I just bought my new saxophone. To be honest I’m scared. I never touched a saxophone in my life but I just love music and I love saxophone music. Your video is so helpful, thank you for that.

Very useful information. Thanks to you I realized I 've been misunderstanding reeds for the last 25 years

Playing since I was 10, now 73, and I have only been using ricco 2.5 in the old brown box! What I use now in community concert band in Minnesota.

I started playing the sax using 2/½ reeds ( they were the only size i could get during the quarantine) , recently I started attending classes and I explained my situation to my teacher, he recommended me medium Rico La Voz reeds, and they have worked super well for me!

I played sax for 8 years, then took a 7 year break until September last year. When I returned, I was playing on size 2 vandoren blues, but found the sound a bit disappointing. Swapped to 2.5 Blues, fine, but I have had the best sound in 2022 playing on some size 3 Vandoren Red Javas. Really like the projection I get, coupled with my Selmer Soloist C*. Looking to swap to a Jody Jazz HR* soon, and I imagine I will move down to softer reeds as well.

Fantastic tutorial Nigel, I love watching your videos, so interesting and informative. Love sax school too.

I love your useful information and explantion about types of reeds and their functions. Thank you.

Your videos are very helpful. Thank you.

Great Info.. I use a 2.25 synthetic , up from a 2 , was not reaching those high notes very well. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge

Great information! My band teachers never taught about reeds or any sax playing tips. I use 1.5 to 2.0 Fibracell reeds on a metal E. Rousseau mouthpiece to achieve the sound I enjoy. Thanks for all of your informative help!!

Perfect!! I've been playing for years but have always wondered why my mouth became sore (and even my throat). Because of your video I've found the info I needed to confirm I needed to drop down from a 2.5 to a 2. Thank you .

Just watched your video about reeds. I thought it was brilliant! I have just bought a sax in lockdown and learning from scratch. The sax cam with a box of 2.5 reeds and it took me two day get a note !! I had ordered online some 1.5 and 2 strength reeds. Have been using the 1.5s but didn't know if I was right in doing so! I do find them so much easier that the 2.5s. A very informative video for an extreme novice. Thank you

Not long started learning, using Rico 2 and just ordered a yamaha 4c mouthpiece. Learning on your toolbox course at the moment. 😁

Thanks so much. I am totally new to the Baritone Sax. This helped a lot.

I've jusy started playing the saxaphone yesterday (Sunday) and I'm using a 2 and a half cane Reed that came with it, but I also have an extra box of reeds too

Noel This is great stuff, Nigel. I am very much a beginner on tenor sax and your video (and the responses) have helped me deal with my frustrations regarding reed issues in particular what is causing various reeds (or the student) to behave badly with different squeaks, squawks, blats etc. I will stick with cane for another 6-8 months and then go and try Legere. I really appreciate the level of detail in your vid. Any chance of another video some time on the science behind why reeds of varying strengths don't always behave the way we want them to and way they can start to respond differently after using them for 15 or 20 minutes. Further, we can waste time when starting practice, in trying to tune the mouthpiece on the neck when the problem really is the reed - because it is too hard, too soft, or not wet enough etc (assuming embouchure is ok). And then there is the problem of moisture in the neck etc which seems to compromise sound quality. Thanks again.

brilliant video just started will keep wayching

Hi I use a Legere signature #2 reed and find this works very well for me

Excellent, Nigel!

Thanks for the information I play ALTO Sax reed's D'Addario 2 medium select jazz. I am from Sydney Australia

I've been playing vandoren zz 3 on tenor and alto for the past 5 years or so :D

The past five years I have been using Rico and Royals 2 and pure frustration. I saw this video and bought a legere 2. Well Nigel someone put the switch on my Yanni Alto. Amazing Sound. Thanks Nige.

I started on nr 3 Vandooren because my teacher told me to. As it was difficult for me with squeaks etc, I tried 2,5 Vandooren and Rico instead and I found Rico easier to play in the beginning. Now I go between Legeer 3 and Vandooren 3. I play a Yamaha YTS 280. I have been playing for 9 months and have much stronger muscles. I learn a lot from your lessons and I improvise a lot apart from practicing scales and following a book. I take private lessons twice a week. I want to say Thank you, you are highly appreciated!

I love Boston sax shop tenor cane reeds, they are awsome, gives it that warm mellow, husky tone. Easy to growl on them, as opposed to my Legere signature reeds.

Thank you for all the advise! I think I need to get a softer reed!

Hi Nigel 🙋🏻‍♀️ Because of you, legere girl here though I do use cane reeds just because. Thank you for all of you videos! Cheers

Really enjoying using D’Addairo Select 2 hard on my Select Jazz tenor mouthpiece , D7M Sandstone marble . I started using the Select Jazz 3 soft but it requires more adjustments with my reed geek . But to be honest I have used vandoren Java’s without trouble either . It’s a reed friendly mouthpiece ,so there’s that . Take care , be safe

This lesson have been pretty much helpful as a beginner

I’m a new saxophone player I’ve been playing for a couple weeks in 6th grade band and I use Vandoren reeds in 2.5 and I think it feels good

Hello and thank you sooo much, I was getting crazy with the cane reeds in the last weeks. I see your video two days ago and today arrived the american cut #1,5 from Legere.... Evviva what a great solution. Next week a signature reed with a 1,75 , can't wait to try and play both of them. I got my first sax in april, learning by my self and your videos are very awesome, with a clear message and tipps. thanks and Greetings from Italy

With me it was the other way round. I started on Synthetic reeds, but had problems with keeping the high notes in Tune and not sharp. I have now gone back to cane reeds and using the reed geek!

After playing flute for decades, I bought a sax last month. YUM! I have been playing on D'Adarrio 2M and 2H Jazz Select. I have nothing else to which I can compare, but I think I like the 2H better. I'm so curious about Legere. Maybe 2.25? Hey Nigel... thank you for your great videos. =)

I normally use Plasticover by D’Addario 2.5, 3 and even 3.5. I also use sometimes Forestone medium strength. For some reason, I have not been so lucky using cane reeds, they just don’t sound bright enough, which is the sound I prefer. I am tempted to try Legere next to see what happens. BTW, I a part of the McGill Sax School.

I'm 77 and started alto around last Christmas . I practice 2-3 hrs per day on a rico 1.5, although I have one of the set of 3 reeds, that is too hard for me and one that is too soft, and one that is sweet, perfect for my embouchure on my yamaha 4c mouthpiece on my YAS23. Occasionally I try my D'Addario Select Jazz 7, on which I use that very soft reed, but I'm not quite ready to handle that yet, as I can't play pianissimo with it. I use the Reed Geek to improve my reeds. Thanks for the thorough explanation of selecting reeds, very good to know.

After 6 month now with my new mouthpiece, Jody Jazz custom dark (tip opening 6 + power ring), I play now Legere american cut 2 1/2. N° 2 is definitively too soft for me. I regularly try other reeds, also cane reeds, but for me Legere american cut 2 1/2 is definitively the best choice. One reed lasts for 6 month, although I play daily for 3 hours or more. I bought 3 reeds recently and all the 3 are exactly the same, hardly any difference between them. No need the make them wet before playing, just put them on and you are ready to play. Thanks once more, Nigel, for your recommendation to buy the Jody Jazz custom dark mouthpiece. For me, this was a game changer, I am now getting very close to the sound I ever wanted to have on Tenor sax.

Mr. McGill, thanks so much for your lessons, advice and transcriptions! I've found your channel to be one of the best for me as I journey through my tenor saxophone. I've been playing just a little over a year now and seem to improve almost every day. I had been using the D'Addario Royal 2.0's forever and just recently switched to the 2.5s. Figuring out the reed is just a difficult as playing the sax itself. Again, kudos to you!

i play with a 2 and they work super good for me

Back in the day, I played a Rico 2.5 on my baritone. After a 40 year hiatus, I'm back and started with cane reeds but quickly jumped to a Legere Signature 2 and have been playing them for over a year. I love the consistency, the durability and the sound, though getting them correctly positioned on the mouthpiece is a little tricky sometimes because they are clear and my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. I'm really enjoying the 2, but will order a 2.25 or 2.5 next time just to try it out.

I play (and started out) on a 2.5 Rico Royal reed and I think that they do a swell job.

Hi Nigel, As a biginner, I was suggested to use a Yamaha 5C mouthpiece with 2.0 Rico reeds. I like the sound I get out of it by now but still find it more difficult to play the lower notes.

Every now and then I buy a bunch of different reeds (brands, sizes) to try out. Roughly about once per year. My latest find was the Vandoren V12 size 2.5. Just perfect for me... right at the moment. Of course, this might change again. :)

Légère signature #2, and for a darker sound on my alto, Fibercell #2. Good stuff N

Tried front door and Juno designed for beginning youngsters? Tried investing in a Reed clipper for when the reed is just too soft. Nigel started her does the right strands but constant playing bends the reed backwards and forwards and it loses its elasticity. Clip a bit off the tip which makes the reader feel harder again. It's not a bad thing having a few reed problems because we have to learn to adjust them conversely what to do when it is too hard! Thank you for your informative inspiring videos. God bless you and yours - Bill - UK.

Excellent, informative video. Thanks!

Thanks great video

Am just trying to learn now through ur channel here today

Synthetic sounds interesting. Will have to try that after trying a few canes

I have been using Legere Signature 2.25 for 3 years on a 4 digit Brilhart Level-Air 9*

Learned on an alto and bari; I just picked back up a tenor after 25 year break. I’m currently using Cecilio 2.5 but my preference was always Vandoran, didn’t care for Rico. Don’t know if they had synthetic available back in the day.

I’m still a beginner have been on and off changing teachers but I was using a 1.5 Rico and have been advised to switch to a 2 hopefully with constant practice I’ll be able to get better

Legere Signature Series, size 2. LOVE these!

I’ve been playing Vandoren 2 (purple box) just cause I didn’t know any better and that was the brand at the music shop. I need to branch out and try some other brands. I’m fairly new so 2 is probably a good choice for now. Thank you for the video.

I play a Legare 2....love it...great sound an consistency

I'm using a Vandoren 1.5 on a xaphoon

Great video...just subscribed! This video was very helpful.. Even though I'm not a beginner, I'm one of those guys who had a sax collecting dust for the last 30 years. I finally got my tenor out and started playing again! I bought a box of Vandoren reeds (2.5) and I'm having a tough time getting out those low notes. I'm not sure if it's my embouchure or the wrong reed. The sax seems to be in good working order...no leaks that I can find. Will using a softer reed remedy this?

I was using Rico Royals in 2.0 to 2.5 depending on which mouthpiece. I have a "BYET" brand Chinese brass mouthpiece I got for $33 on Amazon that I kind of want to slap a 3 on because it takes so little breath to get a sound. I've also got a Legere clone that I *love* (Didn't know it was a clone when I received it as a review sample) so I'll be getting the real Legere when this one finally wears out :) Rico Royal I should add, are super easy to tweak if you get a "bad" one. As long as it's not split or chipped, a little sanding is usually all it takes to at least get it playable.

Fibracell 3.5 and 3.0 on my Tenor. I find they play a little on the soft side so that's why I play a higher numbered reed. They also have more of cane reed texture feel in my mouth. I have tried the Legere signature series which play fine but, I prefer the Fibracell.

I PLAY ON N2, BECAUSE I PLAY AN HAUER OR TWO.ITS A LOT OF TIME FOR HARDEST REEDS! THANKS!

LOL! I use a bunch, Legere signature 2.5, American Cut 2.5, Fred Hemke 2.5, Vandoren V21 2.5, V.12 2.5 switching constantly depending on what I''m doing. I work in a music store so that helps!

Loved the video! Super important subject. I teach all ages but if we are talking about elementary age kids then starting on a size 2 1/2 is best. It keeps them from biting down which causes them to have difficulty in making sound. The extra resistance counters the biting. Keep up the great work! I’m a long time subscriber and I’ve enjoyed your blues mastery course.

After trying at least 10 different reed styles and manufacturers, I found that as a new player, the Rico thin-cut unfiled 2.5 reed works the best with one caveat. I flatten the bottom with the Reed Geek and gently smooth the top. Doing that makes the sound great, and I can hit low C and B. The high notes are easier to play as well.

Hi Nigel. I'm 57, live near Winchester and am at my 1st days in learning the alto sax. I've bought a Jupiter. I'm hoping you're lessons along with my effort will be all I need to get there. I'm currently using a Rico 1.5. Just moved down from a 2.5 on your advice.

I am just a beginner - 6 months. Tried many cane and plastic (Legere and Fibracell) from 1.5 to 3. My best (now) is D’Addario Plasticover Alto Sax Reeds 2.0 I can easily take from Low B to D6 practically with same embouchure on Vandoren AL3 and A20. Vandoren cane 2.0 reeds feels different in strength and has slow response on high notes. I also like Legere synthetic 1.5 and 2.0 - they work well on low and middle, but on high have slower response (same mouthpieces). My embouchure is too weak yet, maybe that is why.

Very helpful video, thank you! I'm a beginner and found the Fibracell 2.5 to be fantastic vs a Rico 2.5. The tone was great, set up super easy, didn't have that bright, tinny synthetic sound, and pretry consistent. I hated the Rico, but i suspect (based on your video) that the reed was probably too hard. I may also try the synthetic brand you recommended foe comparison with the Fibracell, so thank you! Cheers! 🎷🎶

Good on you, somebody who doesn't recommend the usual 2.5 for everybody. Much too stiff for starters. I have piles of Rico Royals and a few Vandorens, but nowadays use Fibracell 1.0 or 1.5 on everything, soprano to baritone (bass clarinet reeds for the C Melodies). With stiffer reeds all I get out of any sax are sounds like storm winds through the trees. Other synthetics? Baris are too stiff for me. I have a Legere reed on a clarinet but don't recall much about it one way or the other. Fibracells have worked well for me on sax and clarinet. I actually sound seriously gawd-awful on everything, but with the synthetics I at least don't have to wait for them to get damp first.

I've been playing a ( Harry Hartmann Carbon Fiberreed Tenor Saxophone Reed Soft ) since Christmas. And I am thinking it is just the best. First, it's carbon fibre so it don't need to be moistened. I can leave it on my mouthpiece overnight (and it will not warp as it dries. Because it was never wet) and pick up and begin to play in the time it takes to put on a neck-strap. It's going 3 months so far with absolutely no indication of any wear. So, not only is it an awesome thing. It is also an economical thing. Good reeds are not cheap.

Vraiment parfait Nigel . Ce sont là tous des conseils DE BON SENS . Alors que nous savons bien que le bon sens se fait de plus en plus rare à notre époque , ça rend ta vidéo encore plus précieuse . Un grand merci pour les jeunes !!!

When I started playing sax,I immediately got a 2 1/2 reed by Vandoren ,now I am trying a 3 reed by riyin.

I use Rico Royal 1.5 and 2 - plastic coated tip. Yamaha 4C mouthpiece.

I use DDarrio Jazz Selects, but I'm probably going to switch to Boston Sax Shop reeds after I get a new mouthpiece. Looking at the NY Meyer or the Vandorean V16

Great content /I'm in at 2.5 from 2 doing great but could be better i feel synthetic i would be trialing 2 but sitting at 2.5

If you're just starting out, get a Legere 2 - 2.5 and just play that for a year or two. Why add in the extra worry of working reeds and stuff until you're more confident? Just my two cents. 1.5 seems too soft unless you start on a big tip opening mouthpiece.

Great vid

I have been using Legere Signature 2.75 for alto and Tenor. Both on size 6 mouthpieces. Very easy to get on with but they do tend to be come curved eventually. When this happens, I put them in boiling water for a minute or so which revives them for the first few times. By doing this, I get more than a year playing for each reed.

My favorite is Peter Ponzol 2 1/2 - 3 for almost 20 years on Tenor and Soprano. Most consistent and great sound! Very rarely ever found a reed that didn’t play perfect right out of the box! Most of my students play them!

Started 4 months ago on tenor -have just bought a new a D,Addorio 7 mouthpiece and find it better to warm up on Rico 11/2 then move to a no2 after half an hour .Trying to get in 2 hours a day usually in 3 sessions with a 10--20 minute break..

Good day sir, I'm Daniel from Nigeria, I used size 3 of the Rico Reed

Hi Nigel, Like others who have commented, I started with cane reeds for my alto and tenor but switched to Legere Signatures, 2.25 to 2.5. Every once in a while I'll pull out a Vandoren Java 2.5 cane reed or LaVoz medium soft cane reed. This lasts about 15 minutes before I put in my trusty Lagere. One thing about Legere and getting the right strength reed when players make the switch. Legere has a reed strength Comparison chart for many woodwinds including sax.

Great information Nigel. Problem with beginners is we don't know whether the problem is the reed, our weak muscles or something else. Also how do you know when to throw out your cane or synthetic reed if they are not cracked or visibly defective? If I base it on how my playing sounds I would be throwing boxes of reeds out every day!

I'm sure this is a very common comment, but I played tenor for 2 years in middle school band, and recently (25 years later) a friend gifted me an alto (of course it couldn't be a tenor :/) so here I go trying to see if I can make sounds again... reeds arrive tomorrow. I may need to take it to the local music shop, but showing it to a sax-playing friend of mine yesterday, and seeing him put his mouthpiece on and hit a home run right away - I realized it wasn't too late, and it was possible - this is step 2! - thanks so much.

I've been playing saxophones since 5th grade I'm now a freshman in Highschool and I always just put the reed on first and somehow didn't break them. Thank you for showing a safer way to do that. I play Rico, #2 on my tenor I don remember what I played on an alto. My Band Teacher from middle school that also is a staff member in Highschool marching band told me I should move up to a 2.5 I tried it and it wasn't that bad but I couldn't play low notes and I like low notes. Does anyone recomend Legere reeds?

I come from the clarinet whre I usede to play Vandoren size 3. On Tenor sax I use a metal mouthpiece and either Vandoren 2, but I prefer Legere 2 or 21/2 plasic reeed or Fibracell mediumwith plastic coating. I want get have a "jazz sound" and I think a metal mouthpiece with plastic reed is godd for that

Well i play mainly classical music and i love that dark and neat sound, so in my alto i use 3 1/2 vandoren v12 reeds and in my bari i use vandoren blue box number 3. Recently i tried legere reeds on my bari and ohh i was quite surprised, although i still prefer cane reeds. When i have to pley jazz i usually use the same reeds than for classical, except in then tenor that i prefer to use La voz or select jazz reeds

Found this video so should help me with reed selection. I use a 1½ Rico and Van Dooren Thanks

thanks

I use vandoren Java size 3.5 also Boston sax shop size 3. Clarinet I use the legere signature size 2.5.

Just started playing tenor sax since freshman year in college (30 plus years). Tried the recommended 2.5 reed and had difficulty obtaining a consistent controllable flow of air and tone. Switched back to the 1.5 and I can play the full range with ease and comfort. Your video I find to be very informative and helpful especially indenturing when it may be time to move a 1/2 step. Will purchase 2.0 and see what happens. Thanks for being here 😊👍🏽!

I’ve played trombone for 3 years now and I decided I wanted to try beri sax and I’m doing good I started yesterday but the moly side reed my band director gad was a 3.75 so it’s not hard but it is a little harder to get a note.

I just started sax for the first time and I chose to do soprano with a 2.5 reed… it’s not too hard actually… in my opinion starting with a harder reed will yield a higher rate of growth in the mouth muscles. But it’s probably not good for impatient people

first of all ,thank you so much for sharing your experience on you tube.I"m dr rajesh from india ,surat.i play alto sax for last 3 years and im using no 3 cane reed ,venodoren., jazz. please let me know is it ok......?

i love using JAZZ Select/Rico/ Vandoren depending on the season of the year

I switched from cane to Legere Signature 2 a few months ago after watching this video. It took me a while to get used to and at first I kept switching back to the cane, but once I got used to it I became a total Legere convert! I’m an intermediate player (only just got back into tenor sax during lockdown and completing your free 2-week sample course after only having played in high school) Anyway I recently noticed my sound feeling a bit “mushy” (I play around 3 hours a day on the same Legere Signature 2 reed for past 3 months) so ordered a new one, thought maybe I needed to go up a size but couldn’t find any 2.25 online only a 2.75. It arrived yesterday and its WAY too hard for me! Embouchure was aching after playing 2 tunes, sounded way too windy and was really hard to get a good sound out. So I contacted the music shop if ordered it from on Ebay and asked if I could return it and exchange for a lesser strength or another #2 as their listed policy said returns accepted within 30 days and I said I’d heard that you could do this with Legere reeds and they said No! Due to the Covid situation they will not accept returns on reeds unless they were faulty, not if “you changed your mind”. So just wanted to let you everyone know that the Legere exchange program is not currently operating. I’m really disappointed as I can’t afford to buy another one and now I’m stuck with a reed I can’t play, so I guess it’s back to canes for now. 😢

I started on a 2.5

I think you are right about starting off with cane reeds first but no reason why you can't. I started on Legere Signature reeds on my alto sax as I wanted a consistent sound and to know my playing issues were with me and not the reeds. However at the time I felt like one lasted me less than a month as I somehow split at the tip of 3 in 3 months and no one knew how I was doing that, which wasn't good, especially given their price. For a while I did try cane reeds and tried D'addario Select Jazz filed and unfiled, La Voz and Rico Royal and was never really happy with the sound I was getting. I did move back to playing Legere signature reeds after 7-8 months but for a time felt they were either too hard to play or buzzy and not smooth sounding at all at any strength I tried. I instead tried Studio Cut reeds. They had more resistance and that gave me the smooth response I needed, but I was never happy with the straighter tone I got with them. I tried some other reeds but these responded best to me. Eventually I decided to try signature reeds again as I want to get a soprano sax at some point in the future but Legere don't make Studio Cut reeds for soprano and I wanted to keep my mouthpiece/reed setup the same as I have on my alto. That was about 4 months ago and after switching back to Signature reeds and nearly 2 years of playing and now play a 2.25 on my Selmer S80 C** and Vandoren AL5, I seem to be getting the better response I want from the reeds and I can have one last 2+ months without going bad. I did also find that the type of ligature and the position of the ligature I was using, had a noticeable impact on the feel and response I got from my reeds and that might have effected how I was feeling about the reeds I was using. When I stated playing, I got the sax.co.uk mouthpiece upgrade with a Yamaha 4C and a Rovner Dark ligature. It was fine and helped me progress, and I switched mouthpieces to a Selmer S80 C** but used the same ligature for a long time until I bought a Francois Louis Ultimate brass ligature for it. I noticed with it, I got a less stuffy sounding, less resistant and easier to play low notes depending on its position on the mouthpiece. If the ligature was further back and I'd feel like I was getting a more spitty sound and tuning was harder but closer to the front of the mouthpiece, it worked best for me, no spitty sound and tuning was easier and I have noticed similar when trying different mouthpieces/ligature combinations. I now play on my alto: Selmer S80 C** BG Duo Ligature: Legere Signature 2.25 or Legere Studio Cut 2.25 Vandoren AL5 Vandoren M/O ligature: Legere Signature 2.25 JodyJazz HR* C* BG Duo ligature: Legere Signature 2.75 JodyJazz HR* 5M BG Duo ligature: Legere Signature 2.5

Hi Nigel, thanks for your tips, great info & I am glad you talked about synthetic reeds as well. I recently tried one but I find it slips about on the mouth piece. I use a B&G jazz ligature.

Vandoren 2.5 and Fiber 3.0 plays nice

Soprano: Conn-Selmer Liberty D'Addario Royal (Blue box) 2.5 filed. Yamaha 7 C Alto: Elkhart DeLuxe Fibracell 2.5 Beechler Bellite 8 Tenor: Selmer MkVI Roberto's Winds 2.5 TS Berg Larsen s/s 110/2 M 55 years ago used PTD fibreglass as allergic to cane, fine now

Thank you, Nigel. That really helps! I am a novice (but 67 yo), and I find 1.5 easy to play, but with no sound body and quality. So, I will try 2.0 Legere signature, and go from there. Also, I want to ask you what Vendoren line I should explore in terms of cane reeds? I like the sound from Red Java at 2.0 and Traditional 2.0. Can you recommend between the two? Thanks again. I think you are a great teacher.

I've been learning off and on for a few years on an old Freedom alto I bought at a garage sale. I started with a Rico 2, then I bought some Vandoren 2.5 on advice from an experienced friend. I struggled with these until I learned about Legere. I bought a 2.25 and fell in love. Recently I upgraded to a new Jean Paul alto, and I tried to go back to the vandoren but my embouchure showed me up, so back to the Rico 2, which is so much easier. But I keep going back to the Legere, it's so smooth and easy to blow.

I am using Legere reeds, 2 1/4 and 2 1/2....and La Voz medium