single reed

A single reed is a component of certain wind instruments. It is a thin blade, typically made of cane, that vibrates when air is blown across it, producing sound. This vibration sets up a sound wave in an air column within the instrument.

Single reeds are commonly found in instruments like the clarinet and saxophone. In these instruments, the reed is attached to a mouthpiece and vibrates against it. The way the reed vibrates and interacts with the mouthpiece and the instrument's air column determines the instrument's pitch and tone color. The material and precise shape of the reed, as well as how the player's lips interact with it, significantly influence the sound produced.12