All quality woodwind musical instrument reeds are made from the giant grass called Arundo donax. As a natural material, reed cane is subjected to a variety of environmental pressures. When placed in the human mouth a reed can become water-logged and possibly warp. It also comes into contact with saliva enzymes or bacteria which can contribute to the break down of the structural fibres of the cane. For these reasons, Reeds Australia would like to share with you some the knowledge that we have acquired over the years as performers, makers of reeds and processors of reed cane. The following tips apply to clarinet & saxophone reeds; click here for  bagpipe reed care tips .

Wet It!

Before playing a reed many players pop it in their mouth, give it a good lick and put it directly on the instrument. If the weather has been wet and the reed has retained some moisture this can be enough. But, if the weather has been dry and hot and the reed is dry, it will be unresponsive and the player may often discard it as a poor reed.

We suggest you wet your reeds before playing, either under a water tap or in a small glass of water for a few moments, especially if the reed is new or has not been played upon for some time. If the cane of the reed is soft and porous, be careful that you do not wet it TOO much, as the reed may become water-logged. If, however, the weather has been dry and the reed is made from well seasoned, tight grained cane, a bit of a soak will help it play well.

A good way to test the porousness of cane is to wet the reed, place the butt in your mouth and blow. If bubbles appear easily on the wet blade or vamp of the reed, the cane is porous and more likely to become water-logged with playing.

Rub It!

To extend the life of a reed and to reduce any tendency for it to become water-logged, place it (after wetting it) on a hard flat surface such as a small piece of thick glass and rub the blade firmly with your thumb. This not only polishes the blade but also helps to seal the grain of the reed, reducing its ability to absorb moisture. If you do this each time before you play on a reed you will find that it will last much longer.

Flatten It!

To sit properly on a mouthpiece, the underside of a reed must be as flat as possible. Because reed cane is a natural material and it is exposed to extreme humidity when being played upon, even the best cane will sometimes tend to warp. To ensure that a reed is flat and to keep it this way, it can be lightly sanded with fine grit wet-dry sand-paper (ie 800 grit) glued to a hard flat surface. (Again, a small piece of thick glass works well.) Be careful that you do not sand heavily at the tip of the reed. This will soften it. To avoid this. let the tip of the reed overlap the edge of the sanding surface.

Clean It!

The human mouth is not always the cleanest place. To get the best performance from your reeds it is often good to rinse them after use under water and dry them. Also, you should periodically wash your mouthpiece in warm soapy water to keep it clean and free from unwanted bugs.

Hold It!

To prevent damage, warping and unsightly mould growth etc., a reed should be removed from the mouthpiece after use, wiped and placed in a good quality reed holder, such as the new moulded holders that Vintage and Studio Plus reeds now come in.

Reed Care Tips for Bagpipe Chanter Reeds

1. As a result of packing for posting, reeds can sometimes slightly dry out.

2. When you place a new reed in your pipe chanter, blow through the reed without sounding it. This will warm the reed up and put a little moisture back into it.

3. Allow a 3-4 week blowing in period.

4. If you find a reed is too hard for you, very light sanding at the voice box (just above the hemp) on both sides will ease it up. Alternatively, the sharp edges of each side of the reed can be sanded lightly, using very fine emery paper.

5. You may also give the reed a light squeeze at the voice box if it is a little too hard.

6. If you find the reed too flat, unwind the yellow hemp on the bottom a little and lower it in the chanter seat.

7. If you find the reed too sharp, wind the yellow hemp on the bottom a little and raise it in the chanter seat.

8. After playing, remove the chanter from your pipes. Leaving the reed in the chanter, cover it with a protective chanter cap.

Back to Main Page