Can’t find the best oboe reeds for beginners? Then, you’ve come to the right place.
It is a fact that a reed affects the sound and adds comfort in playing any instrument.
This is specifically true with the oboe reeds. Beginners who use poorly made reed tend to develop habits that are difficult to get through over time.
There are two main types of reeds, i.e., handmade and machine-made.
Handmade reeds are high-quality and a little more expensive, while machine-made reeds are also excellent but available at a low price. In addition, a hand-scraped oboe reed tends to be responsive and has fantastic sound when played.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the best oboe reeds you can use as a beginner.
The 4 Best Oboe Reeds for a Beginner
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jones JR101M Oboe Reed (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Emerald 601MS Oboe Reed (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | Jones JR101AM Oboe Reed | Check Price |
 | Emerald 601M Oboe Reed | Check Price |
Jones JR101M Oboe Reed (Editor’s Choice)
The Jones JR101M is among the commercial Oboe reeds available with the long scrape and used by almost every professional. The brand uses only the finest and superior quality French cane. The cane is characterized for the correct diameter to ensure that adequate tip opening is obtained without wire usage. Skilled craftsmen process the cane using the most advanced machinery around the globe.
Every reed is tested individually and hand-adjusted. Final packing and inspection are done after receiving some hand scraping. The Jones JR101MS Oboes Reed has a great lifespan and allows beginner oboists to play instruments easily within the entire range. The reed is made of high quality and durable material. Overall, it is among the best Oboe reeds you can consider buying.
As these reeds are made from cane, you can experience beautiful, deeper, and richer sounds that your instrument will make. If you have some acquired skill playing the instrument, then you must surely upgrade to this type.
Emerald 601MS Oboe Reed
Emerald 601MS Oboe Reed is a high-quality reed, and you can experience the significant sound difference with this reed so that you can hit the low and high register better. With these reeds, the tone control is excellent and holds up the tone quite well. In addition, emerald reeds produce and hold the tone consistent.
The Oboe reed is designed to hold the upper register up without biting and is liked widely by beginners. The reed’s wire is adjustable so that the tip can be opened or closed for seasonal variation due to humidity and temperature. Your instrument will respond as desired when you use these reeds because of their flexibility and balance.
It is terrific to know the kind of music you want to play and the kind of tones you want from the instrument. These details will help you make the right choice when you are looking for reeds for your instrument.
Jones JR101AM Oboe Reed
Jones JR101AM Oboe Reed cane is tied to 47 mm tube made of nickel silver, and tip receives additional refinement. Tip balances back and heart after several tests. The crow of the reed is hand adjusted to an extra pitch. With this reed, you can play an instrument with comfort and ease. Its long life span makes it popular. JR101AM reed is very well scraped and saves a significant amount of time as not much time is required to get much touch up to get it that is liked by all. Experienced craftsman has scraped it.
These reeds are long-lasting and ready to play. You can experience a great tone consistently. Wood quality is impressive and durable, so they do not chip, crack, or fray. You can hit a full range of notes and dynamics. Low notes are simple to attack with these reeds. These are highly recommended for practice, and if you are looking for a cost-effective reed, you can go with this one without a second thought.
You will feel a sense of satisfaction when using this reed while playing your instrument. Beginners widely prefer it. These reeds are excellent for everyone, professionals, hobbyists, or beginners. Whether you play loud or soft, the tone richness will be maintained. The clarity and body are a trademark of these reeds. It is an excellent buy because you get a perfect combination of reasonable price and high quality.
Emerald 601M Oboe Reed
Emerald 601M Oboe Reed is among the most popular reeds on the market, and they are easier to play. These reeds are made from the finest and superior quality reeds available. They produce bigger and deep tones that beginners like. In addition, you do not have to make an effort to vibrate them.
Emerald is famous for its superior quality reeds, which provide rich and clear sounds. Thus it is worth giving them a try. When using them, you can feel a sense of improvement in your performance. With these reeds, it is not difficult to make your instrument responsive as desired as they are well balanced and flexible at the same time. Furthermore, as they are made from a natural material, they can absorb moisture quickly, considering it.
You must take care of this little item as it is highly responsible for the sounds your instrument delivers. They immediately respond and are satisfied to play. Excellent quality controls of these reeds make them durable so that you can use them without worry.
How to Choose Beginner Oboe Reeds?
You need to consider different things before choosing the best beginner oboe reeds. However, we have listed down some essential aspects that you must pay attention to for getting the best product.
Vibration
In low registers, a reed with more vibration performs better, and thus you can experience a better response. In high registers, reeds with less vibration sound good, and they tend to offer added stability and focus. There is nothing more preferable because vibration depends on the music you play and your style and skills.
Stability
Pitch suffers when you have to bite your reed forcefully to maintain control during play. This will stop you in between the song. Thus stability is an essential factor to consider.
Opening
A football-shaped opening of oboe reed is considered good, or a slightly smaller opening is also better with an equally shaped tip blade having the same thickness and each corner connected. A wide-opening oboe reed requires more air and thus produces a loud and flat sound. This is appreciable in low registers, but for beginners, it is hard to play.
A smaller opening in oboe reed also requires less air and produces a sharp and soft sound. This offers a better response in high registers and makes instrument playing easy for beginners.
Response
Beginners prefer a reed that gives a good response in all registers. It becomes difficult to hit the notes if reed restricts you to a lower or higher register. In addition, you will get dizzy quickly from expending breath, and this leads to jaw cramping.
Tone
Beginners always look for ease of playing. However, if you are a beginner, all you require is that your reed can play a good tone and do what you want. At first, it may not sound great, but your tone will gradually improve as you become familiar with the instrument and have all control once you learn.
Dynamics
As a beginner, you do not have to get those reeds specialized for playing best in specific situations. Instead, all you want is a reed that is simple to play and has a wide dynamic range that does not restrict your volume and register control.
Blade Overlap
A quality good reed’s blades should be overlapped slightly. It should be right, not too much or too little. The reed will not produce enough vibration if the blades do not overlap. You may also see loose sides and leaks that lead to unsteady tone and pitch.
Sides
Oboe reed sides should be pressed together firmly on the complete reed length. A reed whose sides are not pressed together tightly will often be inconsistent or unstable.
Scraping style
American musicians use long scrape style, i.e., North American style, where the reed’s back has the scraping. However, other than American musicians, other musicians prefer short scrape reeds. This is because short scrape reeds are more flexible and vibrant. Playing in orchestra needs you to match the other oboist reed styles as all play uniquely.
So, The Best Oboe Reed for Beginner Is…
There are certain things you must keep in mind while buying the one. These factors are cane, ribbon colors, and principles. Discover what is best for you by knowing the different aspects of a particular reed. Reed makers choose good quality material so you can create notes that you want.
Our favorite is Jones JR101M, as it has a great lifespan and allows beginner oboists to play instruments with ease within the entire range. However, all the other reeds are also good, and you have to think about your requirements and look at different aspects before making the final decision.