 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboeobo
Date: 2010-10-24 15:47
Hello everyone!
Need some reed advice from the experts here. Recently my reeds have been crowing a nice C or C# with the lips on the thread, yet the pitch has been significantly flat. Now, whenever I do a crow in the playing position, my reeds crow an Ab or so. Is there a correlation there, and if so how do I fix it? This is drving me bonkers!
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-10-24 16:10
I am little confused. Please explain problem again.
Are you saying the reed crows C and when you play the pitch is flat?
Is this a new problem with the same oboe with all other variables being constant?
Mark
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Author: oboeobo
Date: 2010-10-24 16:32
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. The reed crows in tune to sharp and the reed plays flat!
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2010-10-24 16:55
Can you post a backlit picture of your reed, please?
Thanks,
J.
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Author: borris
Date: 2010-10-24 17:03
There is no direct relation between the crow and overall pitch. The pitch also largely depends on:
The length of the reed
The width of the shape
The amount you take the reed into the mouth
The climate conditions
The elevation of your place
The quality (density, texture, age, etc) of the cane
Post Edited (2010-10-24 17:15)
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Author: HautboisJJ
Date: 2010-10-24 18:10
I truly believe in a playing position that is more a B natural and C# and above for the 2nd octave notes and above. See if that changes anything.
Regards,
Howard
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2010-10-24 23:02
Is the reed too open?
Sometimes a very open reed will play flat. If it is too open - squeeze it shut with the plaque between the blades and make the opening narrower.
Mark
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Author: oboeobo
Date: 2010-10-25 00:57
How can I raise the pitch of the reed in playing position? I have tried more definition between the tip and heart, but this had a minimal effect! I will work on finding a camera if you think that will help!
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2010-10-25 06:46
Quote:
I will work on finding a camera if you think that will help!
It will certainly speed up the diagnosis. If you can do close-up with your phone-camera, that should be good enough (try a bit of zoom). Use some sort of fixture to prevent camera shake.
J.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-10-25 06:59
In addition to what has been said above, here are some other factors:
length of reeds (too long generally equals flat)
lack of support could cause them to be flat
reed is too thin (so taking more out of the reed generally makes it flatter)
If the reed plays well, but is just flat, clipping the reed is normally my answer, and works for me (just had to do this with an English horn reed last week). Just remember to clip in very, very small amounts, so you don't overdo it. Also, read this guide by Martin Schuring, professor of oboe at Arizona State. It's a great guide, and I've never found any of it not to work!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: rgombine
Date: 2010-11-18 16:41
Although I too await a back lit picture . . .
Is it correct to assume that you play on a typical american scrape -- i.e. a thin tip with an inverted v at its base, followed by a thick heart and slightly thinner back?
Try taking a little bit less out of the back on your next reed -- especially in the "window" area behind the heart. While scraping these areas enhance lower frequency vibrations and can contribute to a darker sound, they can also cause sagging pitch if taken too far.
Just a thought. Good luck!
Ross
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-11-21 13:48
Well, the specifics of a "good" crow sound will very different from one person to another --- let alone the reed making style that gets you there --- so I'll only mention what I think should be standard to everyone.
My own reeds crow much lower than the theoretical C-C#, but Ab is definitely trouble! It should not be a length problem (regardless of the scraping type) but rather a problem in the balance with how the reed is tied and scraped. CLIMATE might also be an issue..... if your reeds open way too much, pinching will help (wire, if you're in the habit), but there might be no hope. Otherwise, you'll be biting a lot and compensating for tuning where the reed is the problem.
A crow is successful for me when it remains consistent from blowing very softly to very loudly. That is, I crow my reeds with long tones with the thread between my lips. If the crow changes while doing crescendo/decresendo:
- adds/removes an octave
- pich goes up or down
- gets smoother/coarser
then the reed might play very well, but become unstable at those (in)famous 1st octave key notes.
To fix this requires a careful study of the individual reed - each will be different. This assumes that the reed is already pretty good.
I have noticed that longer reeds are harder to manage BUT I have a few very long oboe d'amore reeds that play very well in my oboe: thing is, the length outside of the instrument is much shorter than that of an actual oboe reed. I am now experimenting with much shorter staples and longer cane.
Best of luck.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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