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Glite Dictionary
free-reed

free-reed

1 9.1
A thin metal tongue that vibrates in a slot to make sound in harmonicas or accordions
  • noun
  • /friː-riːd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : caña libre
  • The free-reed design allows for a unique sound.

Examples

  • Many harmonicas use a free-reed mechanism.

  • The harmonica uses a free reed that vibrates to produce sound when air passes through.

  • An accordion creates sound when air flows over its free-reed mechanisms.

  • Most Asian mouth organs, such as the sheng, also use free-reed technology to produce musical tones.

  • The harmonica is a free-reed instrument widely used in blues, folk, and classical music.

  • In the accordion, a free reed allows for a rich and vibrant musical tone.

  • Many traditional folk instruments feature a free reed design for enhanced expressiveness.

Synonyms

vibrating reed
vsfree-reed
  • Specialized
5.8

A thin stiff strip that makes sound when air moves through it in instruments like clarinets

vibrates through a slot without sealing airflow and not by air passing over

Surface Forms

free-reed singular
free-reeds plural

Morphology

free-reed = free + reed (transparent) = free + reed

The compound 'free-reed' is a literal combination of 'free' + 'reed' meaning a reed that vibrates freely, which learners can infer from the parts.

Etymology

Free-reed is a simple descriptive name made from free and reed, where free means 'able to move' and reed is the thin strip that vibrates in wind instruments. It names a reed that vibrates 'freely' through a slot without sealing it, which is exactly how harmonicas and accordions make sound.