Reeds

Three styles of Reeds

Just as there are different schools of oboe playing, there are different styles of oboe reeds. Each style of reed works within an entire playing system. The reed reflects a specific embouchure, concept of tone, instrument structure, and even intonation.

There are three general reed styles. Each follows a specific “scrape” or structural design.

French scrape (also known as short scrape, or one part) has a scrape that looks like a “U.”

German scrape (long scrape, or two-part), looks like a “W.” American (hump, or Tabuteau) has three distinct sections – a tip, a heart, and a

back.

French German American

Only American-style reeds should be used, both for this class, and for your students! It is important to be familiar with all three scrapes so that you know what you are looking at when you buy reeds. To check, hold the reed up to a light source, and look through it. The three sections of an American reed will appear in the shades of thickness. Most reeds sold in stores (even those marketed as American!) are in fact German scrape reeds. Beware!

What to look for when purchasing a reed

American scrape!! Good overlap. This refers to the way the blades meet on the side of the reed. The

blades should be off-set equally, with one tucked under the other. Both sides should look the same

Moderate tip opening: not too small (squished/flat), nor popped open and round. No warped cane, or separating sides No fishskin, wire, or tape. (these are to compensate for poor construction and

critical inadequacies.) Not over-tied. Look through the light, or check for synching at the top of the tube.

The thread-wraps holding the cane to the tube should NOT extend past the top of the tube.

Cane should be straight on the tube (look for this through the bottom of the cork) No fiber-cane (plastic)! These are usually a French scrape, and regardless, sound

awful!

Where to find reeds

For this class, I will provide reeds as needed. In the future, you should use, and recommend handmade, American-style reeds. Look for oboe specialists, and avoid mass produced reeds.

In storeAsk if they carry hand made reeds. If they aren’t sure, chances are they do not. If they do carry them, the reeds will likely have been supplied by a local oboist, or oboe business. Be sure to inspect these visually, as there is no guarantee they are from a good source, especially if the source is unknown!

OnlineAgain, when ordering online, avoid mass produced products. Shop at oboe specialty shops, or somewhere that employs a professional oboist to sell reeds. Some examples are:

Weber Reeds (webreeds.com)RDG Woodwinds (rdgwoodwinds.com)Charles Double Reeds (charlesmusic.com)Ann Hodge (hodgeproductsinc.com)

Private teachersThe best thing you can do for a young oboist, is to encourage them to take private lessons. Any professional oboist/teacher should make reeds for themselves and their students, so your student will have a reliable reed source. Starting an oboe student with a flute/sax/generic woodwind teacher will not be a service to them.

Locating an oboist (for reeds and lessons) Check with the local symphony, local college or American Federation of Musicians (AFM) to locate a professional oboist/reed-maker near you.

Factors that affect reeds (aka why we make our own)

Temperature and humidity can both wreak havoc on a reed. That is why your reed may have been fantastic yesterday, and feel terrible today. Altitude, embouchure, instrument, and an endless number of personal playing preferences, all have a drastic impact on what someone will consider a “good reed.” It is for these reasons that oboists make their own reeds, and many make them every day. In the long run, making your own reeds is the only way! Be sure not to hide this fact from your students.

Reed Maintenance

Once you have found an acceptable reed source, teach your students how to best preserve each reed.

StorageStore your reeds in a safe case. The plastic tubes many reeds are sold in are NOT good for your reed. The tip of an oboe reed can be as thin as 1/7 of a human hair! They are very fragile, and allowing them move around against the cotton/foam in a tube is a sure way to damage the tip. Cases with free-moving plastic pegs (called mandrels) are NOT safe either. It may appear that they will keep reeds from moving, but the spinning mandrel will allow the reed to flop back and forth in the case – again damaging the tip of the reed.

Acceptable reed cases include small three reed holders with an accordion shaped strip that holds the reeds, a plastic two-reed holder made by Rico, or any variety of larger reed cases that don’t have free moving mandrels.

SoakingAlways soak reeds before use. Water is better than saliva because it is faster, and does not digest the reed, as saliva does.

The temperature of the water will also have a dramatic effect on the reed. The hotter the water, the quicker the cane will soak. However, hot water will also open a reed up. This is a good trick to temporarily revive a dying reed, but is a bad choice for a reed that already feels open/strong/or hard. I recommend soaking in room-temperature water, unless otherwise needed.

Be careful not to over-soak! An over soaked reed will become resistant/hard, and reluctant to respond.

Remember not to soak the cork. It will swell, and loosen, making it difficult to put in the oboe, and eventually peel off.

Brush your teethBrush your teeth before playing? Yes, this will preserve your reed, as it will reduce the digestive enzymes in your mouth, and will prevent any food particles from clogging your reed. This is also important for instrument maintenance. It will prevent damage to the keypads, and avoid build up of unpleasant gunk in your tone holes.

How you know you need a new reedIt is ideal to replace reeds OFTEN, but in any case the following are some indications that it is time for a new reed:

Increasingly sharp pitch

Increasingly flat pitch (sudden or extreme flatness usually indicates that the reed has cracked.)

The reed closes down – you can’t blow as much air as you want through it, it may feel TOO easy to play.

It becomes harder to tongue quickly – usually related to closing, you can’t blow enough air to tongue easily

The tip of the reed is chipped, corners are missing, or the reed has cracked.