How Long Do Oboe Reeds Last?

“QUAAAACK!” Don’t worry, ducks are not invading the safety of your inmost thoughts. The sound you may have just imagined is actually the call of the young oboist down the hall in the band room. Whether you are a band director, new to the oboe, or someone generally intrigued by the most unique of all wind instruments, the subject of oboe reeds can be dense and intimidating. This post will answer frequently asked questions detailing the lifespan of the expensive, fragile, and temperamental oboe reed. Keep reading for the details, or skip to each section below:

• The Life Cycle Of The Oboe Reed
• How Often To Replace Oboe Reeds
• How To Improve The Lifespan Of An Oboe Reed
• How To Tell When You Need A New Oboe Reed

When I was a young oboist, I often found that the sound coming from my oboe would be balanced and controlled one day, and soft and effortful the next. At the time, it was confusing to me. Was it something I was doing wrong? Was my oboe broken? Often, the culprit was the reed itself!

Knowing when it is time to get a new oboe reed is a crucial aspect in learning to play the oboe. At the beginning of each lesson with my double reed students, I always examine the reed that the student will be playing on. Occasionally, when I am handed the reed, I unfortunately see what resembles more of an experiment in the resilience of wood than a functional oboe reed! I have seen reeds with mildew and mold growing on them, cracked reeds, tips of reeds that look like they were chewed on, and many other problems that cause the reed to be in a less than ideal condition. Despite these seemingly glaring problems, students will still try to “play” on the reed because it still makes a sound as it clings to life.

The Life Cycle Of The Oboe Reed

To better understand this “life” that the oboe reed clings to, let us examine the four stages of the oboe reed: Making the Reed, Breaking In the Reed, the Golden Period, and Deterioration (figure 1, below).

1. Making the Reed: Experienced oboists will typically make reeds for themselves and for students. The process to make oboe reeds takes several hours that may span over a few days. The oboe reed is tested and refined until it is ready to be played on.
2. Breaking In the Reed: Reeds for any woodwind instrument, like a good pair of shoes, must be broken in. This process allows the reed to adjust to the environment and the player; this process takes about one to three days. When initially obtaining a reed, it may feel resistant and hard to play for extended periods of time.
3. The Golden Period: Once the reed is successfully broken in, it enters what is called the “Golden Period.” This stage reflects peak performance of the reed’s response, intonation, and tone. This period usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the reed and how well the reed is cared for!
4. Deterioration: All good things must come to an end, as every oboe reed inevitably enters the final stage, “Deterioration.” As the reed ages and is played on for an extended period, the reed opening will become smaller, the pitch of the reed will rise, and the reed will produce a small and closed-off sound. Throughout the “Golden Period,” a natural bacterial growth will form on the inside of the reed that sits on top of the cane. When the reed enters “Deterioration,” the biofilm hinders the vibrations of the oboe reed, and the bacteria begins to weaken cane fibers. It is important to note that the bacteria, not saliva, cause the cane fibers to break down and cause the reed to deteriorate. At this point, it is time to start the process over again with a new reed.

Steps For Breaking In The Reed:

1. Soak the reed for approximately 1-2 minutes
2. Play for a short practice session (warm-ups in band class, individual scale practice, long tones, etc.)
3. Let the reed dry in a ventilated reed case (at least 30 min.)
4. Soak the reed again and play on the reed for longer periods (band class, rehearsals, practice sessions, etc.)
5. Repeat this process over 2-3 days until the reed plays comfortably

How Often Should I Replace My Oboe Reed?

This is truly the million-dollar question plaguing band directors and students alike! The answer ultimately depends on what level the oboist is at, how frequently the oboist is playing, and how well the reed is taken care of. Despite the varying factors, oboe reeds will last for approximately 10-15 hours of playing when cared for correctly. I know, this seems like a shockingly small amount of time for a reed to be in playable condition!

Although it seems like a small amount of time, the playing time for beginning oboists will span across a few weeks. If a band class is an hour long, the student may only be playing for about half of the class time, as the band director will talk, provide instruction, and work with other students. Therefore, if the beginning student is playing a minimum of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, one oboe reed should last approximately three weeks if also taken care of properly.  Refer to figure 2 (right) for an approximate reed purchasing timeline.

Improving The Lifespan Of An Oboe Reed

It’s no secret: all oboists inevitably realize that oboe reeds are expensive, fragile, and temperamental. Throughout my years playing the oboe, I have learned the importance of taking care of the oboe reed and have seen firsthand how proper care results in longer lasting reeds. Although reeds have a short lifespan and are certainly not immortal, incorporating the following tips for reed care may help your reeds last a little longer.

• Brush your teeth before you play, and do not eat or drink anything other than water while playing.
• Rotate between multiple oboe reeds. Rotating between reeds will give them a chance to readjust, dry out, and help keep the reeds from degrading quickly!
• Store your reeds securely in a hard reed case with ventilation.
• Soak your reeds in a small cup of water, not your mouth!
  • Be sure to change the water that you soak your reeds in every day!
• Handle your reed with care! Try not to bump it or chip it on any objects (chair, music stand, clothes, teeth, etc.).
• Clean the inside of the oboe reed extremely carefully by running a small brush from the bottom through the top of the reed. Remove the brush slowly to avoid damaging the tip of the reed.
• Clean the oboe reed with an ultrasonic reed cleaner.

How To Tell If You Need A New Reed?

“WEE WOO!” There are glaring red flags in both the appearance and the sound of the oboe reed to indicate if it is time to purchase or make a new one. Being able to identify specific characteristics of your reeds is crucial in determining if the reeds are considered healthy or unhealthy. Grab your reed case, open it up, and compare each of your reeds to the lists below!

Healthy Oboe Reed Checklist:

• The color of the cane is golden brown
• The opening of the tip looks like an oval
• The top of the reed is a straight line
• The reed crows a “C”
• Producing a sound on the oboe is moderately effortless.

Tip: To crow an oboe reed, remove the reed from the oboe. Using only the reed, carefully place the reed in your mouth and put your lips at the point where the thread meets the cane. Turn a tuner on, blow, and see what note registers on the tuner. A healthy oboe reed will crow at a “C.”

Red Flags For Unhealthy Oboe Reeds

• The color of the cane is tinted black or has black spots (mold)
• The reed has small or large cracks
• The tip opening is not an oval, or is too closed to see all the way through the reed
• The top of the reed is jagged, frayed, or chipped
• The reed has a foul smell when you open the reed case
• Producing a sound on the oboe has become increasingly more difficult
• The reed is difficult to articulate on, plays out of tune, or has a reduced dynamic range
• The reed crows any pitch besides a “C”
  • Talk to your teacher- this may be able to be adjusted
• The thread becomes loose and begins to unravel

Other Considerations

There are certain situations which may appear to be a reed problem, but are actually an issue with an incorrect fingering, incorrect embouchure, or with the instrument itself. If your reed seems to produce wrong notes, or notes frequently come out in the wrong octave, it's best to consult your teacher or an experienced oboist to rule out the problem. 

Conclusion:

Let’s recap: oboe reeds have a natural lifespan that lasts between a few weeks to a few days. Although they do change from day to day as they are soaked and dried, healthy functioning oboe reeds should play comfortably in tune and respond without undue embouchure effort. Compare your reeds to the photos below. If you see any cracks, chips, or black spots, it's time to get a fresh reed! The good news is that we stock a variety of oboe reeds, including synthetic reeds to fit the needs of players at all levels.

Still have questions? Contact us through our website. We’re happy to help!

Works Cited

Figure 3A: Danny Cruz, photo. Accessed September 16th, 2025. https://www.oboefiles.com/reed-death-how-to-tell-if-your-oboe-reed-is-broken-or-needs-replacing/

Figure 3B: Photo of a moldy bassoon reed. Username r/bassoon. 2021. Reddit. Accessed September 10th, 2025. https://www.reddit.com/r/bassoon/comments/tbcspz/is_this_mold_and_is_it_safe_to_play_on_this_reed/#lightbox

Figure 3C: Photo fo a chipped oboe reed. Username BaconBurgerBae. 2022. Reddit. Accessed September 16th 2025. https://www.reddit.com/r/oboe/comments/xg8svi/ebay_seller_complete_with_a_likenew_medium_reed/