How to set the reed up properly on the saxophone

Here are a few simple pointers on how best to position the saxophone reed on your mouthpiece. So much about tone depends on not just having a good reed, but putting it in the right place. Some reeds labelled as the same brand and strength are actually quite different in their relative hardness or softness. In general, and depending on your timbral preferences, soft reeds can sit higher up on the mouthpiece and hard reeds can sit lower. Don’t over-tighten the ligature or put it on the wrong way. Diagonally grained reeds can be positioned at an angle to egret the best out of them. Line up the grains with the mouthpiece rather than the reed itself and often these otherwise unresponsive reeds may come to life.
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[@gregoryjohnson2058]

My private teacher in school was a clarinet player so I always had it like a hairline below the tip. I immediately lined it up as you suggested on my soprano and my tenor and felt the difference.Thanks for the tip!

[@thirstnhowliv9740]

Players who make a habit of putting the ligature on, after the reed has been placed upon the mouthpiece table, as seen @ 0:47, will eventually chip a corner of the reed as they slide the ligature over the reed. It happens quite often with particularly young students, whose fine motor skills may be a little underdeveloped or those who are otherwise distracted or in a hurry to get the reed on.
Secondly, the reed placement will invariably shift as one fiddles with getting the ligature on over the reed/mouthpiece set-up,
which only results in forcing the player to readjust again after the ligature has been put in place... so it also wastes time as well.
The best way to avoid needlessly chipping away at your prized reeds, is to simply place the reed on the mouthpiece table, through the ligature,
which is already placed LOOSELY, around the mouthpiece. Then, tighten the ligature ONCE, after the desired reed placement is achieved.
- Change my mind

[@neilmcgovern8917]

Thanks for the interesting comment. I haven’t chipped any reeds that way for decades but you’re right, it might well be a problem for

[@robertgreen3702]

Good tips ...thank you!

[@vivianastridge2167]

What is the best position of the reed for subtoning?