 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-08-29 19:41
It would seem to me that top professional players tend to play on rather hard reeds these days; at any rate, harder than in the past (strength:number 4, which I would call hard). What is the reason for this? -the search for a darker, denser sound?
-a couple of players that played on very soft reeds: Cahuzac, Benny Goodman (I wonder how he managed all those high notes playing on a number 2 reed!) Gervase de Peyer, Tony Coe.
I've said this before: playing on a hard reed is more difficult physically, playing on a soft one, more difficult technically.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: hans
Date: 2025-08-29 20:08
It's an interesting question; is there an award for playing the stiffest reed that we haven't been made aware of?
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-08-29 20:37
I don't think there is a simple answer to the original question. The perceived reed strength is dependent on the mouthpiece facing opening and length.
Put a #2 reed on a mouthpiece with very open and long facing and it may feel harder than #4 reed on a MP with short and closed facing.
Viennese school prefers MPs with long but closed facing so a harder reed is almost a requirement.
Many jazz players in the US use 5JB or even 7JB, that have opening of 1.47mm or 1.7mm (correspondingly), both with long facing length.
I think it would be difficult to play #4 or above reeds (Vandoren bb) on these two MPs. Vandoren's recommended reed strength reflects that:
< https://vandoren.fr/en/clarinet-mouthpieces-comparison/>
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-08-29 20:54
Apparently and from what I've read on here, some teachers in the USA start primary school age beginners on Vandoren blue box 3.
Then it becomes a real contest among their peers as they get older and go to high school as to who can play on the hardest strength reed as in their world, the higher strength number equates to the better player, regardless if they can actually play on them in the true sense of playing.
The old 'hard reeds make a better sound' thing also comes into play - yes it will have a darker sound, but you can get a 'dark' sound with softer reeds by embouchure changes. Some clarinet players have a tone that's so harsh and bright, the oboists get it in the neck for being too loud (which is what I encountered earlier on this week when I was practically subtoning on oboe).
The award of playing on the hardest reed in the world is no reward if it results in pain or physical harm. There are no awards for stubbornness or bragging rights.
I find it much easier to get the high notes on Eb clarinet with the response and dynamic control I want using a Vandoren blue box 2 than a Vandoren 3.
On Bb I use Legere Euro Signature 3.25 and 3 on bass - that's all I need.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: graham
Date: 2025-08-29 22:28
What has led to this view that top players have hard set-ups?
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2025-08-29 23:10
I would actually say I feel the hard reed masochism has lessened over recent years!
More people than ever before playing on medium setups, from my view.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-08-29 23:33
ruben wrote:
... > Cahuzac, Benny Goodman
>
interestingly, Cahuzac I'm to understand, was a double lip player, and Goodman, later in his career, when he started to embrace the classical clarinet genre switched to this embouchure as well...
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-08-29 23:55
Second Try: there is a clear link between playing on softer reeds and playing with double-lip embouchure.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
Post Edited (2025-08-30 00:01)
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2025-08-30 00:13
Ruben I don’t think so. We really need to stop thinking about soft or hard reeds and focus more on the need for reed flexibility in relation to the mouthpiece. The old French school of Bonade, Rose, Mimart etc all focused on reed flexibility.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2025-08-30 01:26
I've been playing Vandoren 2.5s for 50 years on my 5RV mouthpiece (well, the first 25 on my V360). With a really good one I can reach G above double high C. I guess it all depends on what you're used to and if you spend enough years doing it. Teaching Band I always started kids off on Rico 2s. 2.5s came later. As far as technique goes, yes, I think such things as tonguing can be more difficult on a softer reed, so perhaps you have to be a little more fussy about getting a really good one?
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Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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