What are the two different types of reeds?

Answer 1

Assuming that you are being general (and not looking for different types as in synthetic or natural materials);

There are three kinds of reeds, according to musicologists. These are single reeds, double reeds and lip-reeds.

The third category is really a made-up one to describe cup mouthpieces where the vibrating element is the player's lips.

Single reeds need something to beat against, so they are mounted on a mouthpiece, usually made of hard plastic or rubber (sometimes metal), where the single reed lies against a shaped hole with a flat edge. The edge has an angle to it so that there is more room for the tip of the reed to move than for the middle, and the reed is usually held in place at the back third by a 'ligature', usually an adjustable band designed for the purpose. Single reed instruments include the Clarinet and Saxophone families.

Doublereeds are so-called because they are formed of two pieces of reed which are held together with wires or bindings or both. Usually, double reeds are mounted on the end of a pipe, called a bocal or staple. The player's mouth surrounds both reeds in the normal case, and the reeds beat against each other. Double reed instruments include the Oboe, English Horn and Bassoon families.

Historic wind instruments using double reeds existed in which the reeds were not touched by the player's lips (krummhorn, rauchepfeife, etc.) In this case, a chamber made from a removeable cap which fitted over the reed and had a hole to allow the player to provide air would act like the windchest in an organ. Because the reed wasn't available for the player's lips to affect them, they tended to have less emotional range than lipped-double reeds. This technique was also used in organ stops and small 'regal' organs (regal for their being able to be 'regulated'.)

There is one class of instrument which uses both single and double reeds: the bagpipe. The chanter (melody pipe) of the bagpipe usually uses a double-reed, while the chanters (drones) use a single reed, interestingly made by slitting a solid tube of cane. This provides a piece separated at one end which vibrates, and the remainder of the tube, which forms the 'mouthpiece' against which it beats.

Answer 2

Assuming you're referring to woodwinds, not organ patches...

You have single reeds and double reeds. Singles are used by saxaphone players and clarinet players. Double reeds are used by oboe players and bassoon players.

Sources: I'm with the band.