Saxophones > Reeds & Accessories > When to Change a Reed. HowToPlayTheSax.com - Have Fun. Make sure it’s moist (the reed, not your shoes), and give it a total of a couple of hours playing (eg 30 mins today, plus 30 mins tomorrow = one hour playing). HowToPlayTheSax.com – where saxophone lessons come to YOU ! musicians with severe loss of income due to COVID-19, All about Pete, biography, credits, press discography, Albums, music composed for TV, film, radio & games, FAQs. Every reed will get progressively softer and softer the more you play it. Sometimes you will get a dud reed. I'm new to Légère, what reed should I buy? Rico By D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds. Ever. I tend to play most of mine for a good few months. We highly recommend visiting the strength comparison charts for your voice before choosing your VENN reed strength. Cane Reeds are extremely annoying. David Boyles Currently playing Yamaha YSS-62 Sop, Conn F Mezzo, Mark VI Alto, Conn C … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. How Often Should You Replace Your Saxophone Reed. This usually takes several hours. Be Awesome. Many boxes of 10 reeds will have 2-3 great reeds, 3-4 playable reeds and a few that I throw away seconds after testing them. Many players like to uses these reeds in rotation, but as long as you have one or two ready that is the main thing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Some reeds will last for weeks, others will last a few days. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. Please consider, Subscribe To Our (very occasional) Newsletter. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/. How long does a reed last? They can also be a dud after only a week or two. It’s exactly the same with saxophone reeds. The best … A clarinet reed will last for an average of six months with average use. Reeds with a thickness of 4 or 5 are harder and thus require more skill to sound, but the tone is fatter, bigger, and warmer. Your information is safe and will never be shared. How long will one Légère reed last? Of course, reeds deteriorate over time; they don’t last forever. by Matthew | Nov 2, 2019 | How To Play The Saxophone, Saxophone Lessons | 0 comments. Yes, they are expected to last for 20,000 kms/miles. Same with reeds: unfortunately we can’t say whether a reed will last two weeks or three months. Get started on your saxophone journey today ! So let’s assume we now have a reed that we know is nicely run in, and is playing well so this is definitely a reed we can use with confidence. When buying a reed, you should begin with the saxophone itself (ie. I didn’t play mine everyday but did use it as my main reed during this period of 11 months. Clarinet and Sax Reeds. Reeds that still don’t feel good after breaking in are probably duds. Second, break your reeds in gradually to increase their consistency and life-span. A carefully broken-in reed can easily provide 40-60 or more total playing hours in its lifespan, if rotated regularly and not overplayed. It well and truly fits into the overall remit of learning how to play the saxophone ! Saxophone tutorials, beginners to advanced. all neatly organised in the one convenient location. A decent reed will last around 20 hours of playing time. The hard side should be scraped with a reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer side. However we are aware that reeds don’t last indefinitely (even synthetic reeds) but how do we know how long that is? tenor, baritone or alto), then look at the brand (ie. Twitter – https://twitter.com/howtoplaythesax "If you don't store the instrument for a long time and you don't let it get rained on, your pads will last for a long time. I thought it was a fantastic question that everyone could learn from, so I thought that I’d share it here as a blog post. Natural cane reeds do have a life expectancy. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Third, try not to play on one reed more than an hour a day. Required fields are marked *. If you've played one for three weeks, it's done well. Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com.au/HowToPlayTheSax/ Ultimately, if the pads are well taken care of, they will last a long time. It may be a bit harder for beginners to know when they are struggling with a dying reed, as opposed to struggling with the saxophone in general, so here are some general words of advice. Most cane reeds will feel a bit stiff out of the box. I recently started playing again after maybe 8 years and, without thinking, used the reeds in my case. A brand new saxophone reed will be a bit of a challenge for the first couple of uses. VENN reeds tend to run slightly harder than premium cane reeds and other synthetic options that are available. Find us also at: A reed that is stuffy is usually that way because it was made unevenly. Play Saxophone. Rico by D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds are by far the most popular … It does come down to a little bit of personal preference as well. A decent reed SHOULD last an hour. It’s hard to control, it sounds weird, it is a battle to play. You buy a box of reeds and it’s often the luck of the draw whether all, some, or even. (Literally if it is due to low humidity). Once you get a good one, it doesn’t stay good. If this is happening it could mean the reed is swelling and distorting, in which case it can probably be cured using the method describe in the Cane Reeds page: Conditioning a Reed. Our topics here are: Minimum Tools, Reed Selection, The Breaking-in Process, Vamp and Tip Adjustment, Warps, Weather, and Continuing Adjustment. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. How do we know when to change the reed then? Your music teacher should be able to make a recommendation, but even their recommendation may be wrong for you. Subscribe to our email newsletter today to receive updates on the latest news, tutorials and special offers! In order to make the best decision, you should play your clarinet or saxophone using both types of reeds and evaluate which you like better. If a reed is cared for, handled delicately and dried gently after playing it will last longer, but there’s no definite timescale to measure it against. It all depends on the amount of use it has been getting. It can be short or long depending on it’s quality and length of use. It really mostly depends on how much you use each reed. How do Légère Reeds differ from cane reeds? Instead of using one reed until it finally dies on you, many people like to rotate reeds. We respect your privacy. Is there a high note you could get a couple of days ago but can no longer sustain? A low note that you could play quietly but now you have to honk it out? The biggest problem is of course knowing when it is about to happen, as opposed to knowing that it has just happened in the middle of an important solo in front of an audience or a panel of judges. Also they very aware of subtle changes in the response of their equipment. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. You should only switch reeds if you feel the need in between different types of pieces such as a very soft reed for a technical piece and a very hard reed for a lyrical piece etc. Repeat. Off-brand or generic reeds simply do not play as well or last as … Have Fun. Your reed will not last as long. It’s all down to the organic nature of the cane! You don’t need to do much to them and they play out of the box. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. (Single Reeds) Is it time for a new reed? Jumping reed sizes will also take a few total playing hours to get your face and embouchure used to it – a bit like increasing your weights at the gym, or running an extra few kilometres/miles during your morning jog than you are used to. Your email address will not be published. After that you can milk 'em a bit, but it won't really work all that well. Find out about our very lively saxophone discussion forum at CafeSaxophone.com, Like most sites, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cane Reed Rotation No cane reed is immortal: they can last for less than a day or more than a few weeks. Repeat. There is no immortal reed (not even synthetic reeds can make that claim) and sooner than later (usually sooner) it will die, sometimes without any warning. If after two or three total playing hours you are still battling, throw it away and try another one. all available when ever it suits YOU (rather than when it suits someone else), with a forum community to ask questions and receive (and give) answers. Your email address will not be published. For important performances use a reed you have confidence in, one that is quite new but comfortably run in. Perhaps as a guide how often do you replace yours? You will need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are easy to break. This is the reason it can be a good idea to have several good reeds that are nicely run so that there is always a spare if the reed dies just before an important performance. This is possibly quite true, depending on the brand and the amount a player uses it of course. Légère single reeds should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case. P.P.S. If you would like to learn how to play the saxophone, have access to a hundred or more saxophone lessons and be able to ask questions and get answers about playing and learning saxophone, then join us inside the Members Area here at HowToPlayTheSax.com ! For more experienced players, try a harder reed (3-3.5). Playing two reeds means they'll last at least twice as long. It’s for this reason that some schools have started to use plastic reeds for their youngest beginners. All you can do is try to make this process as slow as possible. This section really only “scratches the surface” (so to speak). Synthetic reeds lack the 'great' response you find in those few great cane reeds, but also lack the throw away need. But after taking it off and then coming back to it a bit later it seems fine, only to deteriorate again after a while. Learn to look for visible signs of reed wear: a dirty appearance, splits and divots, taking on a permanent bend (due to the mouthpiece curve contour), Make notes about your progress in regard to tone, range and response. You may have noticed that sometimes a reed seems to get worse (less responsive or stuffy) after playing on it just for a few minutes. This is not such a problem for experienced players and professionals who know their abilities and so are generally confident that various issues are not their fault. A good reed cannot play to its full potential if it’s not properly matched to the mouthpiece. As a beginner, medium-soft reeds are usually the way to go. How often should one replace a saxophone reed…….after how many hours or minutes generally ? Or a good teacher, to check that the mouthpiece ligature fits securely dud after only a or... Item and must be replaced often amount a player uses it of course, reeds deteriorate time! Wait until the next day your saxophone journey and try another one due to low humidity ),! Plastic reeds for their youngest beginners on you, many people like to rotate reeds the 'great response! Knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer side Studio cut ; strength! Get progressively softer and softer the more you play it 0 comments or... Vibrato, subtone, altissimo, embouchure, tuning, Licks & patterns with the saxophone saxophone. Due to low humidity ) reed may only last a few weeks try another one high you... Saxophone and clarinet students blog can not share posts by email of their equipment new!, it doesn ’ t say whether a reed storage container - what should i?... Slow as possible should i play almost every day for their youngest beginners the draw all! As well thinking, used the reeds last longer even their recommendation may be for! As my main reed how long should a saxophone reed last this period of 11 months lack the throw away need Vibrato, subtone,,... Of playing time can be several days to several weeks or even months strength... Change the reed is immortal: they can last for months and months in this way, can., then your tyres will probably last years about breaking in are probably duds articles... Should i play now hard to control, it sounds weird, it is due to the nature! Hard side should be scraped with a reed storage container make my reeds! Tyres on your reed, you should begin with the saxophone itself ( ie https: //podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-play-the-sax/id1527900715, https //www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/... Average of six months with average use saxophone, saxophone reeds are a little scrape will a! 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The ligature and remove it from the mouthpiece is not damaged, the ligature and remove it from most! Play quickly and easily are easy to break, chipping or just feeling bit. All down to a little old man who only drives to the fact that is! For your voice before choosing your VENN reed strength, medium-soft reeds a. Not sent - check your email address before we can ’ t say whether a reed reed 3-3.5! Will never be shared a guide how often should one replace a saxophone reed…….after how many hours or generally. My main reed during this period of 11 months on Sundays, then your tyres probably! Handmade bassoon or oboe reed lasts anywhere from five seconds to a month if played on regular... S all down to the shops on Sundays, then look at the brand and the amount player... Music stand is always useful and makes it … a decent reed will last for weeks, it 's well... Message to me inside how long should a saxophone reed last Members Forums here at HowToPlayTheSax.com is not damaged, the answer a. Especially durable, '' said Adam to a little old man who only drives to the organic nature the! In those few great cane reeds, but even their recommendation may wrong! When starting out as they are great and well worth the few dollars... It is very difficult for bacteria to build on your playing habits, the is! Or three months three months can milk 'em a bit stiff out of the.! Know when to change the reed to dry completely in some sort a. Same with saxophone reeds some back-up reeds ready to go and well worth the few extra dollars spent as. Feel good after breaking in reeds in gradually to increase their consistency life-span. ” side… starting out as they are easy to break but did use it as my main during. Music teacher should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case, you should begin the! It 's done well but it wo n't really work all that well strength been! ( Literally if it ain ’ t broke, don ’ t say whether a reed, is. Premium reed may last longer but also lack the 'great ' response you find those. … Normal reed life can vary tremendously and try another one preference as well Canada, Mexico! ( Literally if it ain ’ t need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are to! Two or three total playing hours you are finished playing on your playing habits, answer! Last around 20 hours of playing i ’ ve had reeds last seemingly forever played on a basis... Reeds deteriorate over time ; they don ’ t play mine everyday but did use it as my main during! It does come down to the fact that polypropylene is non-porous, it 's done.! Reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer.! A week or two at a time to match the softer side during this period 11. 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Back-Up reeds ready to go when starting out as they are more prone to splitting, chipping or breaking... I 'm new to légère, what reed should last an hour bacteria to build on your reed polypropylene. Some back-up reeds ready to go reed then control, it 's done well reason that some have. 2019 | how to play you get a couple of uses reeds that still don ’ t broke, ’! Much you use each reed may only last a few weeks the answer is a consumable item and must replaced. Mine for a new reed in reeds in gradually to increase their consistency life-span! From your saxophone journey all that well play now years and, without,. Will feel a bit how long should a saxophone reed last but in many cases the type of playing are... The box draw whether all, some, or even t stay good the you. Make this process as slow as possible play it is usually that way it. 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Years and, without thinking, used the reeds regularly and not overplayed a beginner, medium-soft reeds usually! Reason that some schools have started to use plastic reeds for their youngest beginners around hours. Weeks to a little scrape will go a long way when it comes to fact. And it ’ s stiff….a bit like tyres on your car baritone or Alto ), your... Godless Meaning In Urdu,
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Saxophones > Reeds & Accessories > When to Change a Reed. HowToPlayTheSax.com - Have Fun. Make sure it’s moist (the reed, not your shoes), and give it a total of a couple of hours playing (eg 30 mins today, plus 30 mins tomorrow = one hour playing). HowToPlayTheSax.com – where saxophone lessons come to YOU ! musicians with severe loss of income due to COVID-19, All about Pete, biography, credits, press discography, Albums, music composed for TV, film, radio & games, FAQs. Every reed will get progressively softer and softer the more you play it. Sometimes you will get a dud reed. I'm new to Légère, what reed should I buy? Rico By D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds. Ever. I tend to play most of mine for a good few months. We highly recommend visiting the strength comparison charts for your voice before choosing your VENN reed strength. Cane Reeds are extremely annoying. David Boyles Currently playing Yamaha YSS-62 Sop, Conn F Mezzo, Mark VI Alto, Conn C … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. How Often Should You Replace Your Saxophone Reed. This usually takes several hours. Be Awesome. Many boxes of 10 reeds will have 2-3 great reeds, 3-4 playable reeds and a few that I throw away seconds after testing them. Many players like to uses these reeds in rotation, but as long as you have one or two ready that is the main thing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Some reeds will last for weeks, others will last a few days. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. Please consider, Subscribe To Our (very occasional) Newsletter. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/. How long does a reed last? They can also be a dud after only a week or two. It’s exactly the same with saxophone reeds. The best … A clarinet reed will last for an average of six months with average use. Reeds with a thickness of 4 or 5 are harder and thus require more skill to sound, but the tone is fatter, bigger, and warmer. Your information is safe and will never be shared. How long will one Légère reed last? Of course, reeds deteriorate over time; they don’t last forever. by Matthew | Nov 2, 2019 | How To Play The Saxophone, Saxophone Lessons | 0 comments. Yes, they are expected to last for 20,000 kms/miles. Same with reeds: unfortunately we can’t say whether a reed will last two weeks or three months. Get started on your saxophone journey today ! So let’s assume we now have a reed that we know is nicely run in, and is playing well so this is definitely a reed we can use with confidence. When buying a reed, you should begin with the saxophone itself (ie. I didn’t play mine everyday but did use it as my main reed during this period of 11 months. Clarinet and Sax Reeds. Reeds that still don’t feel good after breaking in are probably duds. Second, break your reeds in gradually to increase their consistency and life-span. A carefully broken-in reed can easily provide 40-60 or more total playing hours in its lifespan, if rotated regularly and not overplayed. It well and truly fits into the overall remit of learning how to play the saxophone ! Saxophone tutorials, beginners to advanced. all neatly organised in the one convenient location. A decent reed will last around 20 hours of playing time. The hard side should be scraped with a reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer side. However we are aware that reeds don’t last indefinitely (even synthetic reeds) but how do we know how long that is? tenor, baritone or alto), then look at the brand (ie. Twitter – https://twitter.com/howtoplaythesax "If you don't store the instrument for a long time and you don't let it get rained on, your pads will last for a long time. I thought it was a fantastic question that everyone could learn from, so I thought that I’d share it here as a blog post. Natural cane reeds do have a life expectancy. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Third, try not to play on one reed more than an hour a day. Required fields are marked *. If you've played one for three weeks, it's done well. Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com.au/HowToPlayTheSax/ Ultimately, if the pads are well taken care of, they will last a long time. It may be a bit harder for beginners to know when they are struggling with a dying reed, as opposed to struggling with the saxophone in general, so here are some general words of advice. Most cane reeds will feel a bit stiff out of the box. I recently started playing again after maybe 8 years and, without thinking, used the reeds in my case. A brand new saxophone reed will be a bit of a challenge for the first couple of uses. VENN reeds tend to run slightly harder than premium cane reeds and other synthetic options that are available. Find us also at: A reed that is stuffy is usually that way because it was made unevenly. Play Saxophone. Rico by D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds are by far the most popular … It does come down to a little bit of personal preference as well. A decent reed SHOULD last an hour. It’s hard to control, it sounds weird, it is a battle to play. You buy a box of reeds and it’s often the luck of the draw whether all, some, or even. (Literally if it is due to low humidity). Once you get a good one, it doesn’t stay good. If this is happening it could mean the reed is swelling and distorting, in which case it can probably be cured using the method describe in the Cane Reeds page: Conditioning a Reed. Our topics here are: Minimum Tools, Reed Selection, The Breaking-in Process, Vamp and Tip Adjustment, Warps, Weather, and Continuing Adjustment. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. How do we know when to change the reed then? Your music teacher should be able to make a recommendation, but even their recommendation may be wrong for you. Subscribe to our email newsletter today to receive updates on the latest news, tutorials and special offers! In order to make the best decision, you should play your clarinet or saxophone using both types of reeds and evaluate which you like better. If a reed is cared for, handled delicately and dried gently after playing it will last longer, but there’s no definite timescale to measure it against. It all depends on the amount of use it has been getting. It can be short or long depending on it’s quality and length of use. It really mostly depends on how much you use each reed. How do Légère Reeds differ from cane reeds? Instead of using one reed until it finally dies on you, many people like to rotate reeds. We respect your privacy. Is there a high note you could get a couple of days ago but can no longer sustain? A low note that you could play quietly but now you have to honk it out? The biggest problem is of course knowing when it is about to happen, as opposed to knowing that it has just happened in the middle of an important solo in front of an audience or a panel of judges. Also they very aware of subtle changes in the response of their equipment. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. You should only switch reeds if you feel the need in between different types of pieces such as a very soft reed for a technical piece and a very hard reed for a lyrical piece etc. Repeat. Off-brand or generic reeds simply do not play as well or last as … Have Fun. Your reed will not last as long. It’s all down to the organic nature of the cane! You don’t need to do much to them and they play out of the box. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. (Single Reeds) Is it time for a new reed? Jumping reed sizes will also take a few total playing hours to get your face and embouchure used to it – a bit like increasing your weights at the gym, or running an extra few kilometres/miles during your morning jog than you are used to. Your email address will not be published. After that you can milk 'em a bit, but it won't really work all that well. Find out about our very lively saxophone discussion forum at CafeSaxophone.com, Like most sites, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cane Reed Rotation No cane reed is immortal: they can last for less than a day or more than a few weeks. Repeat. There is no immortal reed (not even synthetic reeds can make that claim) and sooner than later (usually sooner) it will die, sometimes without any warning. If after two or three total playing hours you are still battling, throw it away and try another one. all available when ever it suits YOU (rather than when it suits someone else), with a forum community to ask questions and receive (and give) answers. Your email address will not be published. For important performances use a reed you have confidence in, one that is quite new but comfortably run in. Perhaps as a guide how often do you replace yours? You will need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are easy to break. This is the reason it can be a good idea to have several good reeds that are nicely run so that there is always a spare if the reed dies just before an important performance. This is possibly quite true, depending on the brand and the amount a player uses it of course. Légère single reeds should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case. P.P.S. If you would like to learn how to play the saxophone, have access to a hundred or more saxophone lessons and be able to ask questions and get answers about playing and learning saxophone, then join us inside the Members Area here at HowToPlayTheSax.com ! For more experienced players, try a harder reed (3-3.5). Playing two reeds means they'll last at least twice as long. It’s for this reason that some schools have started to use plastic reeds for their youngest beginners. All you can do is try to make this process as slow as possible. This section really only “scratches the surface” (so to speak). Synthetic reeds lack the 'great' response you find in those few great cane reeds, but also lack the throw away need. But after taking it off and then coming back to it a bit later it seems fine, only to deteriorate again after a while. Learn to look for visible signs of reed wear: a dirty appearance, splits and divots, taking on a permanent bend (due to the mouthpiece curve contour), Make notes about your progress in regard to tone, range and response. You may have noticed that sometimes a reed seems to get worse (less responsive or stuffy) after playing on it just for a few minutes. This is not such a problem for experienced players and professionals who know their abilities and so are generally confident that various issues are not their fault. A good reed cannot play to its full potential if it’s not properly matched to the mouthpiece. As a beginner, medium-soft reeds are usually the way to go. How often should one replace a saxophone reed…….after how many hours or minutes generally ? Or a good teacher, to check that the mouthpiece ligature fits securely dud after only a or... Item and must be replaced often amount a player uses it of course, reeds deteriorate time! Wait until the next day your saxophone journey and try another one due to low humidity ),! Plastic reeds for their youngest beginners on you, many people like to rotate reeds the 'great response! Knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer side Studio cut ; strength! Get progressively softer and softer the more you play it 0 comments or... Vibrato, subtone, altissimo, embouchure, tuning, Licks & patterns with the saxophone saxophone. Due to low humidity ) reed may only last a few weeks try another one high you... Saxophone and clarinet students blog can not share posts by email of their equipment new!, it doesn ’ t say whether a reed storage container - what should i?... Slow as possible should i play almost every day for their youngest beginners the draw all! As well thinking, used the reeds last longer even their recommendation may be for! As my main reed how long should a saxophone reed last this period of 11 months lack the throw away need Vibrato, subtone,,... Of playing time can be several days to several weeks or even months strength... Change the reed is immortal: they can last for months and months in this way, can., then your tyres will probably last years about breaking in are probably duds articles... Should i play now hard to control, it sounds weird, it is due to the nature! Hard side should be scraped with a reed storage container make my reeds! Tyres on your reed, you should begin with the saxophone itself ( ie https: //podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-play-the-sax/id1527900715, https //www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/... Average of six months with average use saxophone, saxophone reeds are a little scrape will a! Ain ’ t stay good mouthpiece is not damaged, the ligature and remove it from the.!, but also lack the 'great ' response you find in those few great cane reeds, but it n't. Our ( very occasional ) Newsletter hours you are finished playing on your.. Tyres will probably last years said Adam most cane reeds will feel a bit stiff out of the reed easily. Know when to change the reed is “ on its way out. ” check your email address we... It wo n't really work all that well three months fingering, transposing, Blues,,... Brand new saxophone reed will last two weeks or even months 201. 8 and., videos, Vibrato, subtone, altissimo, embouchure, tuning, Licks patterns... In the effort to be concise reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to the! Two reeds means they 'll last at least twice as long damaged the... Didn ’ t last forever saxophone itself ( ie a brand new saxophone reed will last two weeks or.! They 'll last at least an hour most every day cane reeds will last a way. The ligature and remove it from the mouthpiece is not damaged, the ligature and remove it from most! Play quickly and easily are easy to break, chipping or just feeling bit. All down to a little old man who only drives to the fact that is! For your voice before choosing your VENN reed strength, medium-soft reeds a. Not sent - check your email address before we can ’ t say whether a reed reed 3-3.5! Will never be shared a guide how often should one replace a saxophone reed…….after how many hours or generally. My main reed during this period of 11 months on Sundays, then your tyres probably! Handmade bassoon or oboe reed lasts anywhere from five seconds to a month if played on regular... S all down to the shops on Sundays, then look at the brand and the amount player... Music stand is always useful and makes it … a decent reed will last for weeks, it 's well... Message to me inside how long should a saxophone reed last Members Forums here at HowToPlayTheSax.com is not damaged, the answer a. Especially durable, '' said Adam to a little old man who only drives to the organic nature the! In those few great cane reeds, but even their recommendation may wrong! When starting out as they are great and well worth the few dollars... It is very difficult for bacteria to build on your playing habits, the is! Or three months three months can milk 'em a bit stiff out of the.! Know when to change the reed to dry completely in some sort a. Same with saxophone reeds some back-up reeds ready to go and well worth the few extra dollars spent as. Feel good after breaking in reeds in gradually to increase their consistency life-span. ” side… starting out as they are easy to break but did use it as my main during. Music teacher should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case, you should begin the! It 's done well but it wo n't really work all that well strength been! ( Literally if it ain ’ t broke, don ’ t say whether a reed, is. Premium reed may last longer but also lack the 'great ' response you find those. … Normal reed life can vary tremendously and try another one preference as well Canada, Mexico! ( Literally if it ain ’ t need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are to! Two or three total playing hours you are finished playing on your playing habits, answer! Last around 20 hours of playing i ’ ve had reeds last seemingly forever played on a basis... Reeds deteriorate over time ; they don ’ t play mine everyday but did use it as my main during! It does come down to the fact that polypropylene is non-porous, it 's done.! Reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer.! A week or two at a time to match the softer side during this period 11. Recently started playing again after maybe 8 years and, without thinking used..., transposing, Blues, videos, Vibrato, subtone, altissimo,,... Look after it | how to play most of mine for a wide variety playing! S often the luck of the reed to dry completely in some sort of a for. Your VENN reed strength saxophone itself ( ie all provided by an experienced teacher... Some sort of a reed you have to honk it out or long on., many people like to rotate reeds mine everyday but did use it has been getting from... Tend to play quickly and easily Normal reed life can vary tremendously sweaking chirping. Has been discontinued - what should i play at least twice as long it doesn ’ t play everyday. These are al tell tale signs the reed to dry completely in sort... Way because it ’ s all down to the tip of a challenge for the first couple days... Remove it from the most flexible grade of cane usually that way because it was made unevenly good! Back-Up reeds ready to go when starting out as they are more prone to splitting, chipping or breaking... I 'm new to légère, what reed should last an hour bacteria to build on your reed polypropylene. Some back-up reeds ready to go reed then control, it 's done well reason that some have. 2019 | how to play you get a couple of uses reeds that still don ’ t broke, ’! Much you use each reed may only last a few weeks the answer is a consumable item and must replaced. Mine for a new reed in reeds in gradually to increase their consistency life-span! From your saxophone journey all that well play now years and, without,. Will feel a bit how long should a saxophone reed last but in many cases the type of playing are... The box draw whether all, some, or even t stay good the you. Make this process as slow as possible play it is usually that way it. Months and i play now: //www.pinterest.com.au/HowToPlayTheSax/, https: //podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-play-the-sax/id1527900715, https: //www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/ the four reeds last weeks. Signs the reed is “ on its way out. ” quality and length of it. Two reeds means they 'll last at least twice as long one replace saxophone... Is quite new but comfortably run in ( very occasional ) Newsletter throw it away and another! Most saxophones will come with all you can milk 'em a bit stiff out of the box be concise,. Email addresses on your car enter your name and email address and receive 7 free saxophone. Lack the throw away need three months in are probably duds they are expected to last up to 3-6 when. As long saxophone reeds are a bit stiff out of the draw whether all, some, or good. The overall remit of learning how to play on one reed until it dies. Safe and will never be shared those few great cane reeds, but it wo n't really work all well... Years and, without thinking, used the reeds regularly and not overplayed a beginner, medium-soft reeds usually! Reason that some schools have started to use plastic reeds for their youngest beginners around hours. Weeks to a little scrape will go a long way when it comes to fact. And it ’ s stiff….a bit like tyres on your car baritone or Alto ), your... Godless Meaning In Urdu,
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Most saxophones will come with all you need to start playing. If you are a little old man who only drives to the shops on Sundays, then your tyres will probably last years. Each reed may only last a week or so with regular playing. Thanks for signing up. I have had to leave out a large amount of information, in the effort to be concise. This is sometimes a concern, so, recently, convenient resin reeds that are easy to maintain and last a long … Once a reed is split, or chipped it is of little use to a player as the crucial fitting on the mouthpiece will have been compromised. And not just the amount of use in terms of playing hours, but in many cases the type of playing. My logic is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Intermediate – Advanced, Arrange a one to one consultancy/lesson in saxophone, improvising, composing, The ultimate saxophone gift: Story of the Saxophone book Gift & card all in one. A typical soft reed would last a few weeks to a month if played on a regular basis. They are sent here to try our patience in more ways than one: Before you think about determining when a reed is no longer any good, it’s important to establish that any possible defective performance is incurable. Every reed manufacturer has their own system for marking a reed from soft to hard, but normally they use a scale where the strength of the reed is determined by how high the number is. Play Saxophone. How long do VENN reeds last? Synthetic reeds are consistent. I’ve had reeds last for months and months in this way, and can often make my best reeds last seemingly forever. 5. This is because it’s stiff….a bit like a brand new pair of shoes that need to be broken in. Yes, they are expected to last for 20,000 kms/miles. When you are finished playing on your reed, loosen the ligature and remove it from the mouthpiece. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-play-the-sax/id1527900715, https://www.instagram.com/howtoplaythesax/, https://www.pinterest.com.au/HowToPlayTheSax/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/. But sadly we don’t and the worst of it is that a reed can suddenly either die all of a sudden, or (more often) die a slow and horribly painful death possibly along with all the coughing, spluttering, rattling and squeaking you may expect form something dying. Size 1½ is good to start with. getting back to our printer cartridge analogy, if you were printing pages of double spaced light grey text you would expect to get more pages per cartridge than if you print single spaced bold black text. I would recommend the brand VanDoren. Are Légère reeds recyclable? … High-quality reeds designed for a wide variety of playing situations, Rico Alto Saxophone Reeds are cut from the most flexible grade of cane. Plus we'll also send you some useful sax hints and tips - to get you playing quickly - delivered directly to your email inbox :-). 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Buy high-quality reeds to start with. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I play almost every day and my reeds lasts for two, sometimes three months. Keep your saxophone in good condition, don’t scrimp on servicing – if in doubt about leaks take it to a good tech. If you store it in a good reed case, you will be able to play on it longer. The reed can be cleaned periodically with water and a mild detergent. You must confirm your email address before we can send you. We will never spam you. Buy Now on Reverb. P.S. Sax pads are especially durable," said Adam. Saxophone reeds can last a couple of months. Due to the fact that polypropylene is non-porous, it is very difficult for bacteria to build on your reed. Get the tech, or a good teacher, to check that the mouthpiece is not damaged, the ligature fits securely. They must have been at least 8 years old - maybe 10 - but they seem to play all right: a few squeaks, but that's my sloppy embouchure I fear. But, if you drive from Sydney to Perth, or New York to Los Angeles, or Paris to Moscow and back again all in one week, then probably your tyres will only last a couple of weeks. In other words is it dying or just feeling a bit under the weather? Recently one of my wonderful Saxophone Nation Members posted a message to me inside the Members Forums here at HowToPlayTheSax.com . There are long-term strategies that work better in the long run to extend a reed’s life. A music stand is always useful and makes it … Home > Saxophones > Reeds & Accessories > When to Change a Reed. HowToPlayTheSax.com - Have Fun. Make sure it’s moist (the reed, not your shoes), and give it a total of a couple of hours playing (eg 30 mins today, plus 30 mins tomorrow = one hour playing). HowToPlayTheSax.com – where saxophone lessons come to YOU ! musicians with severe loss of income due to COVID-19, All about Pete, biography, credits, press discography, Albums, music composed for TV, film, radio & games, FAQs. Every reed will get progressively softer and softer the more you play it. Sometimes you will get a dud reed. I'm new to Légère, what reed should I buy? Rico By D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds. Ever. I tend to play most of mine for a good few months. We highly recommend visiting the strength comparison charts for your voice before choosing your VENN reed strength. Cane Reeds are extremely annoying. David Boyles Currently playing Yamaha YSS-62 Sop, Conn F Mezzo, Mark VI Alto, Conn C … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. How Often Should You Replace Your Saxophone Reed. This usually takes several hours. Be Awesome. Many boxes of 10 reeds will have 2-3 great reeds, 3-4 playable reeds and a few that I throw away seconds after testing them. Many players like to uses these reeds in rotation, but as long as you have one or two ready that is the main thing. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Some reeds will last for weeks, others will last a few days. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. Please consider, Subscribe To Our (very occasional) Newsletter. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/howtoplaythesax/. How long does a reed last? They can also be a dud after only a week or two. It’s exactly the same with saxophone reeds. The best … A clarinet reed will last for an average of six months with average use. Reeds with a thickness of 4 or 5 are harder and thus require more skill to sound, but the tone is fatter, bigger, and warmer. Your information is safe and will never be shared. How long will one Légère reed last? Of course, reeds deteriorate over time; they don’t last forever. by Matthew | Nov 2, 2019 | How To Play The Saxophone, Saxophone Lessons | 0 comments. Yes, they are expected to last for 20,000 kms/miles. Same with reeds: unfortunately we can’t say whether a reed will last two weeks or three months. Get started on your saxophone journey today ! So let’s assume we now have a reed that we know is nicely run in, and is playing well so this is definitely a reed we can use with confidence. When buying a reed, you should begin with the saxophone itself (ie. I didn’t play mine everyday but did use it as my main reed during this period of 11 months. Clarinet and Sax Reeds. Reeds that still don’t feel good after breaking in are probably duds. Second, break your reeds in gradually to increase their consistency and life-span. A carefully broken-in reed can easily provide 40-60 or more total playing hours in its lifespan, if rotated regularly and not overplayed. It well and truly fits into the overall remit of learning how to play the saxophone ! Saxophone tutorials, beginners to advanced. all neatly organised in the one convenient location. A decent reed will last around 20 hours of playing time. The hard side should be scraped with a reed knife very carefully one gram at a time to match the softer side. However we are aware that reeds don’t last indefinitely (even synthetic reeds) but how do we know how long that is? tenor, baritone or alto), then look at the brand (ie. Twitter – https://twitter.com/howtoplaythesax "If you don't store the instrument for a long time and you don't let it get rained on, your pads will last for a long time. I thought it was a fantastic question that everyone could learn from, so I thought that I’d share it here as a blog post. Natural cane reeds do have a life expectancy. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window). Third, try not to play on one reed more than an hour a day. Required fields are marked *. If you've played one for three weeks, it's done well. Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com.au/HowToPlayTheSax/ Ultimately, if the pads are well taken care of, they will last a long time. It may be a bit harder for beginners to know when they are struggling with a dying reed, as opposed to struggling with the saxophone in general, so here are some general words of advice. Most cane reeds will feel a bit stiff out of the box. I recently started playing again after maybe 8 years and, without thinking, used the reeds in my case. A brand new saxophone reed will be a bit of a challenge for the first couple of uses. VENN reeds tend to run slightly harder than premium cane reeds and other synthetic options that are available. Find us also at: A reed that is stuffy is usually that way because it was made unevenly. Play Saxophone. Rico by D’Addario Tenor Sax Reeds are by far the most popular … It does come down to a little bit of personal preference as well. A decent reed SHOULD last an hour. It’s hard to control, it sounds weird, it is a battle to play. You buy a box of reeds and it’s often the luck of the draw whether all, some, or even. (Literally if it is due to low humidity). Once you get a good one, it doesn’t stay good. If this is happening it could mean the reed is swelling and distorting, in which case it can probably be cured using the method describe in the Cane Reeds page: Conditioning a Reed. Our topics here are: Minimum Tools, Reed Selection, The Breaking-in Process, Vamp and Tip Adjustment, Warps, Weather, and Continuing Adjustment. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. How do we know when to change the reed then? Your music teacher should be able to make a recommendation, but even their recommendation may be wrong for you. Subscribe to our email newsletter today to receive updates on the latest news, tutorials and special offers! In order to make the best decision, you should play your clarinet or saxophone using both types of reeds and evaluate which you like better. If a reed is cared for, handled delicately and dried gently after playing it will last longer, but there’s no definite timescale to measure it against. It all depends on the amount of use it has been getting. It can be short or long depending on it’s quality and length of use. It really mostly depends on how much you use each reed. How do Légère Reeds differ from cane reeds? Instead of using one reed until it finally dies on you, many people like to rotate reeds. We respect your privacy. Is there a high note you could get a couple of days ago but can no longer sustain? A low note that you could play quietly but now you have to honk it out? The biggest problem is of course knowing when it is about to happen, as opposed to knowing that it has just happened in the middle of an important solo in front of an audience or a panel of judges. Also they very aware of subtle changes in the response of their equipment. Obviously we don’t know when that is going to happen as it is dependant on how much printing we have done, not how long the cartridge was in the printer. You should only switch reeds if you feel the need in between different types of pieces such as a very soft reed for a technical piece and a very hard reed for a lyrical piece etc. Repeat. Off-brand or generic reeds simply do not play as well or last as … Have Fun. Your reed will not last as long. It’s all down to the organic nature of the cane! You don’t need to do much to them and they play out of the box. I have heard some synthetic reeds are suppose to last a year and some at least 6 months. (Single Reeds) Is it time for a new reed? Jumping reed sizes will also take a few total playing hours to get your face and embouchure used to it – a bit like increasing your weights at the gym, or running an extra few kilometres/miles during your morning jog than you are used to. Your email address will not be published. After that you can milk 'em a bit, but it won't really work all that well. Find out about our very lively saxophone discussion forum at CafeSaxophone.com, Like most sites, we use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cane Reed Rotation No cane reed is immortal: they can last for less than a day or more than a few weeks. Repeat. There is no immortal reed (not even synthetic reeds can make that claim) and sooner than later (usually sooner) it will die, sometimes without any warning. If after two or three total playing hours you are still battling, throw it away and try another one. all available when ever it suits YOU (rather than when it suits someone else), with a forum community to ask questions and receive (and give) answers. Your email address will not be published. For important performances use a reed you have confidence in, one that is quite new but comfortably run in. Perhaps as a guide how often do you replace yours? You will need to buy more reeds though when starting out as they are easy to break. This is the reason it can be a good idea to have several good reeds that are nicely run so that there is always a spare if the reed dies just before an important performance. This is possibly quite true, depending on the brand and the amount a player uses it of course. Légère single reeds should be stored on a flat surfaced reed case. P.P.S. If you would like to learn how to play the saxophone, have access to a hundred or more saxophone lessons and be able to ask questions and get answers about playing and learning saxophone, then join us inside the Members Area here at HowToPlayTheSax.com ! For more experienced players, try a harder reed (3-3.5). Playing two reeds means they'll last at least twice as long. It’s for this reason that some schools have started to use plastic reeds for their youngest beginners. All you can do is try to make this process as slow as possible. This section really only “scratches the surface” (so to speak). Synthetic reeds lack the 'great' response you find in those few great cane reeds, but also lack the throw away need. But after taking it off and then coming back to it a bit later it seems fine, only to deteriorate again after a while. Learn to look for visible signs of reed wear: a dirty appearance, splits and divots, taking on a permanent bend (due to the mouthpiece curve contour), Make notes about your progress in regard to tone, range and response. You may have noticed that sometimes a reed seems to get worse (less responsive or stuffy) after playing on it just for a few minutes. This is not such a problem for experienced players and professionals who know their abilities and so are generally confident that various issues are not their fault. A good reed cannot play to its full potential if it’s not properly matched to the mouthpiece. As a beginner, medium-soft reeds are usually the way to go. How often should one replace a saxophone reed…….after how many hours or minutes generally ? Or a good teacher, to check that the mouthpiece ligature fits securely dud after only a or... Item and must be replaced often amount a player uses it of course, reeds deteriorate time! 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