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A reed is a thin strip of material which vibrates to make Music . The reeds of Woodwind Musical Instrument s are usually made of '' Arundo Donax ''; tuned reeds are made of Metal or Plastic . TYPES OF REED Single reeds Single reeds are used on the Clarinet and Saxophone . Some reed makers are Vandoren , Schopp, La Voz, Rico , Hemke, and many more. Reeds are made out of a Grass ( Cane ) or Plastic . The finest cane is grown in the Var region of France . For a given instrument, different reeds produce different sound effects and styles, and so different musicians use different types of reeds. Reeds vary in 'strength', for example, and those strengths vary among reed makers. The strength, or 'hardness' of reeds affects the articulation, and the difficulty of producing a full sound. A good reed produces a light sound after being played for some time where a bad reed may produce a good sound instantly and wear out shortly after. The variables affecting performance are the shape and material of the reed. For a single reed, a complex shape must be cut from a cane 'blank': flat on the underside; thin and flat at the tip; blended to match the natural curve of the outer surface of the cane at the 'heel' of the reed. The thickness of the tip and heel and the profile inbetween can all affect the sound. Reeds cut with the same profile from cane of different grades (density, stiffness) will then behave in markedly different ways. In past times, musicians crafted their own reeds from cane using simple tools. This was time consuming and painstaking, and often took hours to produce one good reed. Reeds can also be hand-cut and trimmed with special hardware. This process can be shortened once the musician has learned the steps to creating the reed from the reed blank and brings his/her time down to only 30-45 minutes. double reeds.]] Most musicians consider the cane reed to be the most professional choice. A cane reed usually lasts for no longer than 2 months. It is not uncommon for an avid player to go through a new reed every 2-3 weeks, though a continual rotation of reeds will help the reed outlast the traditional 2 month lifespan, and with regularly clipping, sanding, and shaving, the reed can last anywhere from 6 months to a year. Occasionally, cane reeds will last much longer than the average, and players can become quite attached to them. A plastic reed can be sustained for over a year. A plastic reed needs to be given rest once every several months (unless shaving or clipping occurs, ). Another advantage of the plastic reed is that it does not have to be moistened for a long time like cane reeds. The natural variability of reed character is a significant part of the musical experience, but it brings with it a psychology among players that can border on obsession. The Dizi , a Chinese Transverse Flute , has a distinctive kind of reed (a Di Mo ), which is made from a paper-like Bamboo Membrane . Double reeds Double reeds sound very different to single reeds. There are several types of Double Reed s used on the Bassoon , Oboe , Bagpipes , Tromboon , English Horn , and some Organ s. An oboe has nasal sound, and a bassoon its own distinctive sound. REED STRENGTH Reeds for all woodwind instruments come in a variety of strengths, with higher numbers signifying a harder reed. Single reed strengths are generally numbered 1 through 5, progressing by halves. The strength of a reed denotes, literally, how hard it is to play. Even though a harder reed is more difficult to play, it can produce a richer and fuller sound than a softer reed. Additionally, for many instruments, it is difficult to get the upper notes if the reed is too soft. The grading of reed strengths is not standard and varies between manufacturers. Hence, a SEE ALSO
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