 The Fingering Forum
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Author: LJ
Date: 2001-05-21 21:51
On my oboe, the forked "F" is VERY sharp, and sounds like an F#, however, the "squishy" "F", and the left "F", are perfectly in tune... Does anybody know why this is? Thanks a bunch.
LJ
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2001-05-26 06:51
Hmm now that's odd. Usually it's the other way around with the notes E and regular F tending to run a little sharp (E more than F) and the forked F sounding somewhat stuffy and a little under pitch, even with an F resonance key. I had one once that the ONLY WAY you could play an F was to fork it since playing it the other way led to a very unstable something between an F and an F#. And what's more no F resonance key on that one, so I had to use the Eb key to try and get it to sound right.
Anyway, I assume you've already tried lots of embourcure changes to get it in tune, so that would leave something mechanical messing with the pitch. Check and make sure no keys are opening that shouldn't be. I have a theory which you should check first.
When you look at the oboe, the little key immediately below the key you press with your index finger to make an F# should close when you touch either the E or the D key. When you touch F# and D together, it is the closing of that key immediately below the F# that actually makes the "forked" F. So it very well may be that this mechanism is out of adjustment and isn't closing the small key all the way. If you look at what is pushing the key down, you should see two small screws. The lower one is the one pushing the small key down when you push the D key. Turning the screw to the right will lengthen the screw and cause the mechanism to push the small key down further and thus fully closing the small key.
So first check and see if that's it. That would be consistent with what you say about it being fine with the other fingering since it is a different screw (the higher one of the two actuated by the E key) that is forcing the small key down to sound an F with both of those fingerings. If that ain't it, then I suppose it could be that some of the other keys aren't closing, but that would mess with other tones as well. If that isn't it, then I guess you just have a quirky oboe--just like some of the ones I've had! Good luck. Lemme know if you can fix it.
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Author: Mark Maass
Date: 2001-10-13 18:25
Well Aaron there are not that many pieces you need a forked f. You told that your oboe has got a left f key so you hardley ever need a forked f.
If this note is really out off tune you should have the e-resonance checked.
greetings Mark from Holland
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