What strength reeds should i use?

[jammy]

Hi,

I'm about to buy my first Sax, a Yamaha YAS-275, and i need to know what strength reeds to buy.

I currently play clarinet, grade 3 and use 2 1/2 reeds.

Also are there any reeds that are better than others of the same strength.

thanks.

[Enviroguy]

About the same time my boy started clarinet in beginning school band, I started him at home on alto sax. We began with a hand full of soft Rico #2 and #2 1/2. He didn't have his chops yet and I wanted him to start slow. After his chops built up we moved to Vandoran #2 1/2 and then #3. From there, I changed out his student-level mpc for a knock-off version of a Selmer Jazz metal mpc with quite a bit of gap at the tip. This process took about one year. When he finally moved up to tenor sax in school, he had some serious chops from day one.

If you've been on clarinet for a long while, I'd start with #2 1/2 alto reeds. Get a good brand such as Vandoran with the regular French cut. You might also grab a couple of straight #2 just to experiment with. In the very beginning, you may need the #2 to hit the low notes on the alto. But in a few weeks, you'll move up to the #2 1/2. After a few months more, move on up to a #3.

Make sure your horn is as ready to go as you are. My first sax came straight from the store with pad leaks. It's very frustrating when the low notes won't play and you can't tell if it's you or the horn. Make sure a good tech has checked your horn out thoroughly before you begin.

[jammy]

ok, thanks, ive been playin clarinet for about 3 years now so i will get a couple of vandoran #2 and 2 1/2 and move up to a 3 when im ready.

[Fred]

The first question I would have is, "What mouthpiece will you be using?" By asking what reeds to use, you are putting the cart before the horse. The mouthpiece determines the reed! Repeat after me . . . "The mouthpiece determines the reed!"

BTW - I do believe Enviroguy's comments are right on assuming a standard beginner level mouthpiece - Yamaha 4C that might come with your alto or the venerable S80 C* (the almost required alto mp for school students in my area.)

But too many young players ask totally backwards questions like, "I play Vandoren #3 reeds - what mouthpiece should I buy?" Another common scenario is taking a handful of 3.5 reeds to audition a wide variety of mouthpieces and finding some are too difficult to play. Why were they difficult to play? Because the difficult mouthpiece needed a 2.5 reed and you put a popsickle stick on it and tried to make music with it! Audition mouthpieces with a variety of reeds if you want to judge the mouthpieces fairly.

BTW (again) - Congrats on picking up the sax. I hope you continue being able to play clarinet as well as knowing both will benefit you greatly in your musical advancement. But as a long time clarinet player and much more recent sax lover, I have a lot more fun with sax than I did with clarinet. YMMV.

[jammy]

im pritty sure it comes with a Yamaha 4C but not 100% because i havent got it yet.