Cane Type:
|
| Hard | | Soft |
| Harder, more brilliant reeds | | Easier, darker, duller reeds |
| More focus | | Less Focus |
| Need to take off more Cane | | Need to take off less Cane |
| Tends to make sharper reeds | | Tends to make flatter reeds
|
Diameter size:
|
| Smaller - Open | | Larger - Closed |
| Tends to be harder | | Tends to be softer |
| Tends to be flatter | | Tends to be sharper |
| Tends to have a wider dynamic range | | Tends to have a more narrow dynamic range |
| Tends to respond better in low register | | Tends to respond better in high register |
| Can tend to be less stable in pitch | | Can tend to be more stable in pitch |
Grain (vascular bundle) size:
|
| Smaller - tighter | | Larger - less smooth |
| Tends to make more focused, vibrant reeds | | Tends to make pithier, less vibrant, less focused reeds |
Shape of Cane:
|
| Wide | | Narrow |
| Darker, fuller | | More brillant, focused |
| Flatter | | Sharper |
Length of reed:
|
| Longer | | Shorter |
| Tends to have smaller opening | | Tends to have larger opening |
| Response of reed: |
| More vibrant(responsive) | | Less vibrant(resistant) |
| Tends to be easier in low register | | Tends to be easier in high register |
| Can tend to be less stable in pitch | | Can tend to be more stable in pitch |
| Can tend to be less focused | | Can tend to be more focused |
| Can tend to be flat in high register | | Can tend to be sharp in high register |
Scraping style between heart and tip:
|
| Blended | | Separate |
| More of reed vibrating | | Less of reed vibrating |
| Richer, less focused sound | | More brillant, focused sound |
| Better low register response | | Better high register focus |
| Tends to be less resistant | | Tends to be more resistant |
| Tends to be less stable in pitch | | Tends to be more stable in pitch |
Shape of heart into tip:
|
| Curved | | Straight |
| Darker | | Brighter |
Scraping style between heart and back:
|
| Blended | | Separate |
| Better vibration throughout reed | | More resistant, often more core & depth |
Blending techniques (in order of frequency):
|
- Smooth heart to tip from the corners of heart up the sides of tip, using gentle jabbing motion to create a miniature staircase
- Smooth back into heart
- Smooth heart into tip in the center of reed
- Take angle out of tip clip
|
Separating techniques (in order of frequency):
|
- Separate tip from heart at corners
- Thin sides of tip
- Separate tip from heart in center with nicks or jabs
- Separate back from heart with nicks or jabs
- Clip tip on an angle
|
Balance between the sections of a reed (in terms of thickness):
|
| More similar thickness between | | Less similar thickness between sections |
| Tends toward a more vibrant reed | | Tends toward a more resistant reed |
| Brighter, unfocused | | Darker, focused |
