Are You Using The Right Reed Strength?

Hopefully this will give you the information you need to make sure you are in the right ballpark for selecting the right size reed for you.
Vandoren Mouthpiece Chart: vandoren.fr/en/clarinet-mouth...
D'addario Reed Comparison Chart: www.daddario.com/globalassets...
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[@brendareed8412]

What a lot of good information. I never knew there were so.many variables.

[@olivia8977]

Thanks so much, this was really helpful! I’ve always felt like I should have been on a stronger reed due to the level of musician I was, but am using a B45 so a 3 is actually a great strength for me!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes, that is a great match up!

[@SuzannesVault]

Thank you. Your detailed explanation certainly has cleared up the questions I had about the reed and mouthpiece combinations AND to simply try different combinations to see what works best for the results I want to achieve with my playing.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

[@stephenfutch3327]

Huge help for me. Thank you.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Glad it helped!

[@pukalo]

The specific cut of the reed can also matter. Strength 2.5 vandoren blue box is the hardest I can use on my B45 without getting that airy sound of a too-hard reed, but with a 56 rue lepic reed and the same B45 I can get a perfectly clear sound with a strength 3.5.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes definitely! That is quite a big difference but the blue box is definitely harder than the 56’s.

[@1cleandude]

Thanks this seems to definitely help!🙏

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Awesome! Let me know if you have any other questions.

[@liamclarinet]

great overview! I also tell my students that the # on the box is just an average... also, the whole problem is such a faff, sometimes it's just easier to tell the student what to play on using your judgement! unpopular I know, but it can save some anguish on the student's part.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I like the average idea!

[@1cleandude]

Just subscribed brother all of your videos are informative and helpful! Would you consider a video on resistance? Like I play a M13 Lyre with a 3 and feel like my heads about to explode! Thanks again for your time and expertise!🙏🙏🙏

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks for subscribing! That would definitely make for an interesting video! In the meantime, a M13 with a size 3 reed is very non-resistant set up, which means the resistance you are feeling is coming from you. When you play a softer set up like that it becomes easier to pinch the reed off. I imagine your embouchure is a little too tight for the reed so it is making a thin sound, then you try to push more air to get a bigger sound, which actually pinches the reed off more (through too much air pressure, or inadvertently adding more embouchure pressure) and your head feels like it is going to explode. Try starting an open G with good air support, but no embouchure support (it should just sound like fuzzy air) then slowly add more embouchure pressure until the sound starts becomes clear and focused and then eventually pinches off completely. That will give you a good idea of how much embouchure pressure you need to allow the reed to really vibrate its best!

[@alimemari1646]

Thank you for the informative video.. I would like to know how the combinations you mentioned (wide opening + soft reed / small opening + hard reed) actually sound..

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s a good question. I think the way they sound comes down to the way the player wants to make them sound. In general with equipment I think it is less about finding the equipment that sounds the way you want and more about finding equipment that feels easy to sound the way you want. The closed mouthpiece is generally more responsive but less flexible whereas the open mouthpiece is just the opposite. I hope that makes sense and is helpful to you!

[@peabee8567]

Very informative video, i will definitely check out the vandoren table.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I’m glad it helped!

[@peabee8567]

@QuickStart Clarinet it really has as I have a clicking jaw and TMJ so I have been reluctant to use a higher reed than a 2 it is good to know I can expiment and never realised about the different curvature of the mouth pieces and a higher reed may be required and using the wrong reed can cause my mouth to hurt more. I have also noticed on the reed that when saturating the reed if I don't suck some of the moisture out my reed won't sound properly as well.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

@@peabee8567 That is interesting! I don't know a ton about TMJ, but using a softer reed actually requires you to hold the jaw slightly more open, which may be worse for it. Though the resistance of a harder reed may also be worse. And yes, you want to wet the reed, but you don't want lots of excessive saliva or water on it when you put it on or that will cause problems!

[@peabee8567]

@@QuickStartClarinet thanks for the advice it really has been helpful!!!!

[@jmyoga2]

Hi. I am working through some of the very issues you mentioned with an airy sound on the lower notes and the pinched note in the upper register so I found your video helpful. What are some reed options for a Vandoren V360 clarinet mouthpiece? I didn't see it on the chart.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

It sounds like it is a discontinued mouthpiece but relatively close to a 5RV Lyre so if you are a beginner player something around or 3 or maybe 3.5 would probably be good!

[@pr-ji1ni]

This is a really interesting explanation, but I am struggling to understand how big the opening of my mouthpiece is, compared to others. I have a Yamaha C4 mouthpiece and I assumed that because I am a beginner I should use a 1.5 strength reed. However, my YCL0255s student clarinet came with a 3 strength reed. Does that mean I should be using 3 instead of 1.5?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

To know how your mouthpiece compares to others you have to look at a chart with the real measurements on it with comparisons to other mouthpieces. 1.5 is definitely too soft for any mouthpiece though. A 3 may be too hard at first, but may be worth working up to. That mouthpiece should be somewhere between a 3-4 for reed strength depending on the brand and how you play.

[@Notreallyhillbilly]

Great video. I am a complete beginner, but the mouthpiece that I have is an m13. I know this is a good mouthpiece, used by many advancing, serious students, a category I hope to fall in. The reeds that I have are all 2s and 2.5s. From what I gather, those are good reed strengths for beginners. But if I am using the m13, am I shooting myself in the foot using a lighter reed as a beginner, even though the mouthpiece works best on a stiffer reed? Or should I after just learning to play a basic, clear tone with the soft reeds, quickly try to move up to a 3.5, if that's what I should be eventually playing (even though that is still on the soft side for the m13)? I don't want to challenge myself in a counterproductive way by starting with a too-firm reed, if as a learner I should in general opt for a lighter one at first. Thank you for any thoughts. Jason

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Good question! Stick with the 2.5 for a little bit and then gradually move up. Once you start crossing the break up into the B natural and above (and especially going for high C), that would be a good time to move up to a 3. And then maybe 3.5 once you start going for the altissimo. It is good to start softer at first so it is easy, but you will eventually need a harder reed to develop your embouchure more and find a consistent and stable sound in all registers. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@chessisgreatd8802]

I still don't quite understand the more open/closed mouth pieces, I currently use and m13 lyre and vandouren v12s 3.5+, is this a good match? I've always liked the tone in the mid-upper register, but when it comes to throat tones its really fuzzy and when it comes to high notes it becomes a bit more hard to play, can you recommend a good reed for my mouthpiece?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Sure! That is a more closed mouthpiece so the harder reed like the v12 3.5+ is a good match. However based on your description, especially the fuzzy throat tones, it may be a bit hard for you. So you could try a 3.5 and see how that feels, or use more air and maybe just a little bit more embouchure pressure, and definitely a little more mouthpiece/reed in your mouth and see how that goes.

[@CarterHarrison-oe1gc]

I am trying out the BD5 mouthpiece right now with 3.5 V12 reeds. I like the sound but it’s hard to play. Is there a better reed combination for that mouthpiece that you would reccomend?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

For V12s on a BD5, the Vandoren chart recommends 3-3.5+, so you are definitely within the recommended range, but trying some 3s might be good if the 3.5s are feeling too hard.

[@katcomshaw-arnold6979]

Are you familiar with Robert Borbeck mouthpieces? Any advice as to reeds/ reed strength for this brand?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I am not. If you can find any information about the tip opening and possibly facing length for your mouthpiece then you can compare it to the Vandoren mouthpieces on the chart! You can also always do a bit of trial and error to find what works for you.

[@josephromano6534]

Thanks for your informative videos. One confusing point. You said Legere European run about 1/4 strength less. But that would mean for Legere you would get a higher number reed that you would for say V12, correct? You seemed to say the opposite.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks for asking for clarification! What I meant is you want about a quarter strength softer. Here is a chart from the Legere site with specifics: www.legere.com/need-to-know/strength-charts/ I have found this to be pretty accurate in my fairly limited experience with Legeres.

[@josephromano6534]

@@QuickStartClarinet Interesting. Playing on Legere 3.25 vs V12 3.5. The Legere is way way softer. But this is just anecdotal and not based on trying many reeds. But I think I'll get a Legere 3.5 next. Thanks again for your informative and detailed videos.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes, I also find there is so much variance in both cane reeds and the Legeres that it is a bit tricky to really know what strength to get and it is best to try a bunch to find something that works well for you!

[@julymandy]

Do you confirm that reeds needs to be worked upon before using them or before placing it on the mouthpiece?

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Nope. You can’t tell anything about a reed definitely without playing it. When it comes to working on reeds you should play it adjust a little at a time and test it often.

[@mmmmkay4773]

My legere European cut plays flat on my vandoren mouthpiece m13 lyre, which sucks because i love the immediate response legere has

[@QuickStartClarinet]

That’s pretty common for them to be a little flatter. You can try a harder strength and that will raise the pitch, or you can get a not series 13 M13 and that will be higher pitch. The series 13 plays at A=440 whereas the standard Vandoren mouthpieces are pitched closer to A=442. Although that may be too sharp if you are only a little flat. I hope that helps!

[@mmmmkay4773]

@@QuickStartClarinet this helps a great deal!!! I grabbed a higher strength reed as you suggested and problem solved! I also played around with the 440 to 442 tuning on my app and I see exactly what you are saying!! Thank you so much!!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Excellent, I’m glad it helped!

[@midnightcat1202]

Started with a 2.5 night ask my bro if I should change strength

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Especially if it is a Vandoren 2.5, it can work for a long time, but most mouthpieces would prefer a 3 or harder. But again it is a lot up to your personal preference and where you are at in your clarinet playing.

[@helenmhb]

I don't know what KZbin is doing, but I'm not receiving notifications in my email when you upload a new video. This is a recent change. BTW, interesting video.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Ya, sometimes they will stop but usually if you click the bell notification thing again I think that fixes it.

[@helenmhb]

@@QuickStartClarinet I'll try that and let you know.

[@Zeroed845]

I used to play a three my teacher made me play a three

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Sometimes teachers have the philosophy that a certain reed fits a certain mouthpiece and everybody should play that or they start beginners all the same thing. I think everybody is so different it is best to explore what feels best!