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Re: What are reed windows?

Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-07-14 22:22

I would just like to point out that American scrape reeds are no more, or no less "beginner" than other types of scrapes. A reed is called "beginner" when it's machine-made, or bulk-made.

"Windows" do not determine the quality of the reed. They are a characterstic of long-scraped (American) reeds. What is a long scrape? Well, it has three main components, from tip to string:

1. Tip - thinnest
2. Heart - thickest
3. Back (windows!) -thicker than tip, thinner than heart.

The tip is the thinnest and smooths into the heart with what is called blend/slope.
The heart is generally a little more roughly seperated from the back, but still has blend. the back is thinnest just under the heart, and gradually gets thicker, towards the string (and the unscraped bark at the bottom)

French and German style reeds - or really almost all European reeds- are short scraped. The American reed evolved from the French scrape, popularized by Marcel Tabuteau.

What is a short scrape? It is a much simpler reed, but is still equally functional. It's essentially a tip - that's it. There is no thick heart, but a gradual slope from the tip to about halfway - or less - down the reed.

In terms of playing these reeds, long-scraped reeds tend to be played at the tip, while short scrape reeds are played more "in."

I would also suggest that if you are trying to really improve, seek out handmade professional reeds, regardless of scrape type. (However, the widely accepted sound in North America is the sound produced by long-scraped reeds)

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