Bassoon Reed Grading

There is no universal standard for bassoon reed grading. It has been my ambition to implement a meaningful grading system that distinguishes important reed qualities and better enables bassoonists to find and select reeds. To this end, I have developed a grading system that compares the relative performance and sound characteristics of my reeds as shown below.

The Dynamic Reeds Grading System

The system is two-fold. First, reeds are sorted based on their dominant performance characteristics. Reeds with the best overall performance characteristics become Advanced Reeds; reeds with good performance characteristics become Student Reeds; and reeds that do meet a minimal level of playability are discarded. Second, Advanced Reeds are sorted based on their relative sound characteristics into one of three groups labeled Dark, Moderate, and Bright as shown in the table below. Keep in mind that these are relative qualities and that the tone color of a Moderate reed, for example, might sound bright compared to the a reed from another reed-maker.

Sound Characteristics Grading Table