The Best Saxophone Reeds | Different Styles and Strengths
There are many varieties and strengths of saxophone reeds, so it is important to know what the appropriate reed is for each student. Reed strength is the same for all reeds–the higher the strength of reed, the thicker the reed is and therefore, the more resistant it is to play. In other words, this means you will need to blow harder through the instrument to create a sound but in turn will produce a bigger, fuller sound. Strengths range from soft to hard, or in numbers from 1.5 all the way up to a 4 or 5. When beginning to play saxophone or clarinet (no matter the age), lower strength reeds are better because it will be significantly easier (less resistant) to produce a sound. As the student improves over time, the reed strength can be gradually increased–i.e. 1.5-2-2.5-3. Selecting the correct reed strength is imperative but it is important to note that the reed variety and brand will make a difference as well.
For beginning saxophone students, I generally like to recommend Rico Royal reeds. These are inexpensive and perfectly adequate for students during the first year of playing and beyond. At this level, the student will not notice a significant different between reed varieties. Similar to increasing reed strengths, students can gradually step-up to better quality reeds as they improve–usually about one year after beginning to play. Better quality reeds are made from a higher grade reed cane and will produce a nicer sound. Some examples of these reeds are Vandoren Blue Box and Rigotti Gold. Beyond that, top of the line reeds are cut to produce an optimized sound for specific styles of music. Vandoren, Rico, and Rigotti make specific reed cuts for Jazz and Classical music. Some examples of these are Rico Reserve (Classical), Rico Jazz Select, Vandoren Java, Vandoren V16, Vandoren ZZ reeds, and Rigotti Gold. For those of you thinking about switching between reeds, sometimes reed strength differs slightly between brands of reeds. Below is a reed comparison chart to help you compare other brands of reeds and find the appropriate size.
Here is a concise breakdown of the different reeds and the most popular strengths:
Vandoren Traditional- More resistant that other reeds. Strong and darker sound good for classical music or concert band. Works well with Vandoren Optimum mouthpieces.
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Vandoren Traditional Size 2.5 Alto
Vandoren Traditional Size 3 Alto
Vandoren Traditional Size 3.5 Alto
Vandoren Traditional Size 2.5 Tenor
Vandoren Java Red- Suited well for all styles of music. Not too bright and not too dark. Nice warm sound. Works well with all mouthpieces.
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Vandoren Java Red Size 2.5 Alto
Vandoren Java Red Size 3.5 Alto
Vandoren Java Red Size 2.5 Tenor
Vandoren Java Green- Softer reed. Plays with a much more buzzy and bright sound. Better suited for jazz and contemporary music.
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Vandoren Java Green Size 2.5 Alto
Vandoren Java Green Size 3 Alto
Vandoren Java Green Size 3.5 Alto
Vandoren Java Green Size 2.5 Tenor
Vandoren ZZ- Easy to play, bright, and resonant. Great for jazz.
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Rico Royal- Great all around reeds with a good price point, especially for beginning students. Suitable for all styles of music.
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Rico Jazz Select/D’Addario Jazz Select Unfiled- Bright and easy to play with a strong sound. Most suitable for jazz styles.
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D’addario Jazz Select Unfiled Alto 2 Hard
D’addario Jazz Select Unfiled Alto 3 Soft
D’addario Jazz Select Unfiled Alto 3 Medium
D’addario Jazz Select Unfiled Tenor 2 Hard
Rico Jazz Select/D’Addario Jazz Select Filed- Slightly warmer sound that the unfiled and more resistant but also a strong sound. Most suitable for jazz styles.
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D’addario Jazz Select Filed Alto 2 Hard
D’addario Jazz Select Filed Alto 3 Soft
D’addario Jazz Select Filed Alto 3 Medium
D’addario Jazz Select Filed Tenor 2 Hard
Rigotti Gold- My reed of choice on Alto and Tenor saxophone. Bright and resonant tone great for jazz of contemporary styles of music. Plays softer, especially in the upper register so at least a strength up is recommended. Another huge plus of these reeds is that for each 1/2 size (3,3.5 etc.) you can get light, medium, or strong. This means you can really dial in the specific strength that works for you.