Cane vs Synthetic Saxophone Reeds: Which to Buy

What a reed is and what the material words mean

A reed is the thin strip of material that sits on the saxophone mouthpiece and vibrates as you blow. The reed is a separate supply item from the instrument itself, and it works together with the mouthpiece and the ligature, the part that holds the reed in place. Every saxophone player needs a supply of reeds, so the material choice is part of the buying decision.

The two material words you will meet are cane and synthetic. Cane names a natural plant material, the traditional reed material. Synthetic names a manufactured material made in a controlled process. Both words describe the material, not a measured performance difference, and the maker's page is the source for what each word states.

How reeds appear on a saxophone listing

Reed words appear in the title of a listing, in the extras list of a kit, and on the maker's catalog page. A listing title usually carries the saxophone's register, level, and finish; reed material is more likely to appear in the bullet list or the extras list, if it appears at all.

When a kit listing states that reeds are included, the material is sometimes named and sometimes not. If the material is not stated, treat the reed supply as unspecified and buy the reeds you prefer later. The same reading rule applies to every listing: a detail that is not stated by the seller is not compared. See how to read saxophone specifications for the full reading rule.

• Words to look for in an extras list: reeds, reed pack, cane reeds, synthetic reeds, strength number.

What a maker's page states about reeds

The maker's page is the place where stated reed details appear. One maker names its synthetic saxophone reeds VK1, a Traditional type, and VK7, a Jazz type. The words Traditional and Jazz are the maker's own type names, and they are stated on the page as part of the model name.

Another maker describes a pre-band instrument as a way to introduce single-reed skills, which shows that reed instruments form a family a player can meet before the full saxophone.

A maker page may also say nothing about reeds. One maker page in this article's source list is a music page that does not mention reeds at all, and that page simply tells you nothing about a reed supply. A listing built from such a source carries no stated reed material, so the buyer chooses the material separately.

Reading the strength number on a reed pack

Reed packs carry a strength number, usually a value such as 2, 2.5, or 3. The strength number is the maker's stated way of describing how stiff the reed is. In general terms, a higher number means a stiffer reed.

Strength is a separate decision from material. Both cane and synthetic reeds are sold with strength numbers, so you compare reeds by the material word and the strength number together. If you want more detail on strength, see saxophone reed strength suitability and saxophone reed cut and strength.

Reeds in a kit and reeds bought separately

Many saxophone kits include a reed or a small reed supply. The extras list on the kit tells you what is in the box. When the list names reeds, check whether the material is stated; a kit that lists reeds without a material word leaves the material open. Compare kits on their stated extras to see which ones name the material.

When you buy reeds separately, you compare reed packs on stated details: the material word, the strength number, and the maker's type name. The comparison works the same for alto, tenor, soprano, and baritone reeds; the register name does not change how reed material is stated.

Reed terms sellers use

Sellers use a short set of terms around reeds. Knowing what each term names helps you read a listing without relying on unstated claims.

• Traditional: a type name used by a maker for a reed model.
• Jazz: a type name used by a maker for another reed model.
• Cane: a natural plant material.
• Synthetic: a manufactured material.
• Soft, medium, hard: loose words for stiffness, less exact than a strength number.
• Strength number: the maker's stated stiffness value.

How to choose between cane and synthetic

The choice between cane and synthetic is a choice of what you want from a reed supply. Cane comes from a natural source, and synthetic comes from a manufactured process. Both are sold as saxophone reeds, both carry strength numbers, and the maker's page is the source for the material and type names.

For a first instrument, the simplest path is to take what the kit states. If the kit lists reeds, the instrument and the reed supply arrive together; if it does not, buy a reed pack of either material at a strength you can compare by stated details. Start with the main saxophone guide to pick the register and level first.

For a returning player or a gift, read the listing for the word reed. If the gift is a kit, the extras list states whether reeds are included; if not, add a reed pack of the material and strength you want to give. For a player moving up, the material is a preference you can decide from the maker's stated type names, not from sound claims.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

What is the difference between cane and synthetic reeds?

Cane names a natural plant material and synthetic names a manufactured material. Both words describe the material itself, and the maker's page states which one a reed uses.

Does a saxophone listing always state the reed material?

No. A kit listing may list reeds without naming the material. If the material is not stated, treat it as not stated by the seller and buy the material you prefer separately.

What does the strength number on a reed pack mean?

The strength number is the maker's stated way of describing stiffness. In general terms, a higher number means a stiffer reed, and both cane and synthetic reeds are sold with strength numbers.

Should a beginner choose cane or synthetic?

Read the kit's extras list first. If the kit lists reeds, take what the kit states; if it does not, buy a reed pack of either material at a strength you can compare by stated details.

Can I compare reeds the same way I compare saxophones on this site?

Yes, on stated details: the material word, the strength number, and the maker's type name. The same rule of stated details that this site uses for saxophones applies to reed packs.