Clarinet Reeds 101

Learn some simple tips to get the most out of your clarinet reeds!
Equipment mentioned in the video:

[YAZAKA]

Hi, I would be very interested in a video on reed scraping. Thanks

[davesummers]

Solid advice and a procedure clarinetists of many levels can follow!
Thank you, John Kurokawa!
And come on man; now you have to do the reed balancing video!

[mimiroibu]

Thank you for the helpful information! Whenever you get a chance, could you please make a video on how to balance reeds? Thank you again! 😁

[kintsugi_sjmc]

I'm also very interested in the reed balancing video. I have a few ligatures that I rotate through, so I really appreciate what you said about using one that best represents the thumb. Very helpful!

[amaypant]

I take around 2 weeks to break in my reeds, works well for me! I learned some new things from this video, like about how to use the Reed Geek, thanks!

[xellusions]

1:11 i haven’t played clarinet in a while and i just got out a new rico orange box 2.5 reed, i feel CALLED OUT 😭😭

[ramsescelestin]

Thank you, John. It's been a few decades since I played the clarinet. This short review of reeds is clear, concise, and well taken. One question: What reed number should I start with?

[cpufahl]

Great! I’ve experimented with varying extremes of break in procedures, and your process is pretty much exactly what I’ve settled on as well. More than this hadn’t yielded better results for me, and definitely not playing reeds in for at least as long as you describe has been disastrous! I can get away with more with my saxophone reeds, but not clarinet!

[LouisFrayser]

Thank you so much. Reeds are kickin' my butt 😅I'm trying to figure them out 😂

[WindyWoody]

Nice video. Many aspects of your approach are familiar to me, but I noticed your specific direction--reinforced in the video demonstration--to lay the reeds flat-side-up on the table after wetting them, which I have not heard before. If I may ask, what's the reason for this?

[chandlerc]

Great video! If you make a video on balancing reeds can you mention your favorite ways to use the Reed Geek?

[Benjamin_Reese]

I would appreciate a video on how you balance your reeds! Thank you for this video.

[stevekeller]

I would be interested in a reed balancing video. This is something I have done, on saxophone and clarinet, for many years. I don’t break in reeds, but I balance every one as I take it out of the box. I find doing this makes them last longer and balancing them first ensures they vibrate properly from the start.

[tallprincessTiff]

I’m really curious about your thoughts on synthetic reeds. Could you do a video about that?

[klarinetta]

I usually use around 8 out of 10 in a box with maybe 1-2 concert quality ones. If you know how to work on reeds you can use most of them that is if the quality is there. That's at least my experience playing Vandoren V-12 for over 25 years.

[picashlio]

Could you please do a video on mouthpieces?

Which are best for beginners, intermediate, advanced players. Or a video on how the shape of your mouth can affect your playing with various mouthpieces. I'm new to the world of better mouthpieces and trying to find info on these things is a nightmare. I study hard and want to sound good.

[eichlerphoto]

A professional woodwind player in Ohio who is a former student of Robert Marcellus says Marcellus used to break in his reeds very slowly, only playing them for a short period of time each time for over a month, and was able to get some reeds to last years this way. I have been experimenting with a longer break in process lately, and, although I haven't worked my way up to more than a month of break in yet, I do seem to be getting more stable, long-lasting, and more playable reeds this way.

[Daniel-djfh]

I've got a nuvo Dood, I can't play it.
But I'm having a hard time getting smooth tones out of the 1.0 plastic reed, and the 1.5 plastic reed is abit tough to blow.
The instructions say you can also use an Eb clarinet reed. I've now been on Amazon looking and the Bb reeds seem cheaper. Could you explain the difference to someone who has no musical knowledge?
I'd prefer to play more saxophony tones for songs from Kenny G or some Sinatra songs, but I dunno.

[danielkwong]

I see too many students playing on reeds that are too stiff for their embouchure and setup. It can cause biting, extra pressing and clamping. Double-lip playing is a good test for this. I play double-lip. Do you play single or double?

[georgebaker]

Perfect, now for balancing, asp please