reed

musical instrument part

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

A reed is a component in certain musical instruments that produces sound when vibrated by air. These instruments are classified as reed instruments. Reeds can be made of cane or metal and are categorized as either single reeds or double reeds.

Single reeds vibrate against a frame, as seen in a clarinet.
Double reeds, believed to be older, consist of two vibrating blades, used in instruments like the oboe.

Some instruments, like the accordion, use "free reeds" which vibrate freely within a frame. The material, thickness, and length of the reed, along with the instrument's air column, determine the pitch and timbre of the musical sound produced.123

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wind instrument
Flutes and reeds
Sound is generated by different methods in the aerophones designated as flutes and reeds in the Sachs-Hornbostel system. In flutes, the airstream is directed against a sharp edge; in reeds, the air column in the tube is caused to vibrate between beating parts of…
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Sound is generated by different methods in the aerophones designated as flutes and reeds in the Sachs-Hornbostel system. In flutes, the airstream is directed against a sharp edge; in reeds, the air column in the tube is caused to vibrate between beating parts of…
Read More

sound
Bore configuration and harmonicity
…in shape and has a reed end. Therefore, as explained above in Standing waves: In air columns, the odd harmonics are emphasized in the clarinet spectrum—particularly at low frequencies. Other wind instruments function acoustically as open tubes for a variety of reasons. The addition of a mouthpiece and a bell…
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…in shape and has a reed end. Therefore, as explained above in Standing waves: In air columns, the odd harmonics are emphasized in the clarinet spectrum—particularly at low frequencies. Other wind instruments function acoustically as open tubes for a variety of reasons. The addition of a mouthpiece and a bell…
Read More

giant reed
…and are the source of reeds for woodwind instruments. The straplike leaves are used to make mats in some places. The plant also has been used for erosion control and in highway beautification programs, though it is considered an invasive species in many areas outside its native range.
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…and are the source of reeds for woodwind instruments. The straplike leaves are used to make mats in some places. The plant also has been used for erosion control and in highway beautification programs, though it is considered an invasive species in many areas outside its native range.
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