How To Pair The Right Clarinet Reed
And Mouthpiece

To get the right tone, control, and comfort level, you need to properly pair your reed with the right mouthpiece. Here's what to know before you play: 

Understand Mouthpiece Resistance 
A close-facing mouthpiece offers less resistance and blows more freely. To balance that, pair it with a stronger reed: think 3.5+, 4, (or sometimes) greater. That extra reed strength gives you the control you need without sacrificing response. Stronger reeds are less flexible, great for players who want more control and focus in their sound.  

An open-facing mouthpiece adds resistance on its own. So, you’ll want a reed that’s a little easier to blow, typically in the 2.5 to 3.5 range. This combo helps you avoid overworking and keeps your tone smooth and even. Softer reeds are more flexible, giving players more options to shape their sound.

Aim for a Balanced Feel 
A well-paired setup means smoother response across the full range of your instrument. If one part is too resistant and the other too free-blowing, your playing can feel strained or unstable. 
For example, a close-facing with soft reeds is very common with early beginners to more easily produce a tone, but students will shortly progress to stronger reeds as their embouchure improves.

Open-facing with stronger reeds are sometimes used by advanced musicians for increased power and projection, but is very hard to control and requires a well-developed embouchure.