Reed

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Saxophone Reeds
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Saxophone Reeds

A reed is a piece of dry vegetal material that is used in some musical instruments such as saxophones, clarinets and oboes. The musician blows air through the mouthpiece where the reed is firmly placed, and the air makes the reed vibrate; this vibration in the mouthpiece produces sound all along the instrument, which is changed into specific musical notes depending on the physical nature of the instrument.

Musical instruments which use reeds are often named woodwinds, because reeds are very similar to wood, although the instrument itself can be made of metal (brass, silver, gold) or wood as well.

Reeds for musical instruments are often made from plants that are also named reeds. Other reeds can be made from metal or plastic.

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