As a woodwind player, you know that there are many contributing factors to good tone production.  Proper embouchure and breathing techniques are essential.  A mouthpiece that speaks clearly throughout the entire range of your instrument is also important.  But no amount of effort will compensate for a reed that is chipped, warped or unable to vibrate freely.  In fact, a great reed may be the single most important factor in determining how you sound on any given day.

Preparing a Reed: 

            Before you play any reed, you must first moisten it.  Many musicians simply wet their reeds in their mouths.  While this is popular, we recommend that you wet your reeds in a small cup of warm water for two or three minutes, until the tips appear flat and unwrinkled.  Next, place the ligature on your mouthpiece.  Then, carefully fit the moistened reed underneath the ligature from the top.  Align the reed tip with the end of the mouthpiece.  Tighten the ligature screws so that pressure is evenly dispersed on the reed bark.  Be careful not to over tighten or under tighten the ligature screws.  Simply tighten them until the tension feels snug in your fingers.   

Getting Top Performance:

            Your reeds must be thoroughly moist before use.  Uneven moisture content can cause your reed to warp or wrinkle, prevent it from properly sealing against your mouthpiece table, and even cause squeaks.  You can avoid these mishaps by soaking the reed in warm water for a couple of minutes.  Then, when you’re finished playing, remove the excess moisture.  Rinse the reed thoroughly in water until clean, and then wipe it dry.  Finish by placing it in a Reedgard to dry completely.

Maintaining and Storing Reeds:

            During breaks in performance or practice, cover your mouthpiece with its cap to keep your reed moist and prevent chipping or other damage.  Never store your reed on the mouthpiece inside the instrument case.  Any reed which is allowed to dry on the mouthpiece usually warps, reducing its playing qualities.  When you’re finished playing, loosen the ligature and remove your reed first before disassembling the instrument.  The best way to prevent warping and chipping is to store your reed in a flat, dry holder.  A Reedgard is specially designed to protect and increase the playing life of a reed.  After removing the reed from the mouthpiece, gently replace the ligature and mouthpiece cap.  Forcing the cap too far down may cause a chip or crack in the mouthpiece.  Place the capped mouthpiece, ligature and stored reed in your instrument case.