 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: karlbonner82
Date: 2010-04-24 07:34
When it comes to reeds, what hardness do you typically use and what would you consider to be the lowest acceptable hardness for serious and proficient(!) students and performers? I knew one long-term musician years ago who never went above 3 1/2 and sometimes used only 3s.
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2010-04-24 10:30
Interesting question. I use only a 1.5 and not a hard Vandoran. Sure I can blow harder reeds but why, the ease of playing allows me better and quicker finger work and the ability to concentrate on the sound of the note I want?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-04-24 11:55
Use the strength that's suitable for YOU - reed strength is purely an individual thing, not a universal thing (also considert he mouthpiece tip opening and lay length as this will also determine the suitable reed strength).
Don't make it a competition between yourself and your peers - if they want to make a competition of who can play on the hardest reed and end up struggling playing on floorboards (and end up making a dull, wooly sound), then let them.
If you find the lower register very resistant (diffuse and stuffy) then the reed is too hard. If the lower register is bright and buzzy (and the upper register thin and shrill) the reed is too soft. That's with a developed embouchure - don't fall into the trap of thinking a hard reed will sound better - it may do, but it will only make your work much harder.
Don't struggle trying to play on a mega hard reed as it won't do you any good. Think of it like weightlifting - start with the lightest weights and gradually increase the weight as your muscles develop. Lifting too heavy a weight too early on in your development will only cause harm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2010-04-24 12:13
There seems to be a misconception commonly accepted by many clarinet and saxophone players that musicianship is somehow connected to reed hardness and that those who play "4's" are more "serious and proficient" than those who play softer strengths.
Optimal reed strength is a function of embouchure, mouthpiece construction, and the type of sound desired. It's true that on a close tipped mouthpiece with a long facing, a harder reed will allow you to play with more volume and better pitch control; but on a differently designed open mouthpiece a hard reed will give an airy sound with no heart and it will be very difficult to bend notes — besides just being physically fatiguing.
I know a local music teacher who starts her students on relatively hard reeds — "3's" — in order to develop a firm embouchure and good air support, but after the students have been playing a while and move on to better mouthpieces she encourages them to find their own sound and experiment with different reed strengths until they find the combination that works for them.
EDIT: Chris P. posted while I was still composing and if I'd seen his first I wouldn't have even had to respond!
In answer to the OP's other question, I did very well playing 2½'s exclusively for many, many years on an HS*. I'm now playing Legere Quebecs, 3¼ strength, on a Grabner K13.
Post Edited (2010-04-24 12:38)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-04-24 13:31
Depends of the player, the mouthpiece, the tonal concept and the comfort level. Sometimes one has to make adjustments to get the tone quality and control they want. So much depends on the standard of the player and what they're looking for. If it's just comfort they may sacrifice tone or intonation, if it's just tone they may sacrifice comfort so it's a combination all the above. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-04-24 16:24
It varies. On my old, rather close tipped mouthiece from the mid 1970s, I used much harder reeds (4 1/2 or 5) than I do on my current medium-faced mouthpieces (3 1/2). hte sound I get is quite nice, and I get compliments on my tone regularly. It's not a contest to see who can play the hardes reed, and harder is not more professional. Find the reed strength that works best with you and your mouthpiec, then ignore what everyone around you is using! 
Jeff
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Author: tedm
Date: 2010-04-26 17:22
interesting question. I play infrequently so I use a 2 or 2 1/2, but have 2 kids who are students, the private teacher generally recommends very stiff ones for them, like starting out at 2 1/2, quickly moving them to 3s and 3 1/2, basically 1 notch higher than classmates in the public schools. weird.
2 Artley 17S & 1 Buffet B12 Crampon
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2010-04-26 18:15
>> the lowest acceptable hardness for serious and proficient(!) students and performers?
As far as I know, there are professionals out there who play on all strengths, though the 1's and 1.5's are more common in the jazz and kelzmer world. I suspect reeds of this strength are rare in the professional classical scene, but that's pure speculation - anyone put me straight on this?
I've never (successfully) played anything harder than a Vandoren 3. But then my taste in mouthpieces is the mid-open part of the Vandoren range.
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