If you aren’t planning to learn reedmaking now or anytime in the near future, the best thing you can do is learn how to scrape the reeds that you do buy.

To do that, you’ve got to know the parts of a reed.

Here’s a very simple diagram that will make it clear if you are just starting out.

Get the Oboe Reed Diagram

Feel free to pass it on to anyone that can use it 🙂

For the advanced players, just having a simple chart like this where you can put a big red X over the areas you need to keep your knife away from can be a good reminder.

I’ve solved many a reed problem by just remembering the basics.