Saxophone Outlet

Questions and Answers

Question:

saxophone reeds?
I'm playing a strength 4 right now and I'm 14, i was just wondering, what strength reed do you use and how experienced are you? i want to know if a strength 4 for me is too much or too little of a strength. Please give me as much information about saxophone reed strengths as you can :] just the strengths though, not saxophone reeds in general.

Answer:

Strength 4---we need more information than that. Each reed brand varies on their strength. For example, a Rico 4 is similar to a Vandoren 3. Reed strength is just that--strength and density of reed. The cane fibers are more dense. That's it. Reed brands and the quality of cane are what makes the difference, it doesn't matter what strength you use as long as you're using what's right for you. Finding out what's right for you is not something we can do here in the virtual world--your lessons instructor or band teacher will be your best option for assistance. What factors in strength decision is embouchure strength/control and the capabilities of the player in terms of air control/pressure/speed. Only someone who knows how you play can help you find the right one. Me, personally, I play Gonzales reeds, 2.5. I've been playing for 10+ years in wind ensemble, orchestral, and solo settings.

Question:

What is the difference is saxophone reeds or any other kind?
When I buy reeds they have these numbers on it like 2, 2 1/2, 3, etc. What is the difference on them? Whenever I ask the person working the counter I don't understand them. Anyone know how it affects the saxophone?

Answer:

Don't always trust what the sales people tell you because many don't know the difference themselves especially how it affects the tone. I'll try to lay it out as simple as possible. 1) The number represents the strength (how stiff it is or how bendable it is). The higher the number, the higher the strength. 2) There are many different numbers (strengths) because mouthpieces vary widely in their tip openings (the distance from the tip to the reed). 3) You need to match the tip opening to the number (strength) that creates the best sound and playability for you. How it affects the saxophone? Example 1: If you find that your sound is very stuffy or difficult to blow (too much resistance) then your reed is probably to hard and you need to move to a lower number. Example 2: If you find that you have difficulty playing higher notes in tune (they are too flat) or your sound just cuts off then you probably need to move to higher number. Which brand to choose? That's a personal choice. Each brand has a bit of tonal variation in the sound. One brand's strength is not necessarily the same as another. So a little experimenting is needed. There is no beginner strength or professional strength. The mouthpiece determines that. Michael Brecker played on a 2.5 La Voz reed on a fairly open mouthpiece, so did Benny Goodman. Hope that helped

Question:

Does anyone know the width of saxophone or clarinet reeds?
I'm looking for the width of soprano/alto saxophone reeds and all clarinet reeds. Measurements can be in inches or metric. If you know the length too that'd be great, thanks.

Answer:

Actually, clarinet and saxophone reeds are typically the same size. Soprano sax reeds and Bb clarinet reeds are interchangeable, except for the fact that they are designed to work better on the instrument marked on the box. Eb alto sax reeds are the same size as Eb alto clarinet reeds, and so on. You can even use soprano sax reeds on an A clarinet! All reeds come in various strengths and in various shapes/styles of cut in order to get a particular kind of sound. You may have to experiment in order to find the right strength and cut for the sound that you are looking for. Finally, every reed is unique. They are sorted according to instrument, strength, and cut, but depending on the fibers in the individual reed, the sound and even the playability of the reed can vary greatly. I hope that this helps!

Question:

What is the Difference between Clarinet and Saxophone reeds?
Can Bb clarinet reed be used on a Alto or Tenor Saxophone?

Answer:

Sax reeds are bigger than clarinet reeds. However, it is possible to play tenor sax reeds on bass clarinet, alto sax reeds on alto clarinet and soprano sax reeds on soprano (Bb) clarinet. I'm not sure about using clarinet reeds on sax though, but you could always try.