber, (from Fr. ...
An American college marching band on the field (University of Texas) A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who generally perform outdoors, and who incorporate movement – usually some type of marching – with their musical performance. ...
Recent developments in synthetic reed technology have produced reeds made from synthetic polymer compounds[1], and as technology in this area has progressed, synthetic reeds have gained more acceptance. Synthetic reeds are useful when the instrument is played intermittently with long breaks in between, during which time a natural reed might become dry. Synthetic polymers are often referred to as plastics, such as the well-known polyethylene and nylon. ...
The dizi, a Chinese transverse flute, has a distinctive kind of reed (a di mo), which is made from a paper-like bamboo membrane. Bangdi The dizi (Chinese: 笛å; Pinyin: dÃzi), is a Chinese transverse flute. ...
This article pertains to the musical instrument. ...
The Di mo is a special bamboo membrane; a kind of musical reed used in a distinctive Chinese flute called the Di zi. ...
For other uses, see Bamboo (disambiguation). ...
Commercial vs. hand-made reeds Musicians originally crafted reeds from cane using simple tools, a process which was time-consuming and painstaking. Specialized tools for cutting and trimming reeds by hand reduce the time needed to finish a reed.
Today, nearly all players of single-reed instruments buy manufactured reeds, although many players adjust them by shaving or sanding. Some professionals make single reeds from "blanks", but this is time-consuming and can require expensive equipment.
Among double reed players, advanced and professional players typically make their own reeds, while beginners and students often buy reeds either from their teachers or from commercial sources.
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