Double reed - wikipedia Double reed A double reed is a type of reed used to produce sound in various wind instruments. The term double reed comes from the fact that there are two pieces of cane ( or, less commonly, some other material ) vibrating against each other. A single reed consists of one piece of cane which vibrates against a mouthpiece made of metal, hardened rubber, resin, or some other material. The term double reeds can also refer collectively to the class of instruments which use double reeds. Contents 1 Construction 2 Other reed materials 3 Playing a double reed 4 List of instruments which use double reeds 4.1 Main Western orchestral instruments 4.2 Period instruments 4.2. 1 Instruments where the reed is fully enclosed in a windcap 4.2. 2 Instruments where the reed is partially enclosed by a pirouette 4.2. 3 Instruments where the reed is fully exposed 5 Other instruments 6 Double reed societies 7 References 8 External links Construction Bassoon reeds There are several differences, the most obvious being size, between various types of double reeds, for example between that for a bassoon and that for an oboe or a cor anglais ( sometimes called an English horn ). Typically, Arundo donax cane is used for the making of double reeds. For bassoon reeds, tubes of this cane are first split lengthwise then gouged to a certain thickness. The chosen piece of cane is then cut to shape and the centre portion is thinned ( profiled ). The cane is folded end to end to form the two blades of the reed. The unprofiled end of the cane is shaped into a tube with the aid of a mandrel and bound with three ( or four in some reed making techniques ) strategically placed wires. A turban made out of thread is added on the third wire. It provides a hand hold for the reed that is n't a sharp wire. The folded tip is cut off to allow the blades to vibrate and final adjustments to the interior of the reed using a reamer, and to the exterior using a reed - scraping knife, are carried out. The reed is then ready to fit to the bocal of the bassoon. Note that there are many schools of thought and processes for making reeds. The construction of double reeds for the oboe family of instruments is similar in principle : like the bassoon 's reeds, they consist of two pieces of Arundo donax cane fastened together with an opening at the tip. However, because the oboe does not have a bocal, the cane must be fastened to a metal tube ( the staple ), the lower half of which is normally surrounded by a piece of cork. The staple is then inserted into the farrow at the upper end of the oboe. There are many different methods of making reeds and many variations of design have been developed. Players can buy reeds either ready - made, or in various stages of formation, such as part - scraped, reed blanks, or buy the staples and cane separately. Cane is sold in several forms : as tubes, gouged, gouged and shaped, or gouged and shaped and profiled. Bassoon cane has the further option of being profiled before purchase. Cane from several different regions is used in reed making, traditionally from southern France. There are also many options with regard to staples, shaping equipment, and so forth, which all have a subtle effect on the tone quality a reed will produce. Other reed materials While cane is by far the most common material for double reeds, it is possible to make reeds from other materials. Reeds made out of synthetic materials may be used ; these reeds often last longer and are less sensitive to temperature and humidity flucutations. Most reeds produced from synthetic materials have a tone quality that is dissimilar to that of a cane reed and are not favored by musicians. However, some recent manufacturers produce synthetic reeds that are used in a professional setting. Playing a double reed A bassoon reed An oboe reed Oboe double reeds are about 7 mm ( 0.3 in ) in width. Bassoon double reeds are wider than oboe double reeds with a width anywhere from 13.5 -- 15.9 mm ( 0.53 -- 0.63 in ) They are also shorter and thus do not need such a tight embouchure in order to make a sound. Most double reeds require a similar embouchure. Players must pull their lips over their teeth to protect the reed from their teeth. List of instruments which use double reeds Main Western orchestral instruments Bassoon Contraforte Tenoroon Semi contrabassoon Contrabassoon ( Double bassoon ) Heckelphone Piccolo heckelphone Oboe Piccolo oboe Oboe d'amore Cor anglais ( English horn ) Oboe da caccia Bass oboe Sarrusophone Contrabass Sarrusophone Period instruments Instruments where the reed is fully enclosed in a windcap Cornamuse Crumhorn Kortholt Rauschpfeife Hirtenschalmei Instruments where the reed is partially enclosed by a pirouette rackett ( renaissance ) shawm Instruments where the reed is fully exposed baroque bassoon baroque oboe dulcian oboe da caccia rackett ( baroque ) sordun Other instruments aulos bagpipes bombard duduk dulzaina guan gyaling hichiriki hojok kèn nadaswaram organ piffero pi nai ( used in piphat ) piri saronen selompret shehnai sralai sopila suona surnay tangmuri tarogato ( early ) tenora tible tromboon Double reed societies International Double Reed Society British Double Reed Society References Jump up ^ Petrie, Matthew. `` What Type of Reed Does an Oboe Use ? ''. Crook and Staple. Retrieved 14 February 2015. A double reed has two pieces of cane ( Arundo Donax ) that are attached to each other and vibrate against each other, when blowen, to create a sound. Jump up ^ Wikisource : 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica / Reed Instruments External links Schlesinger, Kathleen ( 1911 ). `` Reed Instruments ''. In Chisholm, Hugh. Encyclopædia Britannica. 22 ( 11th ed. ). Cambridge University Press. Double reed instruments ( also includes those with quadruple and sextuple reeds ; does not include bagpipes ) European classical ( modern ) Piccolo oboe Piccolo heckelphone Oboe Oboe d'amore Cor anglais ( English horn ) Bass oboe Heckelphone Lupophon Contrabass oboe Tenoroon Bassoon Semi contrabassoon Contrabassoon Contraforte Contrabassophone Reed contrabass Sarrusophone Rothphone Tromboon European classical ( historical ) Aulos Baroque oboe Bassanello Cornamuse Cromorne Crumhorn Dulcian Hirtenschalmei Kortholt Oboe da caccia Pommer Rackett Rauschpfeife Shawm African traditional Algaita Rhaita Zukra Asian traditional Balaban Duduk Guan Gyaling Hichiriki Hne Kèn Kèn bầu Kèn đám ma Kuzhal Mizmar Nadaswaram Ottu Pi Piri Shehnai Sundari Sorna Sralai Suona Taepyeongso Tangmuri Zurna / Surnai European traditional Aulos Bifora Birbynė Bombard Catalan shawm Dulzaina Graïle Gralla Musette Piffero Sopila Tárogató Zurla Surma - horn American traditional Chirimía Trompeta china Reed aerophones Double reed Cylindrical bore Balaban Chirimia Duduk Guan Piri Conical bore Bassoon Bombard English horn Gralla Hne Kèn Oboe Oboe d'amore Piston Rhaita Shawm Sopila Taepyeongso Single reed Cylindrical bore Alboka Arghul Chalumeau Clarinet Diplica Launeddas Mijwiz Pibgorn Reclam de xeremies Sipsi Xaphoon Zhaleika Conical bore Aulochrome Heckel - clarina Heckelphone - clarinet Octavin Saxophone Tárogató Free reed Single Bawu Bullroarer Party horn Pitch pipe Sets Accordion Claviola Concertina Couesnophone Harmonica Chromatic Diatonic Richter - tuned Tremolo Hulusi Khene Lusheng Mangtong Melodica Organetto Physharmonica Pump organ Saenghwang Sheng Shō Triola Yu Other Bore Quadruple reed Reed Tone hole Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Double_reed&oldid=848598112 '' Categories : Double - reed instruments Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Simple English Edit links This page was last edited on 3 July 2018, at 00 : 22 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is an example of a double-reed instrument
Answer: bassoon