FAQs
I’m new to learning a reed instrument – where do I start?
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
- 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.
- Ensure that the reed has been soaked for at least a minute before playing or adjusting
- 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.
- 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!
What is involved in making reeds?
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!
How long do Reeds last?
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 a reed instrument
How do I know when a reed is ready to be replaced?
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
The cork is breaking from the staple
The reed lacks responsiveness, it is stuffy, lethargic and sodden in its response.
How do I extend the life of my reeds?
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.
Why are the reeds different each time?
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.
What is the difference between a long and short scrape oboe reed?
The long scrape reed is an American style of reed profilling, where the cane is shaped so that there is less bark on the reed. A long scrape is an easier playing reed, with a buzzier tone.
Short scrape reeds, or Euro Scrape, is the most common type of reed used in Europe, England and Australia. Offering a warm rich tone, the short scrape takes a little more diaphragmatic support, but gives the characteristic sound sought in places other than the USA.
Flavoured reeds?
Regretfully, to the best of our knowledge, flavoured reeds are no longer available through the manufacturer Flavoreeds USA.
How quickly will my order arrive?
Wherever possible we send out the same day as you order! For orders received in the morning, we send the same day. Those orders received in the afternoon, will go in the shipping for the next day. This is possible because we hold stock on site ready to package and send to you immediately. Once shipped, the Australia Post delivery times vary by postage method and location. Generally, Express Post takes 1-3 days. Standard post takes 3-7 days.
What does Backorder mean?
In the rare event that Sweet Reeds does not have the item of stock in store, you will be able to place a ‘back-order’. This means that you can order and pay now, and as soon as the product comes in, we will send to you.
When you back order a product, you’ll receive an email from us. If the product will take longer than 2 weeks, we will let you know. If you change your mind, or refund your backorder or replace with another product of your choosing.
Back ordering can be helpful. Sometimes a product is popular, however, a new batch of products might take time to make and ship, especially if they are from overseas. Putting in a back-order ensures you will get the product before the new items are available to other non-back order customers.
What is the difference between the types of KGE reeds?
Many customers ask about the difference between the different makes of KGE Reeds. In a nutshell the difference is the density of the cane (cane density) used for each type or model of reed on offer by KGE. The student models (Artist and Intermediate) use a softer less dense cane. The standard and professional models use a cane which has more densely packed fibers. This gives a resistant reed with more brilliance and resilience.
In our experience generally cane used by KGE is often softer/less dense generally than cane from other makers. If you are exploring the range of KGE Standard and Professional reeds, it can be helpful to compare them to Danzi and Zen Oboe reeds and Alex and Danzi Bassoon reeds.
If you like the softness of the KGE cane you might also like Rad Oboe Reeds and Rimpl Bassoon Reeds.
What is the difference between oboe reeds made from cane gouged with a C/S (centre to side ratio) of 0.15 and 0.18?
The centre to side ratio is the difference in thickness measurement between the centre of the cane compared to the side of the cane at the time the cane is gouged, before it is shaped and tied on and finished scraping. The difference in behaviour of two reeds made identically but from the two different C/S ratios, is that the 0.18 gouged reeds generally blow more freely and have less strong openings when compared with a reed gouged at 0.15. The resulting tone or timbre of the reed made from cane gouged at 0.18 is often less “thick” or “heavy” sounding than the 0.15
What is the difference between the reeds which have been shaped dry as opposed to wet? What effect does this have on the reeds tone/ intonation?
The reeds shaped dry and wet are shaped on the same shaping tool. The difference is that if the cane is soaked before shaping, it comes off the shaper more narrow after it has dried than when it is shaped dry. Therefore, shaped wet cane has a tendency to be higher pitch than shaped dry on the finished reed. Cane shaped dry has a more “full” tone and is more vibrant due to the greater surface area of the reed.
What is the difference between French and german templates for Cor Anglais Reeds?
The only difference between the “German” and “French” templates is that there is a much more gradual step in the scrape from the “heart” of the reed down to the tip on the french template. When you look carefully at reeds made from each of the two templates and compare them, it will look as if the german template reed has a much more clearly defined tip area.
Can I order a specific number of staple for KGE Oboe Reeds?
Please note: we are unable to request specific staples from KGE. However if you have a preference for #1-47 or #2-47 staples, please specify this in the comments section of your purchase. Although we can’t guarantee, we will do what we can to find the size staple requested.
I need further help
Please contact us, if you would like to talk about your reeds, music or instruments! We can often assist with all kinds of enquiries. We help put you in contact with reed-makers for lessons. We hand select reeds that you have specified will work for you (eg an open aperture or a specific dimension set). If you would like to ask any question, please phone or email us and we’ll do what we can to help!