When looking for an oboe reed to use as a beginner, it can be tricky to narrow down all the options. In general, you will need a softer reed to learn with than what you will build up to. Some oboists will need to start with a very soft reed, but others may need one with a little more rigidity – or resistance as we say. A reed that is too soft can make it hard to learn just as a reed that is too hard can.
How a Reed Should Feel
Hopefully, you have someone guiding you on this, but in general, you can tell if a reed is a good fit for you based on the parameters already described. It shouldn’t be too soft or too hard, but the goldilocks of reeds. That’s a pretty good guideline. But if you have only learned a few notes on the oboe, it can still be difficult to determine what “just right” feels like.
If you are blowing into a reed comfortably, supported by your lower stomach, and it is not making a sound (or all you hear is wind through your instrument), then your reed is too hard. You should not need to be red in the face every time you play just to be able to make a sound.
If you can make sounds easily, but you are frequently causing a squawking sound instead of a note, or what is called “overblowing,” then your reed is too soft. You need it to push back against you more.
This is a basic description of what you want a reed to feel like, but of course, other factors like proper embouchure or breath support also affect these things, so having a teacher to guide you is very important.
Handmade Is Best
A handmade reed is the best way to go. The most ideal situation would be that you are taking lessons from an oboist who can make reeds for you. This way your teacher can adjust the reed to your needs and make reeds harder as your embouchure improves. But if that were your situation, you probably wouldn’t be searching for beginner oboe reeds on the internet.
The second best way is to find an oboe reedmaker so that you can still be using handmade reeds. This will most likely have to be someone online. There may be some trial and error as well to figuring out what reedmaker makes reeds you like. Hopefully, you will be able to get in contact with the reedmaker to let them know what you are looking for or what wasn’t working in the last batch so they can adjust for the next order.
Here are some shops I suggest:
Northwoods Oboe Reeds – my own shop
Having made my own reeds for several years (and having bought them from my own professor before that), I have not purchased a reed for some time. But these are ones that I trust!
Commercial Reeds
These oboe reeds simply just don’t receive the same amount of personal care that handmade reeds do. Cane – what reeds are made of – is fickle and each piece needs special attention. So commercial reeds can be more unpredictable. Some might be great, some might be unplayable. So maybe buy mulitple every time just to be sure. You should have multiple good reeds on hand at all times anyway!
That being said, there is no reason a person can’t learn to play the oboe on these reeds and have a good experience. It’s been done! Starting with a medium-soft reed is generally the best way to go. Then you can change the hardness from there if that does not work for you.
Here a couple reputable brands:
Non-Cane Reeds
There are plastic reeds that can be much easier to play, but in the long run they are not worth it and I would not advise using them. They do not sound as good and you would be better off learning the feel of a cane reed. For now, any synthetic reed you come across can’t beat the traditional oboe reed.
What is your experience with oboe reeds as a beginner?