Monthly Archives: October 2020

The best reed for beginner saxophone is a size 2 or size 2.5 reed. Most beginners start with Rico, Rico Royal, or Vandoren Brand Saxophone Reeds. Your teacher will usually recommend one of these types of reeds to start with.

Reed sizes vary in half measures from 1.5 to 4. The higher the number, the thicker the reed and the better tone you can get. The lower the number, the softer the reed is. Start with a softer reed and build your strength up to a thicker reed.

Some manufacturers use numbers for sizes, they start at 1 ½, 2, 2 ½, 3, 3 ½, 4, 4 ½ and so on; Others will use “soft”, “medium”, and “hard” instead.

The size indicates the thickness of the reed. Manufacturers also vary on their reed sizes from one to another. For example, Vandoren is thicker than Rico so a Vandoren size 2 may be similar in thickness to a Rico size 2.5. It is recommended for beginners or young students to start with sizes 1½ - 2, or “soft” reeds, and move up to a thicker reeds as they progre

A reed's strength is most often shown as a number. Beginner reeds are typically of a lower strength, such as sizes 1.5 and 2 (soft and medium soft). When deciding which reed strength to use, a player will need to decide if they need a beginner or more advanced reed.

So what size do you choose? A reed's thickness is the most important factor when choosing. Just as with the strength, reed thickness is expressed as a number. The lower the number, the thinner the reed, and the higher the number, the thicker the reed. Reeds typically range from 2 to 4. The tone and responsiveness of an instrument will depend on the thickness of the reed. Thinner reeds (between 2 and 2.5) are good for beginners since it vibrates more easily and it has a brighter tone; preferred among Jazz players! On the other hand, thicker reeds with a size of 4 to 5 are harder and need more skill to sounds, but the tone is a lot bolder.

Your reed's strength identifies its density and flexibility. In