Top Clarinet Reeds – Guide & Comparison
If you’re short on time and looking for the best clarinet reeds, this quick guide will help you find it. We had a look at the most sought-after reeds and we’ve seen the balance between price and quality. That is how we reached the conclusion that a set of good clarinet reeds are the Vandoren CR103. They are the kind that will help you improve your abilities if you’re a beginner, but they are adequate and strong enough for more experienced players too. They are very durable and will last you a long time. If you are unable to find them for sale, you should search for the Royal by D’Addario RCB1025 ones.
Comparison Table
Highly Recommended Choices – Reviews & Comparison
After reading all the possible clarinet reed reviews, looking at the qualities of the cheap clarinet reeds and the ones of the more expensive reeds, we reached the conclusion that the following reeds are some of the models that offer the most value for money.
Vandoren CR103
When you start to play the clarinet it’s important to familiarize yourself with the traditional sounds that it can produce, before going on to experimenting. This is where these traditional reeds excel. They will help you get used to the instrument and improve your capabilities.
But they’re not only for beginners. They have the flexibility needed to be played for a long time, even at the higher strengths. These reeds are useful to those that want to achieve a brighter sound and for the people that need to play faster.
Unfortunately, they are a bit prone to chipping and are not great at handling humidity or harsh weather. That’s why they are better suited for indoor play. However, a big advantage that they have is the fact that the tip is cut at a different angle than other reeds and that offers them more durability and flexibility.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($24.99)
Royal by D’Addario RCB1025
This set of 10 reeds is perfectly fit for beginners or intermediate players because of their soft nature. The reeds offer a field cut, a feature that is useful whether you’re playing jazz or classical music. If you’re new to the instrument, have a look at a clarinet for beginners.
If you just want to try these reeds out, you can purchase a smaller set of 3 of them. Because of how soft they are, they tend to provide a brighter sound to your clarinet. They offer some good quality sounds.
Educators recommend them because they offer a clear sound and an ease of response that is above the market’s average. The manufacturer’s state of the art machinery and techniques in producing the reeds result in making more consistent models.
These types of reeds are available for a large range of clarinets and saxophones, so they are very adaptable in that sense. If you would also like to play the sax, get yourself a saxophone for beginners.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($19.97)
Rico by D’Addario RCA1025
These reeds should be the favorite ones for Bb clarinet players. They are particularly useful for those clarinetists that have the experience of playing for at least one year. Each strength offered sounds great. The tone that they provide is robust and it brings out the instrument’s harmonics.
Being of great quality and endurance, they can be trusted to offer the greatest sounds during live performances. They are liked by a lot of clarinetists because they allow for a dynamic range even with stronger reeds. It might be surprising, but the strong reeds offered don’t sacrifice a bright sound for the sake of thickness.
To make it easier for the player to break in these reeds, they have been made unfilled. You can use that to your advantage to get the precise dimensions and shape that you want. They are not so great for beginners that don’t know how to break reeds in.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($18.98)
Rico Mitchell Lurie
If you’re looking for some reeds that provide medium strength and flexibility, these are the ones. Having a strength classified as 3.0, they are great for those looking to have a balanced clarinet performance, although they tend to be a bit harder than usual. They are traditional reeds, meaning that they are unfilled.
The manner in which they’re made helps the clarinetist to break them in easier. To ensure maximum precision, the manufacturers use laser technology to precisely cut the reeds. You can thus rest assured that the making is of the highest quality.
For a faster response and the possibility to quickly articulate sounds in a comfortable manner, the tip is slightly thinner. If you don’t like the strength of 3.0 you can try the same model in strengths ranging from 1.5 to 5.0. They all come in a box of five and respect the highest standards.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($10.79)
Vandoren CR1935
When discussing beginner or intermediate reeds, Vandoren is a brand that often comes into play. They have been making reeds and other accessories for clarinets since 1905 and that can be seen in their work. These reeds have the quality that you would expect from such a brand.
These ones are a 3.5 model, with a thicker heel and a longer palette meant to offer more vibration. They’re great for intermediate players because they have a deeper and richer sound, due to the thicker tip. They are built to last, and if you think the 3.5 strength doesn’t suit your style, they can come in different strengths too.
These reeds come packed and sealed to assure that they stay fresh until you start using them. And if you really like them and would love to use them more, you can purchase packs of 50 of them.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($29.99)
Vandoren CR123
Traditional reeds, such as these ones, are the most played in the world and that’s because they provide superior capabilities for playing all the possible styles of music. They are known for their magnificent response in all registers and they allow the use of techniques like pianissimo attacks.
These reeds are very flexible, letting the clarinetist execute legato or staccato techniques over large intervals. The quality craftsmanship used to produce them makes them have a rich tone and a clear and contoured sound.
They are available for clarinets and saxophones in all strengths, but this particular model is made for bass clarinet and has the strength of 3. These ones come in a box of 5. Clarinetists say that they last for a long while, compared to others, and that is particularly useful for beginners that may deteriorate them faster.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($22.99)
D’Addario Reserve Classic
Particularly for classical pieces, these reeds are commonly used around the world. The biggest difference between these reeds and others is their heel, which is thicker. This leads to a more intense and deep sound.
To add some quick response to clarinetists and help them achieve complex techniques, these reeds have squared tip corners. Also, for a clear staccato, they come with a thick tip. This is why they offer a warm sound and a powerful spine that gives flexibility, quality of sound and dynamics to the clarinet in every range.
A consistent response is given by an outlined vamp. Due to all the patience and dedication that has been given to each detail of these reeds, it is clear that D’Addario has ensured they are of great quality. Advanced students or intermediate ones looking for quality reeds will benefit from using these. Use these reeds for a fast-paced song and couple the clarinet with an upright piano for some jazz.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($28.99)
Foraineam 10 Pieces
Although Foraineam is a relatively unknown brand, they do produce musical instruments parts, and these reeds from them have received almost five out of five stars from reviewers on Amazon, so they must be good enough.
This package of 10 reeds comes with the specified strength of 2.0, meaning that they’re some of the lightest to bend and easier to use. All of them come with uniform heads and they’re all protected and individually packaged in a plastic casing.
They’re made of cane and some users say that they can be compared to Vandoren reeds in both sound and longevity. Players that are starting to play on a student clarinet can use them for B flat instruments, but they should know that they might change the sound of the clarinet a bit. A big advantage that they provide is their consistency, which is particularly important for a beginner.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($12.99)
Yearly Guide & Report
If you’re just starting to play the clarinet and you are searching for clarinet reeds for beginners, or if you’re an experienced player looking for some extra information on the topic, here are some quick tips on how to choose the reeds so you can get the greatest sounds out of your best clarinet.
Reed strength
When discussing clarinet reeds, you will notice that a lot of focus is put on their strength. This is measured and expressed by a number, varying from 1 to 5. The higher the number, the stronger or harder the reed. With each increment, the clarity and quality of the sound coming out of the clarinet is improved.
However, a player should make sure that he or she is able to handle the reduced flexibility of a stronger reed before using it. While it’s ideal to move to the highest strengths, a clarinetist should never jump ahead of his ability to play and attempt to use a reed that is too hard. If you’re a beginner you should start with strength 1.5 or 2 reeds and gradually work your way up.
Some manufacturers use a soft-medium-hard scale to label their reeds. Experts say that it might be better to go from beginner reeds to Vandoren clarinet reeds for advanced players.
That is because they offer reeds in the lower strength region and they sound great. And if you like the sound of your clarinet you will be more inclined to play it and thus you’ll practice more.
If you also want to play a simpler instrument, or if you wish to experiment with other genres, try a blues harmonica.
Different cuts
For a beginner, the type of cut that the reed has might not matter. But this aspect can have a great impact on the performances of more advanced players. There are two kinds of cuts: a regular one and a French file cut. The second type generally offers a faster response.
To decide more easily which one fits your clarinet best, you should try to match it with the type of clarinet mouthpiece you have. If your instrument has a mouthpiece that offers a darker sound, then the French cut is more appropriate. Regular cut reeds are better for brighter sounding clarinets. Check out reviews and description of reeds to see how they make your instrument sound.
What reeds are made of
Typically, cane is the most used material when it comes to reeds. It’s reliable and manufacturers have decades of experience with processing it so the resulting reeds are of the highest quality. However, alternatives to cane have been found and certain brands use them.
Synthetic reeds are an option that can be particularly useful for the beginners. That’s because they’re made to be more flexible and easier to play. They also don’t need breaking in and you don’t have to worry about snapping them too much. Synthetic reeds are fairly resistant and will be more durable than their counterparts.
Another great advantage that they offer is that they’re highly resistant to adverse weather. Nonetheless, natural cane reeds tend to sound better if they are properly made and they can also offer more flexibility. On the downside, cane reeds are more prone to snapping so you will need to break them in first.
To avoid snapping in humid or cold conditions, you can try using harder cane reeds, but they are more difficult to play. In order to provide a balanced model between the two, some manufacturers are producing reeds that are semi-synthetic and contain cane as well.
These are pretty resistant and they should hold up to intense play, while still being flexible enough to provide comfort while playing the clarinet.
Frequently asked questions about clarinet reeds
How to put a reed in a clarinet?
Putting a reed in a clarinet is not a difficult task. First, remove the reed from its protective packaging. After that, place its flat side against the mouthpiece flat side. To make it get in easily, apply minimum pressure to the reed’s tip.
To ensure the reed will be placed in the correct position, line its tip to the tip of the mouthpiece. If you prefer, you can leave a small gap; some clarinetists find that more helpful. Lastly, place the ligature over the top and pay attention to the screws – they should face towards you. Tighten everything evenly and secure the reed in the right position.
What type of reed does a clarinet use?
Clarinets use a single reed, unlike other instruments such as oboe. A beginner clarinetist should strive to find a reed no stronger than 1.5. If you have been playing in the bottom octave for quite some time and you are confident in your skills and you’re getting better at reaching notes on the upper octave, you can try a number 2 reed.
This is the case if you feel that you could reach higher but your clarinet tends to produce some squeaking noises when using 1.5 sized reeds. There are reeds particularly made to fit each kind of clarinet and more often than not you can choose the strength of a particular model when ordering it.
If you’re looking for an instrument that doesn’t require the use of a reed, find yourself a flute for beginners.
How often should you change your clarinet reed?
As you might expect, there is no set answer to this question. Depending on your experience, the way you play and the reeds you need, you can use them for as little as 3 days or for as long as several months.
Some clarinet players try to use a whole set in a certain period. What this means is that if they have a set of 10 identical reeds they will start to use each of them, one after another, in each day, practically extending the life of each of them because they are used once in every ten occasions.
How long should a clarinet reed last?
Reeds don’t have an expiry date, although depending on how often and how intense you use them they will last about six months. The only sure way to tell if they need to be replaced is by looking at them. You know it’s time to change your reed when it’s been damaged, mainly when the tip of it has been chipped or it’s cracked.
Mold is another obvious sign that the reed is not good anymore. The bacteria in people’s mouth will cause reeds to mold over time and using those reeds will be both unhealthy for the player and bad for the instrument. To make sure that your reeds last longer, consider getting a clarinet reed case.
How much do clarinet reeds cost?
Clarinet reeds vary in price based on the clarinet type they are used for, the brand that produces them and the strength they have. A box of 10 is usually between $20 and $30 and it should last you a good while. You can find bigger packages, and the more they are in a box, the better the price for each of them.
Brands that are not too well known sell them for around $10 a box, but that doesn’t mean they are not good. On the opposite side, reeds specially made for a certain type of clarinet and targeted to more advanced players can reach $40 per box.
How do you know what size reed for the clarinet to choose?
The beginner clarinet reeds are designed for the new clarinetists because they are thinner, more flexible and thus easier to play with. Learners will want to start with a size 1.5 reed. Once they have a general idea of how to play the instrument they can advance to the 2 strength.
But playing with such a weak reed might make it very difficult to achieve some notes. That is why to get a fuller range of notes, some thicker reeds are required. Clarinet reed sizes of 2, 3 or even 3.5 are recommended to those that have an idea on how to play the instrument.
How to break in clarinet reeds?
Of course, reeds won’t sound great from the first try. Breaking them in is a process that takes a bit of time. When you want to break a reed in, make sure to wet it well using water. After you have your reed in place play it for just one minute. Attempt to play long tones, arpeggios, and others at a moderate dynamic level.
Don’t attempt any extraordinary techniques. After that, allow it to dry out completely in a storage compartment; it usually takes a day. The next day play it again, this time for around two minutes. Leave it again to dry. Repeat the process, each time increasing the playing duration with one or two minutes until you feel it’s good enough to be used.
What reeds do professional clarinet players use?
Because Vandoren is such a prestigious brand, professional and serious players tend to stick with their classic reeds. Competing with them is the Rico brand, which has presented to the market premium reeds such as the Rico Reserve model.
Professional reeds are cut from dense cane and they’re specially treated to decrease warping. They are great because they provide rich and warm tones, a strong projection and they offer the player the possibility to quickly articulate the sounds. The size 3 is what professionals usually find the best sounding.
Some professional clarinetists prefer something else, like thinner reeds with the strength of 2, or synthetic reeds.
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