FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Congratulations! There are so many advantages to playing a reed instrument,  from being the most flexible, beautiful and soulful instruments in the woodwind family, to being in demand for orchestras concert bands and musical shows! The persistence and intelligence that playing music, especially double reed instruments, requires, ensures that you are part of a select group in demand.

Playing these instruments provides unique opportunities for players from scholarship opportunities to ease of inclusion in bands, shows and orchestras!

Each reed is unique as it is made from natural cane.  Cane density is determined by the growing conditions of the region or season where the cane was grown.  Choosing the best cane for each type of reed is done by the reed maker. 

Generally students start on reeds made from cane that is soft and light, which makes the reeds easy to blow for new players.

However reeds that are light and are made from soft cane may not last as long as the harder reeds.  It is best to provide the reed that you or your student / child can play rather than pushing towards a harder reed too early in the journey of learning.  Playing on a reed that is hard and difficult to blow can be demotivating for the learner.

When you receive your reeds there are a few things to remember

  1.  Ensure you treat the new reed carefully.  Reeds are fragile and can break easily. Always help students who are new to the instrument to handle and care for their reeds. Take particular care when removing the reed from the commercial packaging and ensure the reed is stored properly between uses in a reed case.
  2. Ensure that the reed has been soaked for at least a minute before playing or adjusting
  3. That every reed is unique and some may work better than others on any given occasion. If you or the student is struggling, trying a different reed can often help.
  4. Understand that learning about reeds is part of the joy and journey of playing a double reed instrument.  It is natural to feel some frustration at times, but those who are able to embrace the process are in the best position to create and be wonderful new oboe and bassoon players!

Each oboe or bassoon reed is handmade. Some single reeds are hand made, although most single reeds are manufactured.

Hand making reeds is a precise and detailed process and can be time consuming for the skilled maker.  The process to produce consistent well-playing reeds is based on selecting good materials and the skill and expertise of the maker.   But each reed will still be unique and no one reed will be perfect for every playing environment or performing condition. 

It is wonderful to know that the same skills used to make reeds from the middle of last century are still used today! One of the joys of playing music is the connection between the musician, the instrument maker, the reed-maker and when you play your instrument you are connecting with the history of music! The skill of the player is to manage and select the reeds which suit them! Which is where we come in! Our aim is to help you find the best reed for your needs from the range available!

If you’re interested in reed making, here is a video of the process of making an oboe reed!

For oboe students, it is normal to use 4-5 reeds per term depending on how much playing / practice they do.  Bassoon students will usually use less reeds per term than oboe players.  Single reed players may go through a 3-5 reeds per term.  The more advanced the student or performer, the more reeds they will need / use. 

A student who practices consistently, or who is performing a lot, will go through more reeds.  Students who don’t do as much playing may not use as many.  And there are always the unexpected breakages that occur as reed tips are fragile. 

For parents navigating this new world of reeds for their children, purchasing more reeds can be a very good sign as it shows the student is using the materials they need to master the skills of the instrument.  It is worth expecting and preparing a budget for reeds the student to be in the best playing form!

Reeds are made from a specific type of cane which does wear out quickly which has always been the case and part of the cost of playing oboe 

Sometimes a reed that has been played regularly will start to show signs of wear.  The reed may become unresponsive. Things that the reed would do easily may not be possible as the reed comes to the end of its life.  This may feel different to each player depending on how they are using the reed. 

The following signs indicate a reed at the end of its life:

the reed develops a split in the cane

or has a chip from the tip or edge

has bent cane

becomes mouldy or dark in colour

or has the wire or binding break

Reeds need to be kept dry in storage and moistened by soaking in water before use.  Soaking prepares the reed to be at its ideal state for vibrating. 

A reed that is older can have its life extended by ‘resting’ eg. playing only occasionally and minimising the time it soaks in water. 

Resting reeds can extend reed life and is referred to as rotating your reeds (using a different reed every day or two to extend the life of all the reeds in your reed case).

To extend the life of your reeds, they should be stored in a reed case.  Reed cases are designed to allow air to circulate around the reeds.  This helps them dry out after use and keeps them protected during transport.  You can make your own reed case, or use a cardboard box in the short term, however we have found that commercial cases are perfectly designed and are better at protecting your financial and emotional investment in your reeds!

Allowing your reeds to dry out after playing is essential. Over-soaked, moisture-logged reeds can’t vibrate. When they are holding dampness for extended periods they can become mouldy, and this is not what you want!

Reeds can also be sprayed with a sanitiser to kill bacteria after use.  Some people speak about sterilizing reeds with chemicals such as peroxide or bleach.  We recommend a commercial sanitizer as it is safer for the instrument and the player than harmful chemicals.

You should allow your reeds to dry after use. Usually a reed case with good circulation will achieve this, but you can also leave reeds in a safe, dry place to air between playing sessions (eg practice room at home).  Before re-use soak reeds in clean water.

Reeds are delicate and need to be carefully  handled. If you are adjusting reeds, ensure you know how to do this without damaging them.


Cane is a natural product, which is has individual differences, just the same as any living thing.  Kittens born in the same litter have different fur colouring, different eye colour and different personalities.  So each individual cane plant has slightly different properties to those in its family.  Not all cane is the same, so not all reeds are the same.  Some are harder to blow, or easier, they just have their own cute little personalities, and it’s a good idea to get to know each of your reeds by using it for a period of time. 

Reeds tend to soften when playing and often become more responsive as a result.  Some are sopranos, and play the high notes better, some are better on the low notes.  Some are easier to articulate with, and different reeds will provide different tone qualities.  It’s quite an exciting element of reed playing, getting new reeds and learning about their different personalities.  Sometimes you like the qualities of a reed, sometimes you just don’t get them.  It’s all a normal part of reed playing.  The reeds you don’t like can be reserved for a future use (as you develop as a player you may later come to like that style of reed), or swapped with a friend (wash / disinfect the reed first)

And finally, remember to take good care of your instrument.

The purpose of the reed for any reed instrument is to vibrate! The vibrating reed allows the resonating body (the instrument) to form sound.  The vibration is instigated by blowing the reed.  For oboe and bassoon players the reed also forms the function of being the mouthpiece of the instrument.  Every time the reed is changed, the player is changing their mouthpiece which makes the oboe and bassoon unique, flexible and skillful instruments to play!

Reed selection is a very important part of playing woodwind instruments.