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A free reed is a component in certain musical instruments, such as the harmonica or accordion. It's a thin blade, often metal, that vibrates freely within an air opening that's just large enough to allow movement. This vibration creates sound when air passes through it.12

Free reeds are a type of aerophone, meaning they produce sound using air as the vibrating medium. Unlike beating reeds, which strike against a frame, free reeds vibrate through a closely fitting frame. The pitch of a free reed instrument is determined by the reed's thickness and length. These instruments originated in ancient Southeast Asia and became popular in Europe.324

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