Does anyone know how wide the reed is supposed to be open? Also do I need to squeeze it together again while playing? I have two reeds, one 5 mm open, the other 2.5, but out of neither can I squeeze out a sound.
- Durch asked 7 years ago
- last edited 7 years ago
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It have to be approximately 1 mm. If it’s closed entirely, i.e. new, put the reed’s tip for about 2 minutes into water. Put about a quarter of the reed into your mouth and very lightly squeeze it while blowing.
- Scott answered 7 years ago
- last edited 7 years ago
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Yep. I don’t know of any reed instrument where the opening is much more than about a millimeter, unless you’re powering it with an air compressor.
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Don’t put the reed into water. It harms the reed. Try to make it wet with your mouth. You can’t play on the reed if you put it every time in water for 2 minutes. Don’t forget to keep the duduk in a good temperature. Don’t put the reed in closed box, just let it somewhere where there is enough air!
And how wide the reed should be open?!, it depends on the reed itself. Some reeds are high (generate higher tones than they supposed to give) so the solution is to open a little more. Some reeds are low by default and to get the good tone you have close it more or to press more with you lips. The best solution to figure out how wide is the reed supposed to be open, is tune your duduk before you play. You can use an app for that like this one Android App.
I have some reeds where they are really wide open, but still give an “F” instead of the “E” and “G#” instead of “F#” 🙁
- Guest answered 7 years ago
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