Saxophone Reeds: An Honest Overview (Rico, Vandoren, D'Addario & more)

Get the SaxTuition Beginner Series ►► www.saxtuition.com
Vandoren Traditional Reeds ►► amzn.to/38OBJoJ
D'Addario Royal Reeds ►► amzn.to/38P8rGP
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In this video, Jeremy gives you a complete overview of saxophone reeds, tips and advice on what brands to play (D'Addario / Vandoren) and reveals his personal reed & mouthpiece set up.
Topics covered:
- Reed brand overview (Vandoren / Rico / D'Addario)
- Different reed types (jazz and classical)
- What strength reed to play
- Beginner tips on choosing a reed style
- Reed / mouthpiece relationship
- Synthetic reeds - are they any good?
Check out saxtuition.com for more great saxophone content!
-- RECOMMENDED BEGINNER SAX GEAR --
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Jean Paul AS-400 ►► jeanpaulusa.com/r?id=sttct8
Yamaha YAS-280 ►► amzn.to/3FnQbV3
Yamaha 4C Mouthpiece ►► amzn.to/3mqzhxv
Yamaha Ligature ►► amzn.to/3sz1oOS
Cleaning Kit ►► amzn.to/3J82ual
Vandoren Traditional Reeds ►► amzn.to/3mpR4oS
D'Addario Royal Reeds ►► amzn.to/3J8brQV
TENOR SAXOPHONE
Jean Paul TS-400 ►► jeanpaulusa.com/r?id=or0bnv
Yamaha YTS-280 ►► Currently unavailable on Amazon
Yamaha 4C Mouthpiece ►► amzn.to/3edVydF
Yamaha Ligature ►► amzn.to/3spAF7y
Cleaning Kit ►► amzn.to/3J82ual
Vandoren Traditional Reeds ►► amzn.to/3st4RP3
D'Addario Royal Reeds ►► amzn.to/3sxeDQe
SOPRANO SAXOPHONE
Jean Paul SS-400GP ►► jeanpaulusa.com/r?id=kkeij4
Yamaha 4C Mouthpiece ►► amzn.to/3plzUu9
Yamaha Ligature ►► amzn.to/3Fz1Znm
Cleaning Kit ►► amzn.to/3J82ual
Vandoren Traditional Reeds ►► amzn.to/3JgkEHc
D'Addario Royal Reeds ►► amzn.to/3H9j2gy
NICE-TO-HAVES (ALL SAXES)
KORG TM-60 Metronome and Tuner ►► amzn.to/3FrNaTW
Neotech Neck Strap ►► amzn.to/32jIXDl
Cebulla Neck Strap ►► amzn.to/2HCAjld
Jazzlab Saxholder Pro ►► amzn.to/3pgAB8c
RICO Reed Gard IV (Alto / Soprano) ►► amzn.to/3qjBWu1
RICO Reed Gard IV (Tenor / Bari) ►► amzn.to/32qa9QD
Hercules Sax Stand (All Saxes) ►► amzn.to/3J4ydt7
Amazon Basics Music Stand ►► amzn.to/3yRRrO0
Please note: The links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, SaxTuition may receive a commission for the referral.
#saxophone #saxtuition #reeds

Пікірлер: 63

  • @SaxTuition
    @SaxTuition5 жыл бұрын

    Hey everyone, thanks for watching the video, leave your reed related questions here! Don't forget to head over to saxtuition.com if you're interested in checking out the Beginner Series :)

  • @joeyblue2057
    @joeyblue20574 жыл бұрын

    Great KZread video on reeds. Jeremy again thank you you are making learning the saxophone less complicated. And I appreciate all your time and effort to put the stuff out. This just helped me a lot. And he just for everybody out there I SaxTuition is a great beginner course I am loving it.

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Joey!

  • 4 жыл бұрын

    I loved your video! You mentioned many things other youtubers didn't, thanks a lot!

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Judá, glad you found it useful!

  • @nigelfortes1370
    @nigelfortes13703 жыл бұрын

    (From a 7th grader) I use the D'Adario Royals both on clarinet and tenor sax and ever since I got interested in reeds I've been wanting to try out different ones

  • @LEARNHOMEOPATHY
    @LEARNHOMEOPATHY4 жыл бұрын

    really clear and helpful thanks (total newbie)

  • @victoragianpuye5440
    @victoragianpuye5440 Жыл бұрын

    This has been really helpful

  • @eranmeir5450
    @eranmeir54502 жыл бұрын

    Really excellent review

  • @danladijimoh1342
    @danladijimoh13422 жыл бұрын

    Excellento. Jeremy very wonderful review again. Honest, objective and real.....these make your videos unique. Thanks for the info and keep up the good work...We got your back.👌👍👍👍

  • @michaelharvey5138
    @michaelharvey51382 ай бұрын

    Another easy to understand and informative video…..

  • @Salty24
    @Salty242 жыл бұрын

    Hi Jeremy. Really enjoyed your first course. Finished it over six months. Really anxious to see if you’re going to bring out a follow-up course to the beginner series. That would be great!. Do you have a timetable when that might happen? Thanks for all your help again. Armando

  • @DavidFletcher566
    @DavidFletcher5663 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the good video!

  • @kevindeibert3369
    @kevindeibert33692 жыл бұрын

    Reeds vary quite a lot - I switch off with different brands: Royal’s , La Voz, Vandoren, Jazz Select & Lupafarro ! Royals are fairly consistent. Lot’s of other brands out there

  • @dcp8nts
    @dcp8nts4 жыл бұрын

    I'm playing on Jazz Select 2M and 2H. I'm curious how they compare to Rico in the orange box, and Rigotti. Thank you

  • @alanangelo4602
    @alanangelo460210 ай бұрын

    Thanks. Bari * is a very good synthetic reed. I do prefer cane

  • @Robyn19fnq
    @Robyn19fnq3 жыл бұрын

    Don't like synthetic reeds? But I'd like to say that for a beginner, the Legere is just so much easier to blow and consistent with sound. I struggle through the range of the sax with a cane reed, and my embouchure is not strong enough. I am now training my chops with cane.

  • @gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121
    @gerardkirkpatricksanchez21219 ай бұрын

    How about your Soprano Saxophone Setup? Love to hear it. ☺️🙏🏻

  • @Algo1
    @Algo13 жыл бұрын

    Been using 2.5 Hemke's, switching to V16 3s which according to charts online are about the same strength, hopefully will like it

  • @TitoSilversax

    @TitoSilversax

    3 жыл бұрын

    How’d it work out?

  • @DynamixWarePro
    @DynamixWarePro3 жыл бұрын

    Since I started playing in 2018 I have used Legere Signature reeds and liked them on my alto sax but since I switched to a new alto in December, a Yanagisawa AWO2 and Selmer Claude Delangle mouthpiece, I found I was having issues with the reeds. At strength 2 I found they played perfectly for a while then went soft quickly such as I'd play a new one for 30 minutes one day and it would be perfect and the next day I'd play it and it would feel a bit too soft. A 2.25 strength was slightly resistant and I was getting a slight airy sound. I have a physical jaw issue which means that so far I can only play on softer reeds and not very wide tip openings (1.80mm is the widest I can play) on my alto sax. I am currently trying out different cane reeds to see which one plays the best and trying to figure out which strength to get. Bit of a learning curve since I have rarely used cane reeds. I have a Reed Geek which will help. I have tried Vandoren Traditional and D'addario Reserve both in 2 strength. I found the Reserve is a bit soft at 2 so might have a try a 2.5 and the 2 Vandoren was a little hard but a 1 was too soft. The closest I have found so far is Rico Royal since I tried a 2.5 but it was ever so slightly hard for me, so ordered a few in 2 strength. I like the more neutral sound the Royal reed has though. On my straight soprano I tend to use slightly harder reeds, I currently use Legere European Cut clarinet reeds 2.75 strength as I like the more centred tone that clarinet reeds have and the vibrant sound of the European Cut.

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting Dave! Sounds like you're going for a more 'classical' sound?

  • @peacewell2689
    @peacewell26892 жыл бұрын

    For soprano what you reed and mouthpiece u use

  • @robstevens9590
    @robstevens95903 жыл бұрын

    I played Rico (orange box), Rico Royal & Vandoren red box 2 1/2 for a few years. Then, when having more gigs, I started using the Rico (D'Addario) plasicover #3 because they didn't need to get broken in and didn't need to get wet (between sets or when switching from alto to flute & then back to alto). Recently I tried Hemke 2 1/2 and liked the sound. I heard that they have a softer/thinner tip, but a harder heart. Do you know if this is the case? Because if so, that combination seems to help me get the sound I'm looking for, and I would be interested to know other brands with that quality.

  • @thechickenfriedredneck910

    @thechickenfriedredneck910

    3 жыл бұрын

    I agree. I love Ricos. Vandorins usually seem to hard for me and dont break in quite as nicely as the Ricos.

  • @siddharthasingh9326
    @siddharthasingh93265 жыл бұрын

    Hello ! Really like your channel! Could you please make a video on basic articulation techniques and tounging . Thank you

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hey Siddhartha, absolutely, I’ll add it to the list 👍 in the meantime check out this video kzread.info/dash/bejne/eoGgx9Gwmb3Om5s.html and skip to 11:55, I talk a little bit about tonguing and articulation there!

  • @kenmare16
    @kenmare163 жыл бұрын

    What advantage is there in using a harder reed compared to using a softer one if you are capable of blowing it? If consistency, durability, and low maintenance are important, then well manufacured synthetic reeds should be better than those made from a natural material such as cane, for learners in particular?

  • @angelskyd
    @angelskyd Жыл бұрын

    Hey Jeremy, this may have been asked in the comments but I cant find it. If, as a new player, consistency is important, would you recommend a synthetic read for a beginner? I'm sure traditional reeds have their merit. But as a brand spanking new player, if reed management is something that can be cut out of the learning process all together (at least until later) so one can spend more time on the instrument itself, would that be recommended?

  • @jean-francoisroy2853
    @jean-francoisroy28533 жыл бұрын

    Hello Jeremy, i have a practical question which was touched on in the video. I bought a full box of Vandoren 2 reeds and there are 10 in them. However, i’d like to know when is it time to throw the reed away and use a new one? Do reeds break or crack from normal use after a many hours of play? or do they lose their quality so that you will notice they are tougher to play with and should be replaced? Thank you.

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Jean-Francois, great question! I made a video about this very topic, hope it helps you 😊 kzread.info/dash/bejne/dotlrputepDVaZs.html

  • @dubravkomatosevic4087
    @dubravkomatosevic40873 жыл бұрын

    Bravo

  • @norbertansay2971
    @norbertansay29714 жыл бұрын

    Hi there, thanks for the useful info, i would appreciate it much should you mention about what you use in your soprano sax. Thanks a lot.

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Norbert, thanks for your question. Funnily enough I actually still don't have a 'go to' reed brand and combination for soprano, but at the moment I'm playing on Vandoren Java (Green Box) size 3's. Hope that helps!

  • @norbertansay2971

    @norbertansay2971

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@SaxTuition thanks a lot Sir!

  • @lucas88dejaneiro
    @lucas88dejaneiro3 жыл бұрын

    I bought v16, classic, green 1,5 2 and 2, lets see what goes well for me

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Lucas. That’s my choice of Reed on Alto too. Good luck! Hope it goes well. Jeremy 🎷

  • @kevinvasquez3933
    @kevinvasquez39334 жыл бұрын

    I am a begginer, I bought a Mendini Saxophone from Amazon. It came with a cecilio reed size 2.5. Would you recommend that I buying a Rico size 1.5 ? Thanks I appreciate your help :)

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hey Kevin! Great question, yeah a Rico Royal (now called D'Addario Royal) size 1.5 or a Vandoren Traditional 1.5 is the way to go for your first few months of playing. Then you can move up to size 2, and eventually, size 2.5. Thanks for reaching out :)

  • @Bocaj2007
    @Bocaj20072 жыл бұрын

    I started on tenor on 2.5 reeds then after a year I went to 3s

  • @hugomontuori5696
    @hugomontuori56963 жыл бұрын

    What about soprano sax Mouthpiece and reeds, I have a Yanagisawa WO010 made in Japan, Yamaha 4C Mouthpiece with 2.5 Rico reed any comments or advise? Hugo

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Hugo, nice to hear from you! What you're playing on is a fantastic setup for a beginner. All of my reed advice in this video equally applies to soprano (i.e. all of the brands mentioned make soprano reeds in the same styles as alto / tenor). As far as mouthpiece goes, I personally like the Selmer Concept mouthpiece (that's what I play on): amzn.to/3cpFouL There's some more info on mouthpieces in this video if you haven't seen it already: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hats29lvn7GxYKg.html All the best! - Jeremy

  • @Homeymoto
    @Homeymoto2 жыл бұрын

    Im a beginner saxist 😏..and bought the course! My sax arrives in a few days...are the d-addario royals in the 1.5 still a recommended choice? Thanks bruv!

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yep, they sure are 😊 Thanks for purchasing the Beginner Series, enjoy! - Jeremy

  • @jakebwithak
    @jakebwithak4 жыл бұрын

    What about soprano sax? Or what would you recommend?

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jakeb! The same goes for soprano sax, both brands make reeds for all saxophones - so either Vandoren Traditional or D’Addario Royal size 1.5 for beginners

  • @lazerlord9681
    @lazerlord96813 жыл бұрын

    Hi. I am an alto sax player in a high school marching band and I have a pretty hard time playing a size 3 1/2 vandoren reed. It sounds very airy and spitty. Should I go to a smaller size? Just not sure if it’s my playing that needs to improve or if 3 1/2 reeds just aren’t good for playing at some quiet level. Thanks!

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes, 3.5 reeds are some of the hardest reeds available, I would try out 3 or even 2.5 and see how they go for you. You'll probably find it a lot easier straight away :)

  • @lazerlord9681

    @lazerlord9681

    3 жыл бұрын

    SaxTuition Thanks! I really appreciate it! I went with size 3 Vandoren Java Reds.

  • @williamedmundson6626
    @williamedmundson66262 жыл бұрын

    Me, a saxphonist studying collegiately: Ah yes, reeds. *looks at my huge pile of reeds*

  • @larryweintraub9156
    @larryweintraub91563 жыл бұрын

    I feel just the opposite. I feel that Rico reeds are a lot more consistent than Vandoren reeds. I play an Orange Box Rico # 2.5 reed on a FL metal Otto Link 8* mpc on tenor. On alto I use a LaVoz med-hard reed on an old white Brilhart Tonalin mpc. I also like Rw 2.5 med on tenor. Btw - I am not a student I am a pro.

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    Interesting Larry! Do you file the orange box Rico reeds before you play? Maybe I should give them another try 👍 Before I switched to Vandoren I used Rico Jazz Select Filed 3S. I loved them but found them to be really inconsistent. Perhaps it was just me but I thought the consistency actually got worse over the years.

  • @jackcraven7979

    @jackcraven7979

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'm in with Larry I use rico orange box they run great

  • @thiccpencil9191
    @thiccpencil91913 жыл бұрын

    I- I started with 2.5

  • @SaxTuition

    @SaxTuition

    3 жыл бұрын

    You sir, are a badass 🤙

  • @syclonez1579

    @syclonez1579

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lmao I started with 3s my teacher said it was the best lmao I play 2.5s now

  • @syclonez1579

    @syclonez1579

    3 жыл бұрын

    I was so confused as to why I couldn't make a sound

  • @syclonez1579

    @syclonez1579

    3 жыл бұрын

    Then I realized a straight out of the box 3 is hard asf

  • @thenotoriusbp

    @thenotoriusbp

    3 жыл бұрын

    i started with 5

  • @derycktrahair8108
    @derycktrahair81082 жыл бұрын

    In the 1970's we blew our guts out on metal m/pieces & hard reeds. Now there are better P.A.s. You want me louder? ..turn up my mic. TNR set up = Meyer 5 MM (medium chamber & lay) 2 & half Rico Royal or Vandoren reed. Use the softest reed that does the job. Find the Sound that is YOUR voice. Make it easier on yourself. I'm 72, 50yrs playing...best advice= PLAY what you HEAR. Never try to impress....a Jazz improvisation = YOUR version of the Melody. If you want to understand MELODY understand Lyrics.

  • @loganmedia1142
    @loganmedia11425 ай бұрын

    It should be something like duh-daa-ree-oh.

  • @caseyspaos448
    @caseyspaos4483 жыл бұрын

    I think you are mispronouncing D'Addario.