Editing Reed (mouthpiece)

{{Short description|Sound producing part of some musical instruments}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2020}}
[[File:Saxophone reeds-alto, tenor.jpeg|thumb|175px|right|[[Alto saxophone|Alto]] and [[tenor saxophone]] reeds.]]

A '''reed''' (or '''lamella''') is a thin strip of material that vibrates to produce a sound on a [[musical instrument]]. Most [[woodwind instrument]] reeds are made from ''[[Arundo donax]]'' ("Giant cane") or synthetic material. Tuned reeds (as in [[harmonica]]s and [[accordion]]s) are made of [[metal]] or synthetics. Musical instruments are classified according to the type and number of reeds.

The earliest types of single-reed instruments used '''idioglottal reeds''', where the vibrating reed is a tongue cut and shaped on the tube of cane. Much later, single-reed instruments started using '''heteroglottal reeds''', where a reed is cut and separated from the tube of cane and attached to a mouthpiece of some sort. By contrast, in an uncapped double reed instrument (such as the oboe and bassoon), there is no mouthpiece; the two parts of the reed vibrate against one another.

==Single reeds==
Single reeds are used on the mouthpieces of [[clarinet]]s and [[saxophone]]s. The back of the reed is flat and is placed against the mouthpiece. These reeds are roughly rectangular in shape and taper towards the thin tip, which is rounded to match the curve of the mouthpiece tip. All single reeds are shaped similarly but vary in size to fit each instrument's mouthpiece.

Reeds designed for the same instrument look roughly identical, but vary in thickness ("hardness" or "strength"). Hardness is generally measured on a scale of 1 through 5 from softest to hardest. This is not a standardized scale and reed strengths vary by manufacturer. The thickness of the tip and heel and the profile in between affect the sound and playability. Pieces of cane of different density or stiffness, even if cut with the same profile, will respond differently due to those differences.

==Construction==
The [[cane (grass)|cane]] used to make reeds for [[single-reed instrument]]s is grown in the southern coastal regions of France and Spain and, in the last 30 years, in the Cuyo area of Argentina. After the cane is cut it is placed in direct sunlight for about a month to dry. The cane is rotated regularly to ensure even and complete drying. Once dry, the cane is stored in a warehouse. As production requires it, cane is taken to a factory's cutting department, where it is cut into tubes graded by diameter and wall density. The tubes are cut into ''splits'' and made into reed blanks. Blanks are tapered and profiled into reeds using blades or [[Numerical control|CNC]] machines. Completed reeds are graded for strength by machine.

==Double reeds==
{{See also|Double reed}}
[[File:Bassoon Reeds.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Bassoon]] double reeds.]]
[[Double reed]]s are used on many instruments, such as the [[oboe]], [[oboe d'amore]], [[English horn]], [[bass oboe]], [[heckelphone]], [[bassoon]], [[contrabassoon]], [[sarrusophone]], [[shawm]], [[bagpipes]], [[nadaswaram]] and [[shehnai]] and [[Double_reed#Instruments|others]]. The two reeds vibrate against each other and not against a mouthpiece. In the case of the [[crumhorn]], [[bagpipes]], and [[Rauschpfeife]], a reed cap encloses the reeds and the reeds do not contact the player's mouth.

=== Manufacturing ===
Double reed manufacturing begins the same way as that of single reeds. ''[[Arundo donax]]'' cane is collected, dried, processed, cut to manageable sizes, and separated into various diameters. The most common diameters for American-style oboe reeds are: {{cvt|9.5|-|10|mm}}, {{cvt|10|-|10.5|mm}}, and {{cvt|10.5|-|11|mm}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Oboe Cane Processing Overview {{!}} Midwest Musical Imports Blog|url = http://www.mmimports.com/2012/07/cane-processing-overview/|website = Midwest Musical Imports| date=19 July 2012 |access-date = 2015-12-03|language = en-US|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051514/http://www.mmimports.com/2012/07/cane-processing-overview/|archive-date = 2015-12-08}}</ref> Many American oboists prefer one diameter at one time of the year and a different diameter at other times.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Oboe Tube Cane Guide :: Midwest Musical Imports Blog|url = http://www.mmimports.com/2012/12/tube-cane-guide/|website = Midwest Musical Imports| date=19 December 2012 |access-date = 2015-12-04|language = en-US|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081215/http://www.mmimports.com/2012/12/tube-cane-guide/|archive-date = 2015-12-08}}</ref>

The tubes are split into three equal parts and the pieces that are not warped are chosen. A reed made from warped cane will not [[Vibration|vibrate]] consistently on both sides.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oboehobo.com/double-reed/oboe-reed-vibrations/|title=Oboe Reed Vibrations - Things Are Shakin' - OboeHobo|last=Witt|first=John|date=2014-07-03|website=OboeHobo|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506155221/http://oboehobo.com/double-reed/oboe-reed-vibrations/|archive-date=2016-05-06|url-status=live|access-date=2015-12-03}}</ref> The split pieces are gouged by machine to remove many layers and drastically decrease thickness, which eases the scraping process for the reed-maker.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Westwind reed knife and sharpening system|url = http://www.westwinddoublereed.com/WestwindReedKnife-29.html|website = Westwind Reed Making Tools|access-date = 2015-12-03|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208101705/http://www.westwinddoublereed.com/WestwindReedKnife-29.html|archive-date = 2015-12-08}}</ref>

Finally, the gouged pieces of cane are soaked, shaped on a shaper with razor blades, and allowed to dry before the final steps. The shaped piece of cane is then re-soaked and tied onto a "staple" for [[oboe]] reeds or formed on a mandrel for [[bassoon]] reeds. Double reeds are tied in place with thread. Finishing both bassoon and oboe reeds requires the reed-maker to scrape along the cane section of the reed with a scraping knife to specific dimensions and lengths depending on the reed style and the musician's preference. Bassoon and oboe reeds are finished when the reeds play in tune or can make a sufficient "crow"-like noise.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Reed Help for Beginners|url = http://fweb.fredonia.edu/hamilton/pages/pages/reedhelp.html|website = www.fredonia.edu|access-date = 2016-05-28|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160816174936/http://fweb.fredonia.edu/hamilton/pages/pages/reedhelp.html|archive-date = 2016-08-16}}</ref>

==Quadruple reeds==
[[File:Lokesh Anand Shehnai Player.jpg|thumb|The four reed [[shehnai]] is one of the most recognized instruments of India]]
[[Quadruple reed]] instruments have four reeds, two on top and two on bottom. Examples of this include an archetypal instrument from [[India]], the [[shehnai]], as well as the [[Pi (instrument)|pi]] from [[Thailand]], and the [[Cambodia]]n [[sralai]]. Having four reeds instead of two produces a very different tone and set of [[harmonics]].

==Free reeds==
{{See also|Free reed aerophone}}
There are two types of [[Free reed aerophone|free reeds]]: framed and unframed. Framed free reeds are used on ancient East Asian instruments such as the Chinese [[sheng (instrument)|shēng]] and Japanese [[Shō (instrument)|shō]], ancient Southeast Asian instruments like the Laotian [[khene]], and modern European instruments such as the [[Pump organ|harmonium]] or [[reed organ]] (consisting of [[reed pipe]]s), [[harmonica]], [[concertina]], [[bandoneón]], [[accordion]], and Russian [[Bayan (accordion)|bayan]]. The reed is made from cane, willow, brass or steel, and is enclosed in a rigid frame. The [[pitch (music)|pitch]] of the framed free reed is fixed.

The ancient [[Bullroarer (music)|bullroarer]] is an unframed free reed made of a stone or wood board tied to a rope that is swung around through the air to make a whistling sound. Another primitive unframed free-reed instrument is the leaf (the ''bilu''), used in some traditional Chinese music ensembles. A leaf or long blade of grass is stretched between the sides of the thumbs and tensioned slightly by bending the thumbs to change the pitch. The tone can be modified by cupping the hands to provide a resonant chamber.<ref>[[Henry Doktorski]], "The Classical Squeezebox: A Short History of the Accordion and Other Free-Reed Instruments in Classical Music," The Classical Free-Reed, Inc. (1997).</ref>

==Materials==
Most [[woodwind instrument]] reeds are made from [[Arundo donax|cane]], but there are synthetic reeds for clarinet, saxophone, [[double reed]] instruments, and bagpipes. Synthetic reeds are more durable and do not need to be moistened prior to playing.

Recently, synthetic reeds have been made from [[synthetic polymer]] compounds,<ref>{{cite web |title=Premium Synthetic Woodwind Reeds {{!}} Légère Reeds |url=http://www.legere.com |publisher=Légère Reeds LTD |access-date=5 December 2020}}</ref> and from a combination of cane and synthetics.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Idea - Harry Hartmann's Fiberreed |url=https://fiberreed.de/en/the-idea/ |website=Harry Hartmann's Fiberreed |access-date=5 December 2020 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004161356/https://fiberreed.de/en/the-idea/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[dizi (instrument)|dizi]], a [[China|Chinese]] [[transverse flute]], has a distinctive kind of reed (a [[di mo]]), which is made from a paper-like [[bamboo]] membrane.

==Commercial vs. handmade==
Musicians originally crafted reeds from cane using simple tools, a time-consuming and painstaking process. Specialized tools for cutting and trimming reeds by hand reduce the time needed to finish a reed. Today, nearly all single-reed instrument players buy manufactured reeds, though many adjust them by shaving or sanding. Some professionals make single reeds from blanks, but this is time-consuming and can require expensive equipment. Among double reed players, advanced and professional players typically make their own reeds, while beginners and students often buy reeds, either from their teachers or from commercial sources.

==Care and maintenance==
The playing characteristics of cane reeds are susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity.

Manufacturers produce reeds in different strengths, indicated by a number (most commonly 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, and 5).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woodwinds.daddario.com/woodwindsStrengthComparisonChart.page?mode=0&sid=11e3298c-2397-4da1-8c6f-13b27ca94724|title=D'Addario Woodwinds : Strength Comparison Chart|website=www.woodwinds.daddario.com|access-date=21 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825232947/http://www.woodwinds.daddario.com/woodwindsStrengthComparisonChart.page?mode=0&sid=11e3298c-2397-4da1-8c6f-13b27ca94724|archive-date=25 August 2017}}</ref> The strength is determined by a machine that presses against the vamp (the part that includes the tip and the "heart" just behind the tip) of the reed and determines how stiff the reed is. The machine separates the reeds according to hardness. Individual reeds graded with the same strength/hardness will vary in their playing characteristics. Sections of a reed that is too hard can be adjusted using blades, scrapers, or abrasives.

=="Reed players"==
[[Musical theatre]] orchestras call for [[woodwind]] players to each play several different instruments from the single-reed, flute, and double-reed families. In this context, these players are commonly referred to as "reed players".  An individual part may call for only one or two instruments, or many more (the "Reed 3" part in Bernstein's ''[[West Side Story (musical)|West Side Story]]'' calls for [[piccolo]], flute, oboe, [[English horn]], clarinet, [[bass clarinet]], and tenor and baritone saxophones).

==See also==
* [[Reed aerophones]]
* [[Free-reed instrument]]
* [[Mouthpiece (woodwind)]]
* [[Uilleann pipes]] reed-making [[Willie Clancy Summer School|workshops]] in [[Ireland]].

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.museumofmakingmusic.org/roots-of-reeds The Roots of Reeds] - an exhibition curated by the Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad, CA - detailing the history and migration of reed instruments.
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Reed instruments}}

{{Reed aerophones}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Woodwind instrument parts and accessories]]
[[Category:Reed aerophones| ]]