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How do free reeds differ from the reeds used in clarinets and oboes?
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wind instrument
The Japanese end-blown flute, or shakuhachi.
The primary difference between free reeds and the reeds used in instruments like clarinets and oboes lies in how they interact with the instrument's air column and determine pitch.12
- Beating Reeds (Clarinets and Oboes): These are classified as beating reeds because they vibrate against a frame or another reed. In a clarinet, a single reed vibrates against a mouthpiece, while an oboe uses two reeds that vibrate against each other. These reeds act as part of a pipe system; the reed initiates the vibration, but the pitch is primarily determined by the length of the enclosed air column within the instrument.123
- Free Reeds: These reeds vibrate freely through a closely fitting frame without striking it. In instruments such as the accordion or harmonica, the reed's own size and physical properties—rather than the length of an enclosed air column—determine the pitch. Because they vibrate in open air, they are often categorized as free aerophones.142