Are Rico reeds any good?

These reeds were truly incredible! First, all the reeds in the box were playable. With the Vandorens, I usually got only 3-4 playable reeds. However, with the Rico Reserves, ALL the reeds worked perfectly, which gave it a 100% consistency rate.

What do the numbers on saxophone reeds mean?

Reed thickness is most often expressed as a number. The normal range for reeds is 2 to 5: the lower the number, the thinner the reed, and the higher the number, the thicker the reed. The thickness of the reed will affect the tone and how easy or difficult the instrument is to play.

What Reed strength should I use?

Most teachers recommend that a first-year musician use a 2 or 2.5 (soft or medium soft) reed. Anything stiffer may make it difficult to produce a sound while anything more flexible may produce a weak sound.

What size reed is best for alto sax?

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.

Are Rico reeds bad?

They sound really good if you have good control. The Rico Reserve reeds are a good choice too and they used by top musicians in the States, but do keep in mind that the Reserves are somewhat harder similar to Vandorens.

What is the difference between RICO and RICO Royal reeds?

The classic and ubiquitous “orange box (regular rico)” reeds are the ones more students start on than any other, while the Rico-Royal reeds accommodate students who have developed a good facility on their instrument.

Are 2.5 reeds good?

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.

How long should you soak saxophone reeds?

You should soak your reeds for about one minute with saliva. This ensures that the reed is moist enough to play well without being so wet that it becomes waterlogged. If the reed is brand new, you may want to soak it more thoroughly with water for about twenty minutes before working with it.

How do you tell if a reed is too soft?

If you’re playing on a 3, then move down to 2.5. When the reed is too soft, you’ll get a buzzy sound right out of the box. People compare this to playing on paper.

When should I increase reed strength?

Therefore, try to choose a strength that feels slightly hard when you start playing on a new reed, so it will feel just right as you break it in. When you’ve played on your reed for too long and it starts to feel too soft, it’s time to start a new one!

How long do you soak a saxophone reed?

Are Vandoren reeds better than Rico?

Vandoren vs Rico reeds: durability In general, Vandoren reeds are more durable. While Rico reeds usually play well out of the box, they don’t last as long. Of course, all reeds will last longer if you break them in slowly and rotate the reed you’re playing on daily.

What should the Reed strength of a saxophone be?

As mentioned above, the reed strength on the chart indicates the reed stiffness, and the following categories may show this measurement: soft, medium, or hard or by numbers from 1 to 5. As a newbie in saxophone playing, it will be best to begin with the softer reeds with a strength of around 2.

Can you use natural reeds for alto saxophone?

However, synthetic materials produce inferior tone quality as compared to natural reeds. As such, most professional saxophonists prefer reeds made from natural reeds. Reeds are also instrument-specific, meaning you cannot use alto saxophone reeds in place of clarinet reeds or vice versa.

What is the strength of D’Addario Reed?

While some manufacturers label strength with words, rating it “soft,” “medium” or “hard,” reed strength is more frequently indicated by a number printed on the packaging. The standard scale for reed strength runs from 1 through 5, with 1 being the softest and 5 being the hardest reed.

What does the strength of a reed mean?

The reed strength refers to the reed stiffness as measured by manufacturers. Some manufacturers label their reeds using categories like soft, medium, and hard, while others use numbers from 1 to 5.