How to choose and care for bassoon reeds

A bassoon reed that responds well makes low notes easier to start and helps your pitch and tone. A worn or damaged one makes playing harder. Reeds are fragile and they wear out, so taking care of them is part of playing. This guide covers soaking, the crow, the wires, storage, and what to do when a reed acts up.

What a good reed sounds like

• It crows easily on its own, with low and high sounds together.
• Low notes can start softly, and middle notes don't need biting.
• It plays close to pitch with a relaxed embouchure. If a reed is always flat, compare it with another reed and ask your teacher; the pitch depends on you as well as the reed.

What a good reed looks like

Look at the tip end-on. A reed that plays well usually has a small, even opening. A closed or very open tip doesn't always mean the reed is finished. Your teacher can often adjust it with the wires.

Soaking your reed

Soak a cane reed before you play: the whole reed in a small cup of water, blades covered. About two minutes is a good starting point. Some reeds need a little more time and some less, so check how the reed responds. Keep a small cup or a pill bottle in your case for it.

• Not long enough: the tip may stay closed, and low notes may not start.
• Too long: a reed left in water much longer than it needs can get soggy and sound dull.
• In rehearsal, dip it again whenever it starts to feel dry.
• Synthetic reed? Follow its maker's directions.

The crow test

Put the soaked reed in your mouth with your lips almost touching the first wire, and blow without biting. The crow is a quick check of how the reed responds on its own. It sounds very different from a note on the bassoon, and it doesn't prove the reed will play well, so try a few notes too.

Checking the wires

A bassoon reed has wires around its tube that hold the blades in shape. The first wire, nearest the blades, also controls how open the tip is. Check that every wire is snug: it shouldn't turn when you touch it. Ask your teacher to show you before you adjust a wire yourself.

• Tip too closed: a gentle squeeze of the first wire at its narrow edges opens the tip a little.
• Tip too open: a gentle squeeze of the first wire on its flat top and bottom closes the tip a little.
• Loose wire or leak: hissing air, a buzz, or a reed that won't seal. Your teacher can tighten the wire.

Handling and storing reeds

• Hold it by the wrapped tube, never the blades.
• Put it on and take it off the bocal by the tube, with a gentle twist.
• Store it in a reed case, not a plastic tube or a pocket. A case lets the reed dry, which helps prevent mold, and keeps the tip safe.
• Rinse it after playing with plain water and let it dry in the case.
• Keep the case cool. Heat and sun warp cane.
• Don't share reeds.

Rotating reeds

Keep two or three good reeds and take turns playing them. Taking turns spreads the wear, and when one suddenly cracks, you have a backup you already know.

Soft, medium, or hard?

Store-bought bassoon reeds are labeled with strengths, such as soft, medium, and hard. These labels describe how much resistance you feel when you blow. The same label can feel different from one maker to another. Ask your teacher which strength to start with, and look for a reed that responds easily and plays close to pitch with a relaxed embouchure.

If your reeds always feel too easy and play flat, or too hard and tiring, ask your teacher whether to try a different strength or maker. Check your pitch with the tuner, and listen to the tone separately.

Reed check

How long a reed lasts varies a lot. Use this check whenever a reed starts acting up. Some problems mean a new reed; others mean your teacher can adjust it.

Buying reeds

• Handmade reeds from a bassoon teacher or reed maker are often more consistent than machine-made ones.
• Store-bought reeds can vary a lot. Buy two or three at a time and expect them to play differently.
• Synthetic reeds last longer than cane. Follow the maker's directions for getting one ready. Some players keep one as a backup.
• Ask your teacher which strength and maker to start with, and buy more before you're down to your last good reed.

Once your reed is working, work on your sound: how to get a better sound on bassoon.