Most teachers recommend that a first-year musician use a 2 or 2.5 (soft or medium soft) reed. Anything stiffer may make it difficult to produce a sound while anything more flexible may produce a weak sound. Your teacher should let you know when it is time to switch to a different strength reed.
How can you tell if a clarinet reed is good?
The thickest blanks (uncut reeds), make a darker and warmer sound. Reeds are scraped and sanded down to the tip, where the thickest could well produce a darker sound if that's what you need. A thinner reed would produce a softer sound more easily, and can be slightly brighter in tonal quality.16 Apr 2019
What is the difference between Vandoren clarinet reeds?
Vandoren V12 reeds have a thicker heart and tip than the traditional blue box reeds. This allows for more color in the sound. This reed also has a longer palate that allows the reed to vibrate more, producing a sound with more depth and richness.4 Jun 2020
In general, Vandoren reeds are more durable. While Rico reeds usually play well out of the box, they don't last as long. Of course, all reeds will last longer if you break them in slowly and rotate the reed you're playing on daily.4 Mar 2021
What strength reed do professional clarinetists use?
Professional musicians usually play anywhere between strengths 3 &5. So, don't feel like the goal is to achieve playing on a strength 5 reed.23 Jul 2021
What strength clarinet reed do I need?
Beginners should start on either 2 or 2.5 strength, as those will be easy to play and produce a good sound. A student should only move up to a higher strength reed if they're overblowing too easily, or that the reed isn't providing enough resistance. Professional musicians usually play anywhere between strengths 3 &5.23 Jul 2021
What's the strongest clarinet reed?
Strength 5
Should you soak clarinet reeds?
Your reeds will be less likely to warp and will last much longer. ➢ Before playing, soak the reed for no more than 30 seconds. The reed should be moist but not water logged! procedure will greatly lengthen the life of your reed.
What is the highest reed strength?
Some manufacturers label strength with words instead, rating it "soft," "medium" or "hard." The standard scale for saxophone reed strength runs from 1 through 5, with 1 being the softest and 5 being the hardest reed. If you're a beginner, it's best to start with a softer reed, usually about a 2.4 Apr 2018
What are the different strengths of clarinet reeds?
Most reed manufacturers sell reeds in strengths from 1 to 5, often in half-steps. A 1 would be the softest, and a 5 would be the hardest. Some brands use "soft", "medium", and "hard" instead. For a beginner, a 2, or 2 /12 would be the best starting point.