What makes a good oboe reed? There is a ton of information out there, but my students often find it confusing to find some simple information. This is my short little guide on the basics.
The reed is a very personal part of the instrument, so what works for someone might not work as well for you.
This guide will give you the basic rundown of various information about reeds as well as recommend some of my favorites. Perfect practice while you learn your oboe fingering chart!
How much is an oboe reed?
Reeds can vary drastically in price, depending on where you get them from, who made them, and how many you order. Cheaper reeds can easily be found for $20, and expensive reeds like Silverstein Works can go for $150+.
Which oboe reeds are the best?
As I mentioned, this will always come down to personal taste. Many craft their own reeds, while others simply buy them online. Here is a list of the ten highest reeds sorted by rating on Amazon
- Emerald Oboe Reeds are made from the finest French cane available. One reed per package.
- Proper tip opening obtained without using a wire
- Cane processed by skilled craftsmen using the world’s most advanced reed machinery
- Each reed tested and adjusted by hand
- Great for beginners to intermediate
- Great for beginners to intermediate, Medium
- Made of qualified bamboo stripe, solid, firm and durable to use, provides a long lifespan.
- Suitable for oboes, no ‘soaking’ required.
- Play the entire range of the instrument with ease.
- Great for the beginning oboist.
- This oboe reeds are playable as well as durable, these reeds are terrific for the beginning double reed player.
- SUPERIOR MATERIAL: beginner oboe reed is made of high quality bamboo strips, solid, sturdy, durable and long lasting. It can be used repeatedly and it is deeply loved by customer.
- NO SOAKING: Oboe Reed is suitable for oboe, no ‘soaking’ required. It is light in weight, small in size, easy to carry and store, practical and convenient.
- SUITABLE FOR BEGINNING LEARNERS: This oboe reeds are playable as well as durable, these reeds are terrific for the beginning double reed player.
- EASY TO PLAY: Easy play the entire range of the instrument.This oboe reeds are playable and durable. Arouse children’s interest in music.
- GUARANTEE: If you are not satisfied with our product received, you can apply for unconditional return and refund within 180 days. In terms of any problem of this product, you can send emails as soon.
- Packed by plastic case, convenient to use, store and carry around. Prevent dust or accidental damages to while unused.
- Natural Reed, qualified bamboo stripe, solid, firm and durable to use, provides a long lifespan.
- Oboe reed is tested and adjusted by hand, which can play the entire range of the instrument with ease.
- The medium- soft strengths is best for beginners and those that have recently switched to oboe.
- Stable intonation and very good sound quality, free blowing and vibrating.
- Cane is tied to 47 mm nickel silver tube and the tip receives extra refinement
- Heart and back are balanced with the tip after numerous tests
- The ‘crow’ of each reed is adjusted by hand to an exact pitch
- Play the entire range of the instrument with ease
- Long life span
- Oboe Reed Medium
- The Singin’ Dog oboe reed company specializes in handmade reeds that outclass their machine-made competitors while still maintaining an attractive price
- The soft and medium-soft strengths vibrate very easily and will work best for beginners and those that have recently switched to oboe
- The medium and medium-hard strengths are best for advanced students and most adults
- The hard reed is recommended for those who prefer a reed with more resistance or those that would like to scrape a little themselves
- [Material]: Made of reed bamboo and metal.
- [Design]: The reed is specially designed for the German oboe.
- [Product description]: The hardness of the reed is generally divided into soft (suitable for beginners, requiring less breathing), medium (general hardness, requiring moderate breathing), and hard (requiring more breathing, suitable for professionals). This product is ordinary type, with medium hardness, and may not make sound when used by beginners
- [Note]: Not recommended for beginners (beginners may not be able to blow sound when using)”
- [Applicable object]: suitable for professional oboe players
- Oboe Reed Medium Soft
- Marlin Lesher reeds hold up to the most discriminating of tastes
- Beautifully cut and wound, they produce a great tone
- Marlin Lesher reeds hold up to the most discriminating of tastes
- Beautifully cut and wound, they produce a great tone
How long does an oboe reed last?
There are many factors in how long an oboe reed is going to last for, but you’ll typically find that reeds last anywhere from 10-15 hours of playtime.
There are many factors in this time frame, but a few that might change it are the amount it’s played, the humidity of your room, and weather in general. Reeds are pretty unique, so you might find that some will get more life than others.
Caring for your oboe reed
I go through a fair bit of reeds, so I like to purchase multiples at a time to keep it convenient. Here are some affordable top-rated cases to keep them all in one place without the risk of cracking or losing them.
- Protects 8 oboe or English horn reeds
- Extremely durable plastic clamshell
- Padded lining prevents tip breakage; Padded dividers safely grip and separate each reed
- Secure locking closure
- Engineered to allow airflow
- 92 x 45 x 22mm/3.62″ x 1.77″ x 0.87″(L x W xH)
- High quality PU leather material, solid and durable. It is very delicate and elegant,comfortable for touch.
- Small size, light weight, easy to store and carry the oboe reed.
- Close tightly, open easily, and conserve the reed from moisture,prevent your oboe reeds from moisture. The most ideal choice for you.
- Suitable for 3 oboe whistles.
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO STORE: Oboe Reed Case has compact size and is light weight, convenient to store oboe reeds and easy to carry.
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO STORE: Oboe Reed Case has compact size and is light weight, convenient to store oboe reeds and easy to carry.
- EASY TO CLOSE AND OPEN: Oboe Reed Oboe Reed is ergonomically designed to close tightly and open easily.on side of oboe reed case allows air flow to avoid mold.
- SMALL VENTS ON SIDE: Oboe Reed is made of high quality wooden material, solid and durable to use.Has breathable holes on both sides, can prevent reeds from moisture.
- PROTECT YOUR REEDS: Slot design in inner surface with soft fabric for protecting reed from collision, more safe and stable.
Tips for solving oboe reed problems
The reed is too sharp
- It might be a bit too short. Try scraping off some wood near the back
- The reed opening might be too closed. This is kind of a pain to solve, but people often apply some wire in between
- Pull out the reed a small amount from the instrument.
The oboe reed is too flat
- Double-check to see that the reed isn’t split.
- The reed might be a little bit too long; try removing a very small amount (1mm).
- The cane might be too wide; try making the reed shorter.
- The opening could be too large. Although it may seem as if it is doing well, try holding the tip for a few seconds of the well-soaked root between your fingers. This will weaken it a little bit. Repeat the procedure a few times.
The reed is slow to respond
- Thin out the tip of the reed
- Remove a little bit of wood by the reed tip
The reed is too easy to blow
- It’s most likely that too much wood has been removed from the reed, or the tip could be too thin. Clip and readjust
What oboe reed is best for beginners?
I’ve gone through many reeds with my students, and usually recommend these as a good, cheap option.
- HAND MADE OBOE REEDS: Oboe reed is tested and adjusted by hand, which can play the entire range of the instrument with ease. Firm and durable.
- MATERIAL: This oboe reeds are made of qualified bamboo stripe, solid, firm and durable to use, provides a long lifespan. Suitable for oboes, no ‘soaking’ required.
- HIGH QUALITY: The oboe reed has superior sound quality, it has high quality and long span life. Very easy to use. This oboe reed is a great gift for oboe players, it will bring you better playing performance.
- APPLICATION: Play the entire range of the instrument with ease.This oboe reed is playable as well as durable, oboe reed are terrific for the beginning double reed player.
- QUALITY ASSURANCE:Our products are guaranteed by quality. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we will provide you with the perfect solution as soon.
How many reeds are in an oboe?
Oboes are double reed instruments, and when played, generate sound by the two reeds vibrating against each other.
How should I soak my reeds?
There are a bunch of other instruments in the single reed family that allows you to soak the reed in your mouth easily. With the double reed of an oboe, however, this sort of solution isn’t going to do the trick.
Instead, we like to soak our reeds simultaneously in a separate water container at room temperature for about 2-3 minutes max.
You can use any container, but I recommend getting one with a little clip to make the reeds easier to soak.
- Durable metal clip fits on traditional folding music stand
- Large enough soaker cup to manage oboe and bassoon reeds
- Soaker cup comes with sealable cap that won’t leak
- Soaks entire reed evenly
- Also available with clip for orchestral stand See A110
How do I know if my oboe reed is bad?
There are many factors to what could kill an oboe read, but there are some common issues to look out for:
- Cracks in the reed are going to severely limit its performance
- The tip gets frayed from use over time
- The opening of the reed will slowly collapse after continued use.
Final thoughts
I’m continually updating this page to make sure I’m recommending the highest-rated products. Have an alternative? Feel free to drop it in the comments, and I’ll try it out personally.
In the meantime, check out our recommended Oboe cases as well.