Too Soft

• Area: Tip
• Tool: Trimmer
• Clip small amount. Test after each clip.

Buzzy or edgy

• Area: Tip
• Tool: Trimmer
• Clip small amount. Test after each clip.

Lack of resonance

• Area: 1 & 2
• Tool: Rush
• Balance.

Dull sound when playing softly

• Area: 1 & 2
• Tool: Rush
• Balance. Take more of both sides if still too hard.

Blows Hard

• Area: 2
• Tool: Rush
• Thin both sides and balance.

Lower register lacks resonance

• Area: 2
• Tool: Rush
• Balance and thin if necessary.

Tip too thick after clipping.

• Area: Underside of tip
• Tool: Sandpaper
• Lay sandpaper on glass and stroke lightly with grain on the flat table side of reed to about 3/8 of an inch back from tip.

Reed whistles

• Area: 2
• Tool: Rush
• Balance.

High tones difficult to attack

• Area: 2 & 1
• Tool: Rush
• Thin gradually with a light stroke.

Thin high register

• Area: 3
• Tool: Rush
• Test after each few strokes.

Lacks projection in upper register

• Area: 3
• Tool: Rush
• Move three back from the tip. This may shorten the life of the reed.

Lack of resonance in middle register

• Area: 4 & 3
• Tool: Rush
• Lightly on 3.

Heavy low register

• Area: 6
• Tool: scraping knife
• Finish with rush.

General lack of resonance

• Area: 7 & 8
• Tool: Sandpaper on glass
• Sand rails of reed if reed is too wide for the mouthpiece.

After balancing, reed plays well but blows hard

• Area: 6, 5, 4, 3
• Tool: Scraper
• Evenly thin all areas.

Table not flat

• Area: Table
• Tool: razor blade
• Stroke lightly towards the tip.

Table not smooth

• Area: Table
• Tool: Sandpaper on glass
• Rub lightly back and forth, always in the direction of the grain.