Should you soak new reeds?
You should soak your reeds for about one minute with saliva. This ensures that the reed is moist enough to play well without being so wet that it becomes waterlogged. If the reed is brand new, you may want to soak it more thoroughly with water for about twenty minutes before working with it.
How do you break in a new saxophone reed?
Breaking In A New Reed We suggest that you break the reeds in by first soaking them for about 2-4 minutes in lukewarm to warm water, and making sure that the whole vamp, and not just the tip alone, gets wet (a reed that is too dry or only wet at the very tip might tend to squeak).
Should you wet your reed before playing?
Reeds are meant to work wet so wetting them well in the mouth work. a lick or two isn’t enough to wet them properly, but some people don’t even do that. They just play until it’s working well. One of the reed reps said it didn’t really matter so long as the reed got to be wet enough.
How long should you play on reeds?
Reeds don’t last long This is why the reed is one of the most critical parts. Expect a reed to last for around a week to two weeks. When you change from a reed you’ve been using for some time to a new reed, the sound of your instrument will change with it.
How do you keep a saxophone reed wet?
Take the reeds out of the individual plastic covers that come with the reeds. Fill a plastic jar with warm water and soak the reeds in the jar for 2 hours. Put the reeds back in their plastic covers. Dump the water out of the jar, but leave just a little bit at the bottom to keep in some moisture.
How long does it take to break in a sax reed?
The reed may take 1-3 days to break in. If you are using a high quality reed, the reed should crow a C when fully soaked, and it should be responsive. These are the most important qualities of a reed. As you play the reed it should break down slightly and become more comfortable to play.
How do you soften a new reed?
The easiest way to soften a reed is to use 400-600 grit sandpaper to remove some of the cane just above the bark (thicker part of the reed) as well as near the tip. Alternatively, you can gently bend the area beneath the tip of the reed up and down for about a minute, which makes it much softer.
How do you disinfect sax reeds?
To disinfect your saxophone reed, soak it in 3% strength hydrogen peroxide solution for about ½ an hour. Then use a sterile sponge to dry off the reed, and it is safe to put in your mouth again.
Do saxophone reeds need to be wet?
Saxophone reeds play better when wet. Some players will just soak them in their mouth before playing. Others carry around a small container of water and let their reeds soak in the container before they play. A reed may become warped from drying out too quickly.
Are plastic reeds better?
Plastic reeds are excellent in that they can produce a sound which rivals that of good cane reeds while being more consistent and playing right out of the box. However, even the best plastic reeds will be surpassed by the best cane reeds in both quality of sound and responsiveness.
How do you stop sax reeds from warping?
Get a Case Reed cases keep reeds flat as they dry, which prevents warping. The clear plastic cases reeds are packaged in don’t actually keep them flat; they simply protect the reed from getting chipped during shipping. Cases also help prevent accidental chips since students can more easily slide reeds into place.
How do you rotate reeds?
What is Rotating? Rotating reeds simply means that you have multiple reeds ready to play, and you alternate them. If you’re playing every day I would suggest having 4-5 reeds in rotation. So, if you’re playing 5 days a week (one time a day) you would play reed #1 the first day, and then reed #2 the second day.
What to look for in a saxophone reed?
1 Discoloration of the grain 2 One side is thicker or thinner than the other (look at the blunt end, not the tip) 3 Fluctuating widths of grain 4 Rougher than normal grain on the cut side of the reed
Can a good reed play with a good mouthpiece?
A good reed cannot play to its full potential if it’s not properly matched to the mouthpiece. The best saxophone instructor I have had (who I found through AngiesList.com) taught me an important, and commonly overlooked, fact: a good reed cannot play as well to its full potential if it is not a good fit with the mouthpiece.
Which is better a natural reed or a synthetic reed?
However, there is a general consensus among professional saxophone players that synthetic reeds sound different (ie: worse) than natural reeds. One plus of purchasing synthetic saxophone reeds is they will not warp, crack, or wear over time. It is up to you to decide whether you want a better sounding or a longer-lasting reed.
What’s the best way to soak a reed?
Some players will just soak them in their mouth before playing. Others carry around a small container of water and let their reeds soak in the container before they play. A reed may become warped from drying out too quickly. A simple remedy to this ailment is to soak the reed in water.