There are positives and negatives to both synthetic and natural reeds, one will not always be better than another. Despite their longevity, some performers find that synthetic reeds produce an inferior sound and response.
Synthetic reeds are also more expensive than natural reeds. Natural reeds remain more popular, although some professional musicians prefer playing on synthetic reeds. Some reeds also may not last as long as others, every reed plays slightly differently. You should also replace your reed if it gets a crack or chip in it. Any damage can easily affect the playability of the reed. Synthetic reeds are made to last longer and can easily play the same for several months.
It is important to choose a reed strength that fits the clarinetist's skill level. The reed strength should not interfere with the clarinetist's ability to play to full potential. A reed that is too soft will sound excessively bright. The tone center will also be very unfocused. A reed that is too hard will sound airy and muffled.
In some cases, certain notes won't be able to speak. If the reed strength is too hard, there will be a lot of resistance against the clarinetist which can lead to a discouraged player. Once the clarinetist builds strong air support and embouchure muscles, they can begin experimenting with harder reed strengths. It is important to remind clarinetists that reed strength does not determine the quality of musician you are! Buying or receiving a brand new box of reeds is very exciting, and you cannot wait to play on the reed!
However, it is important to gradually break in the reed before playing on the reed for a full practice session. The first day of opening a new box of reeds is testing day.
Test at least three new reeds. Only play on the reed for five minutes. While testing the reed, observe its qualities: how easy it vibrates, its responsiveness, level of resistance, and quality of tone. Increase the playing time each day. If the reed is not cooperating, try experimenting with reed placement on the mouthpiece. If the reed is too soft, move the reed slightly higher up on the mouthpiece. If the reed is too hard, move the reed slightly lower on the mouthpiece.
Reeds are never perfectly balanced, so experimenting with moving the reed left or right may help as well. As reeds are being used, the cane gradually breaks down. I recommend choosing to break in slightly harder reeds than what feels comfortable. These reeds will last longer. Finding the placement on the mouthpiece that allows the reed to speak to its full potential is very important. The tip of the reed should align with the tip of the mouthpiece.
Only a sliver of mouthpiece should be showing above the reed tip. However, not every reed will align on the mouthpiece in the same way. Slight adjustments may need to be made with every reed. The reed must be dampened before playing on it. Reeds are most commonly moistened through saliva. Eb clarinets as well as C clarinets aimed at younger children use Eb reeds. What strength? Reeds are marked with a number. If you can, purchase a small number of reeds first to try and see how you get on.
What brand? The most popular brands are Rico and Vandoren. Both brands do a range of standard reeds as well as some more off-piste models. Beginners are recommended to stick to the standard models first — you can always experiment later depending on what your style is.
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