How often should I change my alto sax reed?

Expect a reed to last for around a week to two weeks. When you change from a reed you’ve been using for some time to a new reed, the sound of your instrument will change with it.

How long should an alto sax reed last?

Saxophone reeds can last a couple of months. They can also be a dud after only a week or two.

How often should I use a new reed?

If you play your instrument frequently, 3 weeks use out of one reed is usually the limit. You will start to find that a reed will start to go bad when it starts to squeak frequently, sounds like it’s on the verge of squeaking, is starting to fray or curl in on the sides of the reed, or is starting to chip.

How many times can you use a reed?

A good rule of thumb is you should replace your reed every 2-4 weeks, no matter how often you’re playing your instrument. You may want to replace your reeds more frequently if you’re practicing several hours each day. Some reeds also may not last as long as others, every reed plays slightly differently.

When should you throw away reeds?

When the sound gets buzzy. As Timothy McAlister says, “No spit, no fuzz, no buzz.” When the sound is fuzzy, the reed is either too high up on the mouthpiece or too hard. If it’s buzzy, it’s too soft.

When should I change reed strength?

Therefore, try to choose a strength that feels slightly hard when you start playing on a new reed, so it will feel just right as you break it in. When you’ve played on your reed for too long and it starts to feel too soft, it’s time to start a new one!

When should I change reeds?

You should turn the reeds every two to three weeks to keep the scent alive. Submerging them in the oil gives the dry ends the opportunity to absorb all they can, while the previously submerged bottom stands out and projects an immediately stronger scent. Turning the reeds frequently will not make them last longer.

Should you soak new reeds?

You should soak your reeds for about one minute with saliva. This ensures that the reed is moist enough to play well without being so wet that it becomes waterlogged. If the reed is brand new, you may want to soak it more thoroughly with water for about twenty minutes before working with it.

How can you tell if a reed is bad?

Old reeds that play mushy you should throw out. New reeds that play mushy, Clip. New reeds that play stiff, sand a little to soften. New reeds that play right out of the box.

How do you adjust reed strength?

Starts here4:064 minute guide to Reed Adjusting – for saxophone and clarinet – YouTubeYouTube

How to clean and sanitize saxophone reeds?

The next thing you need to do is soak your reeds in a glass of fresh, clean water. Most people just wet the reeds with saliva but I do not recommend that approach for various reasons. I went over why I prefer water over saliva in this step in one of the tips in how to clean, sanitize, disinfect your saxophone reeds properly.

What are the best saxophone reeds for beginners?

Finding the right reed strength for each saxophone player is a process, and highly individual, but there are some common reed types and strengths that are time-tested and proven to work well for beginners. Most beginners start by using La Voz or Rico reeds, because they are the cheapest brands.

How can I Make my reed sound better?

This will make the reed feel a little thicker. Conversely, if you need a hard reed to play better, you can lower the reed on the mouthpiece so part of the tip of the mouthpiece is visible. You can also move the tip of the reed side to side, if one side of the reed is thicker or thinner than the other.

How do you choose the right Reed?

The most important factor in selecting a reed is the reed thickness. Reed thickness is most often expressed as a number. The normal range for reeds is 2 to 5: the lower the number, the thinner the reed, and the higher the number, the thicker the reed.