Reed (instrument)

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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.

[edit] 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 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. Given the same mouthpiece, a softer (thinner) reed will vibrate more easily.

Another variable affecting performance is the shape of the reed. The thickness of the tip and heel and the profile in between all affect the sound and playability. Cane of different grades (density, stiffness), even if cut with the same profile, will also respond differently.

Musicians originally crafted reeds from cane using simple tools, a process which was time-consuming and painstaking. Reeds can also be hand-cut and trimmed with specialized tools, reducing the time needed to finish a reed. Today, nearly all players of single-reed instruments buy manufactured reeds. However, some professionals prefer to make their own reeds, believing that manufactured reeds are inferior. Also, making one's own reeds offers more personal control over reed quality.

Image:Bassoon Reeds.jpg

Most single-reed players use cane reeds, although there are also advocates of synthetic reeds. Synthetic reeds have a much longer lifespan than their cane counterparts and require little if any care, but many consider the tone produced by cane to be superior.

The dizi, a Chinese transverse flute, has a distinctive kind of reed (a di mo), which is made from a paper-like bamboo membrane.

[edit] Double reeds

Double reeds are used on the bassoon, oboe, bagpipes, tromboon, english horn, and some organs. They are not used in conjunction with a mouthpiece; rather the two reeds vibrate against each other. Reed strengths are graded from 1 through 5, as with single reeds.