single-reed

One vibrating blade

Single-reed describes a type of wind instrument that produces sound when air causes a single piece of cane or synthetic material to vibrate against a mouthpiece.

Clarinets and saxophones are the most familiar single-reed instruments.

The term distinguishes these from double-reed instruments like oboes and bassoons, where two reeds vibrate against each other, and from brass instruments, which use lip vibration instead.

instruments

clarinet

Single-reed woodwind instrument

saxophoneReed instrument, brass body
hornpipeSailor's traditional dance
buffetSelf-service meal display

barrel · bell · mouthpiece · ligature · keywork · fingering · pad · thumb rest

acoustics

resonance

Amplified oscillation at natural frequency

vibrationRapid oscillating movement
frequencyRate of recurrence
harmonicOf musical overtones

overtone · pitch · timbre · soundwave · oscillation · amplitude · waveform · air column · bore · cylindrical

playing

embouchure

Wind player's mouth position

articulationClear vocal expression
tonguingWind instrument note separation
staccatoShort, separated note style

legato · vibrato · voicing · air column · dynamics · intonation · register · cross-fingering · overblowing

genres

jazz

Improvisational American music genre

classicalOf ancient Greece/Rome
klezmerTraditional Ashkenazi folk music
symphonicPertaining to large-scale orchestral music

chamber · concerto · solo · big band · swing · bossa nova

reed

cane

Stick for support

syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
strengthPower to exert force
hardnessResistance to penetration

cut · facing · profile · tip · vamp · heel · blank

Opposites

reed configuration

single-reeddouble-reed

Paired vibrating blades

double reed · reedless

sound production method

single-reedbrass

Copper-zinc metal mixture

reedless · string

Family

single, singly, singles, singled, singling, singleton, singular, singularity, singularly

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G