Reeds Tenor
Are there any common reeds that work with the Contra-Alto clarinet?
My high school has an old Contra-Alto clarinet sitting in a locker that I want to learn, but I can’t play it very well because all of the reeds in the case are cracked and broken in some way. Does anyone know if it can take, like a tenor sax reed or bari sax reed or something like that, because our reed cabinet doesn’t have Contra-Alto reeds, and I don’t want to buy one if its the wrong size.
Sax reeds are longer than clarinet reeds. Sometimes they work but usually not. A bari sax reed is just about equal (but longer) to a bass clarinet reed. You’d need a bass sax reed for a contra and the bass sax reeds are way more rare than contra reeds. A bari sax reed is just a touch too narrow for the contra clarinet.
You don’t really want to play on reeds that were left in the case unless they’re new in the box, you don’t know where those have been. Go to your local music store and get an EEb Contra Clarinet reed or order one online.
Rico Jazz Select Reeds – Tenor Saxophone