Reed
Vibrating tongue of cane used on woodwind instruments, single or double.
What it means
A reed is a thin, elastic tongue, usually cut from the cane Arundo donax, that vibrates when blown and thereby produces the tone of a woodwind instrument. Single reeds vibrate against a mouthpiece, while double reeds consist of two thin blades that vibrate against each other.
Musical use
The clarinet and saxophone are played with a single reed fastened to a mouthpiece, while the oboe and bassoon sound through a double reed that is taken directly into the mouth without a separate mouthpiece. The reed is thus distinct from the mouthpiece itself: the mouthpiece is the fixed holder to which a single reed is attached, whereas a double reed needs no separate mouthpiece.
Performance practice
Make sure to moisten your reed sufficiently before playing so it vibrates evenly, and replace it in good time once the tone becomes impure or hard to produce.