Clarinet Reeds 101 

Hi, I would be very interested in a video on reed scraping. Thanks

perfect, thank you- just starting

Thank you for the helpful information! Whenever you get a chance, could you please make a video on how to balance reeds? Thank you again! 😁

Solid advice and a procedure clarinetists of many levels can follow! Thank you, John Kurokawa! And come on man; now you have to do the reed balancing video!

I'm also very interested in the reed balancing video. I have a few ligatures that I rotate through, so I really appreciate what you said about using one that best represents the thumb. Very helpful!

You’re very well-spoken! Great video!

1:11 i haven’t played clarinet in a while and i just got out a new rico orange box 2.5 reed, i feel CALLED OUT 😭😭

Thank you so much. Reeds are kickin' my butt 😅I'm trying to figure them out 😂

I take around 2 weeks to break in my reeds, works well for me! I learned some new things from this video, like about how to use the Reed Geek, thanks!

I would appreciate a video on how you balance your reeds! Thank you for this video.

Great video! If you make a video on balancing reeds can you mention your favorite ways to use the Reed Geek?

I would be interested in a reed balancing video. This is something I have done, on saxophone and clarinet, for many years. I don’t break in reeds, but I balance every one as I take it out of the box. I find doing this makes them last longer and balancing them first ensures they vibrate properly from the start.

Hi there, John! Fellow pro here. Very good video and sound advice indeed! I wish I could get my beginning and even intermediate students to follow your advice about trying and playing multiple reeds at a time! It's so frustrating when they come to a lesson and almost can't play because they haven't changed the reed in a week or two!! I couldn't help noticing your using V12s. I used them myself for decades. You'll have a LOT better luck, and save a lot of money, by switching to Peter Leuthners (French cut) or Ishimoris. The Leuthners sound darker and fuller; the Ishimoris respond better. Kind of depends on what you're after. I have a few of each in my reed cases, depending on what I'm playing that day. Either way, they both absolutely blow anything that Vandoren makes out of the water as far as reliability, consistency and value, as you get more per box that work and they last longer. I'm probably playing the Ishimoris more than the Leuthners these days. I also really enjoyed your ligature video. I love it that you tried an old Harrison....I play one!! I have a couple of spares also. I like it even better than the Ishimoris....and truth be told, in the video, you sounded better on it, too :)

I've got a nuvo Dood, I can't play it. But I'm having a hard time getting smooth tones out of the 1.0 plastic reed, and the 1.5 plastic reed is abit tough to blow. The instructions say you can also use an Eb clarinet reed. I've now been on Amazon looking and the Bb reeds seem cheaper. Could you explain the difference to someone who has no musical knowledge? I'd prefer to play more saxophony tones for songs from Kenny G or some Sinatra songs , but I dunno.

I’m really curious about your thoughts on synthetic reeds. Could you do a video about that?

Could you please do a video on mouthpieces? Which are best for beginners, intermediate, advanced players. Or a video on how the shape of your mouth can affect your playing with various mouthpieces. I'm new to the world of better mouthpieces and trying to find info on these things is a nightmare. I study hard and want to sound good.

👍

Thumbgature!!! 🔥

I see too many students playing on reeds that are too stiff for their embouchure and setup. It can cause biting, extra pressing and clamping. Double-lip playing is a good test for this. I play double-lip. Do you play single or double?

As a complete beginner, I started in September as an older adult learner, most of this I didn't fully understand even. Plus, it all seems too finicky and obsessive for me. If this is what it means to be a clarinet player, I have to say it puts me off and makes me want to give up!