How do I keep my reed from warping?
How do I keep my reed from warping?
Rotate Your Reeds The reed has been dry for at least two years before your student even gets it, and this “breaking in” process controls and slows the inevitable warping. Breaking in and rotating reeds will make them last significantly longer, saving parents money and helping students make consistent sounds.
Are reed cases good?
Reed Case. The reed case is the most important. You must remove your reed from the mouthpiece after each playing session and put it away in a reed case. If you don’t, the reed will dry out, warp and lose its playability very quickly.
How do you keep reed moist?
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. Put the reed covers (with the reeds inside them) in the of the plastic jar and seal the jar.
Do you have to wet the reed every time?
Cane reeds need some moisture, so you have to wet them every time you play. If you don’t, they will squeak, warp, and die faster. You can do it with luke warm water in a glass, or just in your mouth. Some of us will recommend to break-in a couple of reeds in advance, what I used to do.
What humidity should reeds be at?
Reed Storage When you store them, try and keep them in a humid environment of around 50% humidity. You will want to experiment with this humidity level based on where you live and how much you play. Some musicians like it a little dryer and some a little more wet, but 50% is a good place to start.
How long should you soak a new reed in water?
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).
Can you over wet a reed?
Can I make my reed too wet? The short answer here is no – you can’t really make a reed too wet. However, in the same breath, there is no need to drown it in saliva or water either.
Should I soak my 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.
Why do my reeds warp?
This means that your reed has a variety of unequal densities. It is these areas of uneven density that cause your reed to warp. Here is what happens: after you wet your reed to play it, the water in your saliva spreads evenly throughout the reed, filling up the driest and least dense areas first.
Can you soak a reed for too long?
Some players, especially in dry weather, prefer a little more soaking time and a some others like immersing the whole reed in the water. Then again, if you soak it for too long, it may end up becoming waterlogged, so try a balanced approach.
Can a reed be too wet?
The short answer here is no – you can’t really make a reed too wet. However, in the same breath, there is no need to drown it in saliva or water either. Perhaps the better phrasing might be that you need to “moisten your saxophone reed” or that you need to “moisten your saxophone reed” before playing.
How do you break in a reed?
5 Steps to Break-In Your Reeds:
- Take the reed out of its packaging.
- Dip in water and massage the cane to seal and close the pores.
- Do this for 3 days.
- On the 4th day, play for only a few minutes.
- Gradually increase the time playing the reed by a few minutes each day until a week has passed.
How do I know if my reed is too soft?
Some markers of when your reed is too soft:
- Your tone is extremely bright, but when you try harder reeds, it sounds darker (like a professional player’s).
- Your tone sounds buzzy, like a kazoo.
- Your tone sounds thin and weak when you play softly, and it’s very easy to play loud.
Are Vandoren reeds harder?
The Vandoren Blue Box are a Half strength harder than Rico. I’m enjoying Vandoren Juno clarinet reeds at the moment and these are numbered the same as Rico. The Juno reeds are also consistent in that they all play much the same.
Can you wet a reed with water?
Most players will use their saliva to moisten the reed. Basically, they will place it in their mouth to get it wet. Some players opt to use water. Water is more corrosive than saliva so it can take a longer time to moisten the cane; however, it is safer because it lessens the chance of food particles damaging the reed.
How do you know if a reed is too soft?
Why is my reed Airy?
An airy sound is usually caused by a reed which is either too hard or unbalanced. It is also common for an airy sound to be caused by leaks in the instrument.
How long does it take to break in new reeds?
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.
