As a saxophone player, you should be aware of the importance of the reeds in the way your instrument delivers sounds. For Clarinet I change reed about 2-4 weeks when i use to play everyday. As touched on in the previous paragraph, synthetic reeds are a good alternative for a variety of reasons, including that they tend to grow mold less often than their natural counterparts. tenor, baritone or alto), then look at the brand (ie. Advertisement Again, you can see the full math in this spreadsheet . It’s not a foolproof system. Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Saxophone Reeds, Tips for Reed Success: Break In, Rotate, and Properly Store Your Reeds. Warpage / Storage of Reeds VivianA6 and how do you know when. Andrew G January 14, 2016 @ 11:46 am. Although you can try cleaning the reed’s fibers, the process is complex and your reed won’t live much longer either way. The profiles are known as American (or regular) and French. So, you’ve learned how to assemble a reed properly, clean your saxophone perfectly, and can even play through a few of your favorite songs without making any mistakes. Lol...i know whatcha mean. :lol: I would suggest you rotate. The reed you will need to use depends on the mouthpiece that you have on your clarinet. The traditional recommendation is that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. Yeah, the jazz selects are a wee bit soft. The styles basically are cut in opposite ways with thinner or thicker tips and then thinner or thicker hearts (body of the reed). Is the movie worth to watch? Start out by removing the reed, then use a mouthpiece brush to remove any residue inside the mouthpiece. You need to get some reeds if you actually want to play some music or make a noise with your sax. You might spoil your tone if you use too hard a reed. It's more about finding something that works well with your own playing technique rather than trying to let your reeds lead the way. Make sure to take the reed off and put it away every time you put your sax away and to alternate and change reeds every so often. Whether you’ve been storing your saxophone reed in a pill bottle or the same plastic vial it came in, best practice is to soak it in water instead of your mouth. My motto is: Note that Vandoren reeds are half-a-strength more than their Rico equivalent, except Javas which are normal. This one should be pretty obvious as the bell is the ... I’ve just read your very useful tips for cleaning a sax so I was wondering if you might have ... Make sure to take the reed off and put it away every time you put your sax away and to alternate and change reeds every so often. This is where a more expensive premium reed may last longer. Yes, they are expected to last for 20,000 kms/miles. WITH OVER 250+ STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE LARGEST PRIVATE LESSON PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, MUSIC & ARTS IS AN AUTHORITY ON MUSIC EDUCATION AND A RESOURCE FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED MUSICIANS ALIKE. If you’re noticing that the tip of your saxophone reed is chipped, it may be time for a replacement. 2) D’Addario Woodwinds RJA1025 Rico Alto Sax Reeds. Remember: new reeds need to be broken in! Your embouchure formation can either help or hurt your pitch accuracy. Which means most of the time, you are part of the saxophone bore- your oral cavity, throat, and lungs. My reeds usually last for one or two months each. Ranges & Transposition. Reeds are normally sold by the box, in 5's, 10's or 25. (The same could be said of your reed.) In this video, you will learn how to care for your reeds to make them last.Free Video: 3 Tips to Fatten Up Your Saxophone Tone: donnaschwartzmusic.com/fst I change every 2-3 weeks. Whether you’ve been storing your saxophone reed in a pill bottle or the same plastic vial it came in, best practice is to soak it in water instead of your mouth. This way, the softest part of the reed is what’s making the seal between itself and the mouthpiece and your tongue doesn’t really have any heavy lifting to do in order to articulate. It is important not to close down on just saxophone. You'll want to clean the mouthpiece often, as it comes into contact with your mouth. Mouthpiece and Reed. Answer Save. Natural cane reeds do have a life expectancy. Plus, strong household chemicals such as glue and industrial strength cleaning solutions shouldn’t be. If you’re taking private lessons at a studio, you may notice that the more seasoned saxophonists carry their saxophone reeds around in a case. uses a different size of reed and mouthpiece. Saxophone Reeds Are Like Shoes. Not only do the plastic sleeves do a poor job at preventing warpage but, if you store the sleeves in your saxophone case, they can become chipped or damaged during transport. I can help you play your saxophone with whomever you want, when ever you want. Come join the discussion about collections, care, displays, models, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Reed maintenance & care; When to Change a Reed; Synthetic reeds vs cane; Cane Reeds for Saxophone; The 5 Best Cane Reed Tips: Don’t be afraid of using soft saxophone reeds: It is a myth that you need to play a hard reed to be a good player. If you’re noticing a lot of cracks or warps in your reeds, you may wish to consider switching from natural saxophone reeds to synthetic. The next day, you will often find that it has changed in a “harder” direction. You know you need to change your car's oil at some point, but how often? First and foremost, don’t think about replacing reeds as a money-grab by the reed manufacturers. When should you change a reed? But I’m not sure what you mean by “I’m able to play only a few notes” – whether you mean that the reed is too hard and tires you out, or too soft and simply wears down on you. Each size of saxophone (alto, tenor, etc.) Lots of good answers here. Learn more You may like something completely different and unique. For want of another analogy, saxophone reeds are a bit like tyres on your car. When it gets down to it, it is not the saxophone making the music, it is you! First, changing your make of reed is not likely to produce any major overhaul of your sound. Still, other clarinetists change reeds depending on the weather. After clipping, you may want to use a piece of #600 paper to round the corners of the reed to match the tip of your mouthpiece. Your saxophone should perform the way you want it to. First, you will definitely need to buy a box of reeds. 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