When you’re starting out, the reed section at the music store is overwhelming. Thirty different boxes, five different brands, numbers from 1 to 5 that nobody explained to you. Most beginners grab whatever’s cheapest and spend their first month fighting a reed that’s working against them.
Here’s the short version: you want a soft reed from a reliable brand. The rest of this guide explains why, and which ones are actually worth buying.
Best Clarinet Reeds for Beginners
| Reed | Strength | Price per box | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rico by D’Addario RCA1025 | 2.5 | $10–15 | First reed, most forgiving |
| Vandoren JUNO JCR0125 | 2.5 | $15–20 | Step up from Rico |
| D’Addario Royal RCB1025 | 2.5 | $15–20 | Classical and jazz beginners |
| Vandoren Traditional CR103 | 2.5 | $28–36 | When you’re ready to invest |
| Legere Classic BB2.50 | 2.5 | $25–35 single | No-hassle option |
1. Rico by D’Addario RCA1025
This is the reed most school band programs hand out on the first day. There’s a good reason for that. Rico reeds have a thinner cut and shorter vamp than most other brands, which makes them easier to get a sound out of straight away. When you’re still figuring out how to form an embouchure, that matters a lot.
They’re also cheap. You will go through a lot of reeds in your first year. Chipped tips, reeds that just won’t play well no matter what you try, practice sessions where you run through three before finding one that works. Being able to buy a box of 10 for under $15 takes the stress out of that.
The trade-off is consistency. Rico reeds vary more between individual reeds than Vandoren does. Out of a box of 10, you’ll probably find 6 or 7 good ones. That’s fine for a beginner, annoying once you’ve been playing for a while and expect better.
- Easiest reed to produce a sound on from day one
- Very affordable, good for learning when you burn through reeds quickly
- Bright, clear tone
- Less consistent than Vandoren, more duds per box
2. Vandoren JUNO JCR0125
Vandoren makes the reeds most professional clarinetists use, and the JUNO line is their beginner range. It’s designed specifically for new players, with a thinner profile than their standard Traditional reed but better quality control than Rico.
If your budget can stretch past Rico, this is where I’d start. You get the Vandoren consistency, individually sealed Flow Packs to keep reeds fresh, and a slightly warmer tone than Rico’s brighter sound. Teachers who recommend Vandoren usually point beginners here first rather than jumping straight to the Traditional.
- Vandoren quality at a more accessible price point
- Thinner profile than Traditional, easier for beginners
- Individually sealed Flow Packs
- More consistent than Rico, fewer duds per box
3. D’Addario Royal RCB1025
The Royal sits between Rico and Vandoren Traditional. The French filed cut gives a faster response and more flexibility in the low register, which actually helps beginners who struggle with the clarion register breaking cleanly. It’s also slightly warmer than plain Rico.
Good choice if you’re playing in a school band that leans toward classical repertoire, or if your teacher has suggested moving off plain Rico but you’re not ready to pay for Vandoren Traditional yet.
- French filed cut gives faster, cleaner response than Rico
- Warmer tone than standard Rico reeds
- Affordable middle-ground option
- Good for classical and jazz styles
4. Vandoren Traditional CR103
This is the blue box. The world’s best-selling clarinet reed and the one most players end up on eventually. If you’re a beginner who is serious about continuing, there’s an argument for starting here rather than working your way up through cheaper reeds first.
The Traditional is more demanding than Rico or JUNO, but not by as much as people expect. In strength 2.5, it’s still very playable for beginners and gives you a sound with noticeably more depth and warmth. The consistency is also much better, individually sealed Flow Packs, and you’ll find 8 or 9 good reeds in a box of 10.
- The reed most players end up on, worth starting here if you’re committed
- More consistent than Rico or Royal, fewer duds
- Individually sealed Flow Packs keep reeds fresh
- Warmer, more resonant tone
- More expensive, but you get what you pay for
5. Legere Classic BB2.50
Synthetic reeds require no soaking, no break-in time, and play the same every single session. For a beginner who just wants to pick up and practice without the reed ritual, that’s genuinely appealing.
The Legere Classic plays softer than its listed strength, so a 2.5 plays closer to a cane 2. It takes about a session to adjust to the feel, which is slightly firmer and more uniform than cane. The tone is close, not identical, but for a beginner it’s hard to notice the difference. The big practical advantage is that one Legere reed lasts for months instead of days.
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- No soaking needed, play straight from the case
- One reed lasts months, cost-effective long term
- Consistent, no variation between sessions
- Slightly different feel than cane, takes a session to adjust
- Higher upfront cost
What Strength Should a Beginner Use?
Strength 2.5, almost without exception. This is the standard starting point recommended by clarinet teachers across the board.
A reed that’s too hard requires more embouchure strength than a beginner has developed, which leads to biting, forcing, and a tight, squeaky sound. A reed that’s too soft feels floppy and unresponsive and doesn’t help you develop proper technique either. 2.5 is the sweet spot for most beginners.
The one exception: very young players, say 8 or 9 years old, sometimes do better starting on a 2. Worth asking your teacher before buying.
How Long Does a Reed Last?
With proper care, a cane reed lasts one to three weeks with daily practice. You should be rotating between three or four reeds rather than playing the same one every session. Let them dry completely between uses, store them flat in a proper reed case, and they’ll last longer and play more consistently.
The most common beginner mistake is playing the same reed until it falls apart, then wondering why it sounds bad. Rotate your reeds and you’ll get better performance out of all of them.
Where to Start
Buy Rico RCA1025 in strength 2.5 for your first box. They’re forgiving, affordable, and used by thousands of school band programs for exactly that reason. Once you’ve been playing for a few months and feel like you want something better, move to Vandoren JUNO or Traditional. That’s the natural progression most players follow.
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Charlotte Moore
Charlotte Moore is a Clarinetist by profession and has over time offered lessons on how to play the clarinet among other musical instruments. And while a majority of clarinet players are well versed with the process of settling with a good clarinet among other accompanying features. There is little information about clarinets. The reason why Charlotte prepared comprehensive experts touching on the various facets of the clarinet. The consolidated information will offer more insight on everything clarinets including the best stand to use, and the best plastic clarinet that you can invest in, among other information. Charlotte Moore is a devoted mother of two and a professional clarinet player.