Synthetic reeds are much easier to play on than cane reeds. Synthetic reeds are plastic, so they provide less resistance than cane reeds. “Synthetic reeds do not have the same feel as traditional cane when played and the tone is quite different. For this reason, most saxophonists choose to play traditional cane reeds.” (Tracy Heavner, 2015) People say the stronger the reed the better. This is not necessarily true. “Young students are often taught that stronger reeds/higher numbers are better. This may help to encourage students to develop strong embouchures, but it is not relevant after learning the basics.” (Andrew Hadro, 2014) The saxophone is a musical instrument that can be used in classical, jazz, and marching bands. The saxophone is an extremely versatile instrument for many different genres. It can be used in pop, rap, jazz, blues, classical, and rock music. The reed is an essential part of the saxophone, and can greatly change the sound if the correct read is not chosen. “The production of sound on the saxophone starts with the reed, making it an integral part …show more content…
I am in the marching band and I would like to play louder than I currently do. I have tried many different reeds but I need to officially test which reed produces the loudest sound. I am trying two different materials, plastic, and cane. Cane reeds have a better sound than synthetic reeds. Synthetic reeds have a much more shallow and abrasive sound than cane reeds. “There is a general consensus among professional saxophone players that synthetic reeds sound different (ie: worse) than natural reeds.” (Danielle Luna, 2011) Synthetic reeds last much longer than cane reeds, though. Cane reeds are much more susceptible to warping and cracking than synthetic reeds. Cane reeds are the better choice if you are going for a great-sounding reed; synthetic reeds are a better choice for if you play