How do you soften a new clarinet reed?

Put a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface, and lightly swipe the reed across it, moving only from heel to tip (to avoid breaking the tip). Again, go slowly: swipe once, then try playing it. If the tip of your reed is rippled, then it dried out a bit too fast. This is easy to fix; just soak, then place it on glass.

1. How do you break in a new clarinet reed?
2. What to do if a reed is too hard?
3. What do you do with a new clarinet reed?
4. How long does it take to break in a new reed?
5. How long does it take to break in a new clarinet?
6. How do you tell if a reed is too soft?
7. How long should you soak a clarinet reed?
8. How do I know if my clarinet reed is too hard?
9. Do you need to soak clarinet reeds?

How do you break in a new clarinet reed?

Breaking In A New Reed

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).

What to do if a reed is too hard?

If the reed is too hard or if the sound is too dull, move your ligature down and your reed up slightly. This makes it easier for the reed to vibrate against the mouthpiece. If the reed is too soft or if the sound is too edgy, move the tip of the reed up slightly and then move the ligature down a little bit.

What do you do with a new clarinet reed?

Invest in a reed case in which to store your reeds. On the next two days, increase slightly the amount of time you play on the reed, and play a little louder and a little higher in the register each day, but do not play for longer than 15 minutes. Let the reed dry completely again on a flat surface between uses.

How long does it take to break in a new reed?

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.

How long does it take to break in a new clarinet?

You should play no longer than five minutes the first day. The next day you can double that and play for about ten minutes, the next day fifteen, and so on until you are where you want to be. Overall it should take about a week to properly break in your new clarinet.

How do you tell if a reed is too soft?

If you're playing on a 3, then move down to 2.5. When the reed is too soft, you'll get a buzzy sound right out of the box. People compare this to playing on paper.

How long should you soak a clarinet reed?

Soak reed in luke-warm or slightly cool water for 1-2 minutes, until soaked. Wipe of all excess water with your fingers and place on a piece of glass, exposed to air.

How do I know if my clarinet reed is too hard?

A reed that is too soft will sound excessively bright. The tone center will also be very unfocused. A reed that is too hard will sound airy and muffled. In some cases, certain notes won't be able to speak.

Do you need to soak clarinet reeds?

Soak your reeds in plain tap water before each use. This is preferable to holding them in your mouth to get them wet. There is a lot of protein in reed cane. ... Your reeds will last longer, and play better when you soak them first in plain tap water, rather than holding them in your mouth, before using them.