Hello!

I have been playing the clarinet in middle and high school for many years, and I have been experiencing a frustrating reed problem. Originally, I played with a Vandoren 3, but with a new instrument and mouthpiece, I had to start using a 2 1/2.

New reeds for me are fantastic. I take them out of the wrapping, play on them for 5 minutes, and they are good to go. These reeds are the very best that I ever get. They are resistant, yellow, and have the new reed taste. After two days, however, this all changes. The reed (I have been playing on it in rehearsal these two days) turns a pale color, slightly transparent, and makes a poor sound. The yellow and taste are gone, and squeaks are practically guaranteed. I find myself going through reeds like wildfire, always reserving a new one for a concert.

I store my reeds in a plastic holding case so they will be held flat. I do not soak them, except in my mouth for maybe 20 seconds before playing. The color, taste, and tone changes are incredibly rapid.

I'm not quite sure what to do about this. Perhaps I am doing something fundamentally wrong in my playing? Or maybe they are not being stored right? Or maybe I need a stronger reed....

Any help would be MASSIVELY appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Well, there are a few things that could be happening! The reed could be waterlogged. If you don't properly break a reed in it doesn't last as long!! There is kind of a long process for breaking in reeds! You have to take them out of the box one at a time get them wet (I prefer to soak them in water for a few seconds!) and play on each of them for like 30 seconds. Then after this is completed you want to lay them out on a smooth, flat surface(a piece of clean glass works best!) and let them dry, usually over night. Then the next day play on each of them for a few minutes and mark them in the order of best to worst, numbers work best! This is kind of drawn out but you are going to get the most out of your reeds if you do this with every new box! The humidity can also play a factor in how wekk your reeds will play on a given day!! Hope this helps and good luck!

-Amanda

Thank you very much for your response! It was very helpful!
Does the reed's resistance play any role in how long the reed lasts? And should the reed retain its rich yellow color throughout its life (this characteristic is especially fleeting)? I really hope this helps me--lately I have been going through reeds like wildfire.
I really appreciate your help and thank you again!

No problem! No the reed will not retain its yellow color or new reed flavor, once they are broken in they turn more of a neutral color!! The resistance could also play a role in that! For this a reed knife or resurfacer should solve the problem!!

-Amanda

Okay, I suppose the lack of color and taste retainment makes sense.
I have been suggested on a number of occasions to soak my reeds in a cup of water overnight. I tried this for a while, but in most cases the reeds seemed entirely destroyed afterward--flimsy, warped, semi-transparent. However, some people have had some major luck with that method. Does it depend on reed resistance?
I'm also beginning to think that I am doing something fundamentally wrong in playing the instrument itself. Could loss of tone quality a few days after opening a new reed (where the first day was excellent, the next day was okay, and so on) be just from player incompetence in say, the embouchure? It isn't fun thinking that I might have to relearn something as square-one as that, but eh, that might play a role.

Thank you again, HUGELY, for your help! It has been fantastic!

Soaking the reeds in water overnight could cause major water logging issues!! I don't think your embouchre (can't spell!) could have much to do with the reed quality! I know you mentioned switching from a three back to a 2 1/2, have you tried going back to the 3? It could be that the reed is too soft for you! Next time you get reeds get a couple of 3s and break them in and see if it makes a difference! If they are still too hard the I recommend trying a vandoren v12 reed in a 2 1/2, these are a little bit harder than the normal ones and might be better for you! I prefer them and use them instead of the blue box!! Hope this helps some more!!

-Amanda

It certainly does! I will probably try both the regular 3 and the V.12 2 1/2. Haven't ever heard of those... interesting!
I have also heard conflicting suggestions on rotating reeds. Right now, I have the idea that there should be four playable reeds at all times that can be used, and they are rotated. Does that sound acceptable? Unfortunately, lately my reed life has been too short to make use of any rotation, but it sure sounds inviting!

Oftentimes, I would dread entering rehearsal because there was practically no telling whether a reed would function on a given day. I would soak it in my mouth for perhaps 20 seconds, place it on my instrument, and play on it for a few minutes. Sometimes the poorer-performing reeds would shape up in this few-minute warm-up period, but some did not. I would just pray for good sound right when I put it on....
Also, during this time I would experience SEVERE squeaking issues. It wasn't the miscalculation-style squeak that actually sounds like a high note. This was a spontaneous, growling shriek. Loud and absolutely horrible it is. Are there adjustments to the reed that can correct for this?

Thank you again!

It certainly does! I will probably try both the regular 3 and the V.12 2 1/2. Haven't ever heard of those... interesting!
I have also heard conflicting suggestions on rotating reeds. Right now, I have the idea that there should be four playable reeds at all times that can be used, and they are rotated. Does that sound acceptable? Unfortunately, lately my reed life has been too short to make use of any rotation, but it sure sounds inviting!

Oftentimes, I would dread entering rehearsal because there was practically no telling whether a reed would function on a given day. I would soak it in my mouth for perhaps 20 seconds, place it on my instrument, and play on it for a few minutes. Sometimes the poorer-performing reeds would shape up in this few-minute warm-up period, but some did not. I would just pray for good sound right when I put it on....
Also, during this time I would experience SEVERE squeaking issues. It wasn't the miscalculation-style squeak that actually sounds like a high note. This was a spontaneous, growling shriek. Loud and absolutely horrible it is. Are there adjustments to the reed that can correct for this?

Thank you again!

I actually have a selmer reed case that holds 10 reeds and I try to rotate through all of them. This can be a little overwhelming to start but gets easier as you get used to it! Whatever system works best for you, is what you should use! (as long as you don't use the same reed for weeks at a time!) As for the growling that might be because you might not be using enough air, or you aren't articulating and releasing air at the same time, one comes before the other! If you have a private teacher then that might be something to ask them about, if not you may want to consider looking into one! I had some of the same problems, when I started taking lessons they were corrected within a few weeks!! Good luck!!

-Amanda

Why not go for Leger synthetic reeds and end your reed nightmare for ever ?