How do I try or test a saxophone reed?

Align and Secure the Reed

• Place the reed so the tip lines up with (or is just below) the tip of the mouthpiece.
• Make sure it’s centered side-to-side.
• Tighten the ligature enough to hold the reed firmly but not crush it.

 Start with Warm-Up

• Play long tones (start around low G or F) with a focus on:
  • Evenness of sound
  • Reed vibration/response
  • Air resistance

 Test Full Range

• Work from low register to palm keys and altissimo (if applicable).
• Try chromatic scales and interval leaps.
• Look for smooth transitions between registers.

 Play in Different Styles

• Legato, staccato, jazz articulation, classical phrasing.
• See how the reed responds to dynamic contrasts

While testing, ask yourself:

Response:

• Does it speak easily, especially at soft dynamics?
• How’s articulation—clean or resistant?

Tone:

• Is the sound warm, bright, buzzy, thin?
• Is it even across the full range?

Intonation:

• Does it stay in tune across registers?
• Compare tuning of throat tones vs. chalumeau/clarion.

Resistance:

• Does it feel too hard or too soft?
• A hard reed might feel stuffy or make the high notes hard.
• A soft reed might be buzzy, airy, or unstable at loud volumes.

Extra Advice

• Use a consistent mouthpiece for testing to remove variables.
• Rotate reeds—play for a few minutes, let it rest, then try again later.
• Don’t give up too fast—some reeds need a few sessions to “wake up.”