Clarinet Reeds 101

Learn some simple tips to get the most out of your clarinet reeds!
Equipment mentioned in the video:
D'addario reed cases: www.daddario.com/products/woo...
Muncy Reed Wallet: muncywinds.com/product/muncy-...
Reed Geek: muncywinds.com/product/muncy-...

[@hankstrohbeck4408]

perfect, thank you- just starting

[@YAZAKA29]

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

[@john.kurokawa]

Noted! Thanks for watching!

[@mimiroibu6701]

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! 😁

[@john.kurokawa]

Sure thing! Thank you for watching!

[@davesummers3304]

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!

[@john.kurokawa]

On it! I have some technical hurdles to overcome, but it is definitely in the pipeline. Thanks for watching!

[@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!

[@john.kurokawa]

Thank you! I have some technical hurdles to overcome for that video but it’s in the pipeline! Thanks for watching!

[@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!

[@john.kurokawa]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@amaypant]

@@john.kurokawa of course!

[@carlythemusician5407]

You’re very well-spoken! Great video!

[@john.kurokawa]

Thank you for watching!

[@Benjamin_Reese]

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

[@john.kurokawa]

You’re welcome! It’s in the works!

[@chandlerc1971]

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

[@john.kurokawa]

Thank you for watching! Yes, I think there’s a video coming up about reed balancing soon. 😊

[@LouisFrayser]

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

[@john.kurokawa]

You’re welcome! Best of luck. Check out my review of Woodstone reeds as well! Thanks for watching!

[@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 😭😭

[@john.kurokawa]

Not at all. If you're a beginner, then that's where you should be. If you're a little more advanced or experienced, you might do better to try something a little higher in strength and quality. Thanks for watching!

[@stevekeller4814]

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.

[@john.kurokawa]

It’s in the pipeline! I have some technical hurdles to overcome, but it’s definitely coming at some point. Thanks for watching!

[@Daniel-dj7fh]

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.

[@michaelcorner3861]

Hi there, John! Fellow pro here. Very good video and sound advice indeed! I wish I could get my beginning and even intermediate students to follow your advice about trying and playing multiple reeds at a time! It's so frustrating when they come to a lesson and almost can't play because they haven't changed the reed in a week or two!! I couldn't help noticing your using V12s. I used them myself for decades. You'll have a LOT better luck, and save a lot of money, by switching to Peter Leuthners (French cut) or Ishimoris. The Leuthners sound darker and fuller; the Ishimoris respond better. Kind of depends on what you're after. I have a few of each in my reed cases, depending on what I'm playing that day. Either way, they both absolutely blow anything that Vandoren makes out of the water as far as reliability, consistency and value, as you get more per box that work and they last longer. I'm probably playing the Ishimoris more than the Leuthners these days. I also really enjoyed your ligature video. I love it that you tried an old Harrison....I play one!! I have a couple of spares also. I like it even better than the Ishimoris....and truth be told, in the video, you sounded better on it, too :)

[@john.kurokawa]

I’ll have to try the Ishimori reeds- thanks for the recommendation and for watching!

[@michaelcorner3861]

That would be a very interesting video for you to make; comparing V12s with Ishimoris or any other kind of reed! Strengthwise, I play a 4 for Leuthners, which are comparable to the V12s, and a 3.5+ for the Ishimoris.....maybe more comparable to the standard blue box Vandoren, so maybe go down a 1/4 or 1/2 strength when you buy them. From your response, it sounds like you may have already tried Leuthners.....yes? Please report back your impressions, and thanks for the reply!:)

[@john.kurokawa]

I tried the Leuthners quite a while ago, but I was using different clarinets and a different mouthpiece. I really liked the quality of the cane, but I had a difficult time with the break in- the first day I tried them, they were some of the best reeds I'd ever tried, but by the second day they were popsicle sticks. I'd like to try them again though, now that I play a much more responsive setup. Thanks for reminding me!

[@pL3Ym0b1L]

Thumbgature!!! 🔥

[@tiffanypilon5961]

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

[@john.kurokawa]

I’ll add it to the list! Thanks for watching!

[@picashlio3361]

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.

[@john.kurokawa]

Mouthpieces are my favorite topic. It's in the pipeline!

[@danielkwong2095]

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?

[@john.kurokawa]

I agree. I play single, although I do go through periods of practicing double lip to help alleviate tension and biting especially if I am performing a lot. Thank you for watching!

[@emjay2045]

👍

[@sandrafrancis3631]

As a complete beginner, I started in September as an older adult learner, most of this I didn't fully understand even. Plus, it all seems too finicky and obsessive for me. If this is what it means to be a clarinet player, I have to say it puts me off and makes me want to give up!