 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-08-08 23:05
I just had my Oboe serviced; however, I noticed that now I cannot easily slur up to the C#. I can tongue the note without trouble and all the other high notes slur up easily (D and above)-only the C# is troublesome. The b key was lowered to bring down the C# pitch - could this be the problem or something else?
Suggestions?
Mark
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-08 23:19
Check the amount of movement in the LH1 fingerplate and adjust it until the C# speaks easily (depends if you lift off completely or roll down to uncover the aperture), and check the diamond aperture in the centre to be sure it's clear of any muck. Also check the low C key lowers the RH2 (middle) fingerplate but doesn't fully close it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-08-09 00:25
The whole half-hole thing has always puzzled me.
Always, and on all oboes I've played on, I have had more luck not half-holing at all but simply just lifting my left-hand index finger.
My diamond has been opened by my teacher over 20 years ago: he just stuck in a screw-driver, because the notes were not responsive enough. I have found that doing this on my 1921 Pan-American also made the notes (middle D and High D ranges) less windy.
I still use the half-hole (roll the finger) just out of habit. When the notes don't behave well enough, I lift the finger completely.
Naturally, the advice Chris P gave is very important for all fragments of the instrument's range. There might also be an adjustment screw for the height of the left-hand index plate. Keeping it close to the instrument might help.
Best of luck!
Robin
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-08-09 01:34
Chris,
Thanks, Oboe back in adjustment.
I just needed to adjust key between F# and E - it needed to be slightly tightened and I adjusted the C key which was very very slightly tight I used cigarette paper and did the adjustments. No need to adjust B key.
Mark
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-08-09 01:41
Robin,
I have been taught not to roll the finger or to lift it up- but to slide it up and down to ensure a clear tone and efficiency of movement.
Diamonds can be made smaller with wax as well as larger. Each adjustment has its own consequences for the upper register especially for the Eb and D (for Marigaux oboes).
Mark
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2010-08-09 07:38
I have tried all possible adjustments, including those mentioned above, and yet still today i have trouble getting my high Eb to speak reliably unless slurred to...and i have also tried all sorts of fingerings...strangely, all other notes above and below work perfectly fine...any ideas?
Howard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-08-09 13:06
Howard,
Your Oboe most probably needs to be tuned/adjusted by a another/different repair person.
I had my High Eb adjusted by modifying the diamond - in my case using wax to modify the opening.
It depends upon the quirks of the make of the Oboe.
Mark
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-08-09 14:37
I have found that these notes (which rely on harmonics) are not dependable, and this is true for all Lorees and Yamahas I have played on. I can't say much for other brands as I was not yet good enough when I played on them, but I played 1st flute band parts as written (no octave transposition) in the army, so I'm very comfortable in the very high register. ![[D6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/d6.gif) to ![[G#6]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/ab6.gif)
Depending on the reed and the weather, always changing in Ottawa and Montreal, I'll sometimes add the 1st or 3rd octave key (never both). No, I can't give any guidelines except to do a good warm-up before playing so you can figure out which are needed at that particular hour.
At any rate, those notes are best played with the ears and feeling in the lips rather than the fingers as the harmonics can be very sharp or flat in comparison to the lower notes: the fingerings are just meant to facilitate them playing at all.
Best of luck!
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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