How to choose and care for oboe reeds

On oboe, the reed has a big effect on your sound. A reed that responds well makes the oboe easier to play, and a poor one can make it hard no matter how well you play. Reeds are also fragile and they wear out. This guide covers how to check a reed, how to soak and store it, and when to show it to your teacher or replace it.

What a good reed sounds like

• It crows easily when you blow on it alone.
• Low notes can start softly, and high notes don't need biting.
• It plays close to in tune with a relaxed embouchure. Check with a tuner; 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 may be able to adjust it.

Soaking your reed

Soak a cane reed in a small cup of water before you play, blades down, with the water up to (but not over) the thread. About two minutes is a good starting point. Some reeds need a little more time and some less, so check how the reed responds. Use a film canister, a pill bottle, or a small cup that lives in your case.

• Not long enough: the tip may stay closed, and the reed may squeak or feel stuffy.
• Too long: a reed left in water for 10 minutes or more can get soggy and sound dull.
• Water or your mouth: some players wet the reed in their mouth instead. Ask your teacher which they prefer.
• During rehearsal, wet the reed again whenever it starts to feel dry.
• Synthetic reed? Follow its maker's directions.

The crow test

Put the soaked reed in your mouth up to the thread and blow without biting. The crow is one quick check of how the reed responds. It doesn't prove the reed will play well in the oboe, so try a few notes too.

Handling and storing reeds

• Hold it by the cork or thread, never the blades. The tip is paper-thin.
• Put it in and out of the oboe by the cork, straight, without twisting the blades.
• Store it in a reed case, not the plastic tube it came in. A case with slots lets the reed dry, which helps prevent mold, and keeps the tip from touching anything.
• Rinse it after playing with plain water and let it dry in the case.
• Keep the case out of hot cars and away from heaters. Heat warps cane.
• Don't share reeds. They're like toothbrushes.

Rotating reeds

Keep two or three good reeds and take turns playing them, instead of playing one until it wears out. Taking turns spreads the wear, and when one reed suddenly chips, you have a backup ready that you already know.

Always bring your rotation to rehearsal, not just one reed.

Soft, medium, or hard?

Store-bought oboe 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. There's no single right strength: look for a reed that responds easily and plays close to in tune 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

Reeds wear out gradually, so it's easy to keep playing one too long. 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 an oboe teacher or reed maker are often more consistent than machine-made ones. Many oboists get their reeds this way.
• Machine-made store reeds can vary a lot, even in the same box. Buy two or three at a time and expect one to be better than the others.
• Synthetic reeds last longer than cane. Follow the maker's directions for getting one ready. Some players keep one for outdoor concerts or 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, the next step is your sound: see how to get a better sound on oboe.