Tenor Saxophone Reeds
Saxophones are considered woodwind instruments for a reason, and that reason is the reed. This little part of the horn may be small, but its vibration is the foundation for your entire sound. That's why it's crucial to have a good reed fitted, and with the selection of tenor saxophone reeds available here to choose from, a good reed is easy to find. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, and whether you like your reeds hard or soft, it's safe to say that something in this section will be the perfect fit. There are only two steps you need to take. First, decide on the type of reed you want and narrow down the options according to that. Second, take a look through those remaining options and pick your new reeds!
If you're searching for a traditional playing experience, you'll probably find the best fit in a box of cane reeds. For the occasional player, there are boxes with as few as five reeds, such as the D'Addario Woodwinds Select Jazz Filed Tenor Saxophone Reeds. And if you're a busy musician who goes through reeds quickly, you can go up to much larger packs like the Rico Tenor Saxophone Reeds, Box of 25. Looking for recommendations from other saxophonists? In that case, you might want to follow in their footsteps with the Vandoren ZZ Tenor Saxophone Reeds or another of the top-selling packs.
Of course, some of the best-sellers come in packs of one, and that's because they're synthetic reeds. These include the Harry Hartmann Carbon Fiberreed Tenor Saxophone Reed and the Legere Signature Series Tenor Saxophone Reed, to name just two examples. Compared to cane reeds, there are two major advantages to synthetics: consistency and durability. That's why they're sold in singles: unlike cane reeds, you'll never get a 'bad' one. Synthetic reeds also last longer without the maintenance demands of cane, and their sound is consistent no matter the humidity or weather conditions.
There's no doubt that the decision between cane and synthetic is the most important choice to make when choosing your tenor saxophone reeds. Of course, it doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other: you could keep both kinds of reed at the ready, allowing you to pick the best one for each of your performances. Like so much else in the world of music, it's up to you to judge based on your personal preferences - which means that no option is off the table.
