Reed Care

Before playing, soak your reed by placing it gently — cane end down — in a small container of water. The string can get wet, but keep the cork dry. Water causes cork to break down over time, and a waterlogged cork may not seal properly in the reed well of your oboe.

One to two minutes of soaking is plenty for most reeds. Be careful about soaking too long — if a reed absorbs too much moisture, it can swell and feel stiff or unresponsive. If that happens, set it aside and let it air out completely before trying again.

After playing, blow the reed out from the cork end to remove excess moisture, give it a gentle shake — being careful not to hit it against anything — and then put it away to dry in a protected place.

Store your reeds in a non-airtight container. Reeds need to breathe. A damp reed sealed in an airtight case can develop mold, which will ruin it. At the same time, the case should protect the reeds from being knocked around — a reed that's free to roll or bounce inside its container will almost certainly get damaged.

There are many reed cases available at a wide range of prices. The cost isn't the issue — what matters is whether the case protects your reeds while still allowing airflow.

Your reed should slide all the way into the reed well on your oboe. If it feels snug, apply a small amount of cork grease to the cork and try again. Never force a reed — you risk cracking the cork or damaging the instrument.

If a reed is slightly loose in the well, you can add a thin layer or two of cigarette paper around the cork to build up the diameter and improve the seal. If the well is too small even with cork grease, have your instrument looked at by a repair technician.

Minor adjustments to a reed's opening (the gap between the two blades at the tip) are possible, but should be done gently and with care.

To close the opening (reed is too open or slightly flat): Soak the reed for less time — more soaking causes the cane to swell and open further. You can also pinch the opening closed at the heart of the reed — the thicker area just behind the tip. Alternatively, increase the blade overlap by gently sliding the top blade slightly to the left and the bottom blade slightly to the right. More overlap means a smaller opening.

To open the opening (reed is too closed or slightly sharp): Soak longer or in warmer water to encourage swelling. You can also gently massage the opening wider by pressing inward at the sides of the heart — never push on the tip directly, as it's too fragile. To decrease blade overlap, push gently so the top blade slides right and the bottom blade slides left, widening the opening and realigning the blade edges.

This depends entirely on how it's played. A reed that gets three hours of practice every day for a week is probably already on its way out. A reed that gets rotated with two or three others can last significantly longer — sharing the workload and giving each reed time to recover between sessions makes a real difference.

The other factor is simply time. Reeds are made from an organic material — cane — and it slowly breaks down no matter what you do. Eventually, even your most beloved reed is going to have to have a figurative funeral. Yes, it can be genuinely heartbreaking when you really loved that one. Every oboist has been there.

This one isn't about care — it's about mindset. If a reed is fighting you and you start having thoughts like "I should quit" or "I'm terrible at the oboe" — stop and consider that the reed might simply be the wrong reed for you right now.

We can all learn to work with a range of reeds. Some will feel better than others, and that's normal. But when a reed is really resisting you, that's not always a reflection of your playing. Sometimes you just need a new reed — and there's no shame in that. Every oboist, at every level, knows this feeling.