Yes, both the cut and strength of the reed will affect how your clarinet sounds. Reeds can have either a regular or French-file cut. French-file reeds have quicker response, but they cost more and are unlikely to make a huge difference to beginner players.The strength of a reed is rated between one and five, with one being the softest and five being the hardest. Harder reeds render a richer, fuller sound, but softer reeds are easier to play, making them suited to beginners.