A roundup of reed instruments around the world: featuring not only wind instruments but also keyboard instruments.
When it comes to reed instruments, clarinet, saxophone, and oboe are famous examples—but do you know what a reed actually is?
A reed is a thin piece of material—often made of wood—that forms one part of an instrument.
Reed instruments produce a wide range of timbres by vibrating this reed.
Reed instruments can be broadly categorized into several types, such as single-reed, double-reed, and free-reed.
In this article, we’ll introduce reed instruments by each of these categories.
In addition to instruments that originated overseas, we’ll also feature traditional Japanese instruments that have been used since ancient times.
Enjoy!
- A comprehensive list of instruments that shine in wind bands, introduced by category
- Masterpieces for flute. Recommended pieces where the flute shines.
- Masterpieces you’ll want to play on the harmonica. Popular songs that look cool if you can play them.
- [Saxophone] Recommended practice songs for saxophone beginners: Famous tunes you’ll want to try playing
- A collection of video game music I want to perform in a wind ensemble
- Famous Clarinetists of the World — From Classical to Jazz
- The Profound Allure of the Saxophone: Iconic Songs Featuring Saxophone [2026]
- Harmonica masterpieces: world-class performances you should hear at least once
- [Music-themed Educational Toys] A roundup of toys that let you enjoy sounds
- Perfect for free selections and concert programs! Introducing famous and classic favorites in wind ensemble music.
- I want to play it on the recorder! Carefully selected classic pieces and popular songs recommended
- [Japanese-style Piano Pieces] A selection of recommended works with a pleasantly Japanese flavor
- [Accordion] Stylish and Unforgettable Once You Hear Them: Famous Songs from Around the World
Free lead (1–10)
Accordion
The origin of the accordion can be traced back to the Chinese sheng, the world’s first free-reed instrument.
It is said that the technique of producing sound using free reeds was brought back from China to Europe in the 18th century.
There are various theories about the actual inventor, and there are many different types of accordions, but in Japan the most common is the piano-style accordion with a keyboard like a piano.
The typical image is pressing the keys with the right hand while pushing and pulling, and using the left hand to expand and contract the bellows to produce sound.
A prominent feature of the accordion is that a single performer can handle both the main melody and the accompaniment.
If it has buttons on the left-hand side, you can add accompaniment using bass notes and chords.
It’s also an instrument with a remarkably wide range of possibilities thanks to its tone switches, and it thrives not only in folk music but also in pop, jazz, enka, classical music, and more.
So if you learn to play the accordion, you might just become the star attraction at all kinds of concerts!
In conclusion
We’ve introduced reed instruments from around the world, grouped into three types: single-reed, double-reed, and free-reed.
Hopefully this has deepened your understanding of reed instruments.
Each type produces sound in a different way and has its own unique timbre, so try exploring to find the instrument whose tone you like best.