Reeds How to adjust reeds

[Pete Effamy]

They be TINES.

That’s it! Brain firing blanks.

 

[Targa]

They be TINES.

Tines were originally, and can still be, made from wood.

 

[mark_addy]

Sand in the colored triangle areas pictured here. If the reed is too hard, mostly sand along the edges (“rails”) of the reed.

Test often, and make sure the two sides are even by twisting the mouthpiece in your mouth as you play - push one side down against your lower lip, and you are playing the opposite side of the reed. Strive for even tone and response from both sides. This is called “balancing” the reed.

It’s easiest to do this with just the neck and mouthpiece; only use the full horn when you are near the right strength and the sides are balanced.
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Thanks for this. I am a cheapskate on a low income who doesn't practice much - and I have old boxes of cheap, hard reeds picked up online because no-one else wanted them. I made quick progress following your diagram with an alto 3.5 yesterday which, given I can now play it on a wide 'piece, must be less than a 3 by now. I used a new Stanley-knife blade and scraped vertically with the grain, on the cleanest bit (OK, clean-ish bit) of scrap steel I could find in my shed. Next I'll try some baritone reeds, where larger savings (and shavings) are to be made.