Placement of Single Reeds on Mouthpieces and a Useful Test

Placement of Single Reeds on Mouthpieces and a Useful Test

Over many years customer have regularly asked me how best to place their reeds on their mouthpiece. Since the reed and mouthpiece combine to vibrate the air column this actually quite an important question. 

Following soaking, the reed should be positioned on the mouthpiece with the reed lined up evenly distributed on the flat cutaway that is the mouthpiece ‘table’ with the tip of the reed aligned with the end of the tip rail of the mouthpiece. When examined perpendicularly you should be able to see a hairline of the tip rail over top of the reed tip in standard playing position. Once you are satisfied with the positioning hold the reed with a thumb and carefully place the ligature over top. Lower the ligature until it sits in a position where there is an equal amount of the ‘bark’ of the reed visible on either side of the ligature. Tighten the screw(s) (where present) finger tight but do not over tighten them as this can damage the reed fibres and inhibit vibration.

If you wish to check the success of your placement you can perform a suction test as follows to see if the reed is ready to use:

• Wet the palm of your hand and place the shank end of mouthpiece end on your palm

• Take the tip of the mouthpiece and reed in your mouth, wrap your lips around the mouthpiece and create a vacuum by sucking aggressively and repeatedly to remove air from within the mouthpiece

• When you feel this has been achieved release your lips and the reed should hold shut for a few seconds (you may even hear a ‘hissing’ sound) before it ‘pops’ open with a noise, as the vacuum is lost.

• If you do not get a ‘pop’ first try again – If after repeated attempts your reed does not hold a vacuum it may be miss-aligned, warped or damaged. If it seems to take a very long time to ‘pop’ then if may be fatigued and ready to be changed.

It takes a bit of practice to gain ‘the knack’ of this test but it can be quite useful in confirming that the set-up is likely to work well.

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The tips and comments above are the result of many years of providing help and advice, my personal interest and study, and the teaching that I have done during my career. I have many colleagues and teachers to thank for sharing their thoughts and suggestions on this and other topics. In addition I am indebted to Woodwind & Reed, Cambridge ( www.wwr.co.uk ) where, in the course of helping customers, many of these concepts have been refined and have proven helpful.

Thomas Dryer-Beers