What is the difference between a 1.5 and a 3 Saxophone reed?

HI Charlot,

If you have been playing sax for five years.... you are quite an experienced player already. The numbers of the reeds are meant to designate the strength of the reed. For example, a beginner who has no experience and who also has very weak lips would be using a #1.5 or a #2 reed.

You on the other hand... playing for as long as you have... who has a well developed embouchure would be needing a #3. I have a friend who is a professional musician playing saxophone for about 45 years. He uses Vandoren # 3 1/2 reeds. I cannot imagine you would use anything stronger than a #3 at this time though you could get a small box of 3 1/2 to see how they work for you. One thing you don't need to have are weaker strengths and it would just be a waste of money to buy them as you are trying to maintain your embouchure strength.... not weaken it.

Hope that helps

Thanks for reading. :))

The change among the exclusive reeds is how they are reduce. Some reeds have a thinner tip (which is able to aid with reaction and lighter articulation however calls for extra manipulate and will make accents, and so forth. extra complicated); a few reeds have a thicker vamp or center (which impacts how vivid or darkish the bushes is and the benefit of bending a pitch). Here's a rundown of the Vandoren reeds: Traditional: Thin tip, thicker vamp V12: Thicker tip, I suppose a medium-thick vamp Java: Thicker tip, thinner vamp V16: Thicker tip, medium vamp, longer pallet (vibrating field) ZZ: Thick tip, thick vamp I suppose Reeds can be filed (American reduce) or unfiled (French reduce) however I'm beautiful certain all of Vandoren's reeds are filed. Strength additionally varies relying at the reed you get, e.g. a force three ZZ appears like a two.five Traditional. There are more than a few reed charts you'll be able to discover on-line, which evaluate the exclusive Vandorens and more than a few different manufacturers (Rico, Hemke, and so forth.).