Sax Reeds

On the previous page I touched on the fact that you can trim your sax reeds to refine the sound.

This isn't something I've done often so I'm only goimg to show you the various parts of the reed and where you can and cannot trim.

The first picture shows you the various parts of the reed. The only thing the image doesn't show is the face of the reed. Thats the opposite side of the reed and it should never be touched. The facing need to be smooth to make a good contact with the saxophone mouthpiece.

Despite the different makes of reed, Vandoren, Rico, La Voz etc, they all contain the same basic parts as shown above. However, you cannot trim file or sand any part you fancy.

Realistically there are only two parts of the reed you should be looking at altering. These are the side and the tip. (Shown below)

If you do choose to trim your reed to alter the sound please invest in a reed cutter. This will allow you to trim the tip precisely and within a minimal amount.

Trimming the side should never be done from the facing side. You'll just end up with a squeaking reed. You can use a stanley knife or a scalpel or you can just sand it lightly. Just be sure to do it equally on both sides.

Sax Reeds

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