 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Kathryn
Date: 2001-05-17 02:53
I have been playing the oboe for two years now but at times my low notes(E-C) stutter to come out, also when playing high notes (C and up). Is there anything I can do to prevent this other than long tones? I have always played with my top teeth touching the reed. My teacher just told me that's wrong and to play with both my lips pulled in. Will playing with my teeth affect my playing that much? I'm having a hard time playing with my top lip rolled in.
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Author: SaxyBoy
Date: 2001-05-18 03:31
It makes quite a difference. For most single reed instruments(ie.sax, clarinet) you can get away with your teeth touching, however to support a good robust sound the double turned in lip seems to work better. With and oboe, though, you've got a double reed, which means that playing with teeth is a no-no because you cannnot control the upper piece of cane with only teeth, you must create a seal with your lips and the air stream has to be quite a bit faster.
SaxyBoy
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Author: SaxyBoy
Date: 2001-05-18 03:33
to add to the previous, have your front lip slightly over the bottom lip.
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2001-05-25 23:29
Wow I didn't know you could play oboe like that! I'll have to go try it! Anyway my advice would be first and foremost not to do that. (If you have a saxophone around, try playing it with the teeth touching the reed as well as the top of the mouthpiece. Hoy boy.) Second, as far as the low notes are concerned, you may find that slightly drawing the reed out of your mouth and playing a little more on the tip on low tones will help in attack and control. Also don't be afraid to blow down THROUGH the horn as you play them. A lot of the time, fear of them cracking leads to people not supporting them enough, when ironically because those tones are generated with almost the entire length of the tube, MORE air is needed than ever.
For your high notes I'm not sure what to tell you except maybe blowing faster through the instrument. Most of the time people have no trouble getting out the high notes, it's getting them under control and in tune that's the trick. Biting down too much on the reed might also cause the high notes to be reluctant to sound. As a former single reed player, the tendancy for you may be to bite down as you climb up the register. However on the oboe, all this does for the most part is choke (literally) the reed. What I have done in the past is to start on the notes A-C (the ones requiring the 2nd octave key) except in the middle register. I then move up the scale, increasing the speed of my air flow while trying to rely as little as I can on changes in embourcure to keep the sound under control. Do this rapidly at first, and the high A-C should stay relatively in tune with proper air support and a decent reed. Then move up the scale as before more and more slowly until you can do it in long tones with all the notes in tune. Air and consistency of embourcure are the key! Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
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Author: saxy Boy
Date: 2001-06-02 03:42
I myself am an third year oboe and sax player in the university band in my province. Prior to this, I had played oboe and 2 saxophones for 7 years in my school band. A supported sound is of most importance. The embouchoure you(kathryn) described was one that a beginner would probably use just to get the feel of the instrument, because in my opinion I wouldn't feel like playing for two years just not to get a sound. For any instrument it's all common sense. If it sounds muffled or unclear, you're doing something wrong.
1. Check if the instrument has any leaks, and for oboe check if the levers are aligned, and also your fingerings.
2. Check pitch with a "in tune" instrument.
3. Adjust your embouchure the most comfortable YET making the most pleasing sound you can to those around you.
After that you may consult these somewhat rigid but flexible rules:
1. Make sure the reed isn't in your mouth further than 1/2 a centimetre( Past the bump in the reed)
2. Check your emboucure. your top lip should SLIGHTLY overlap your bottom lip(1-2mm)
3. Finally create a tight seal with your mouth around the reed.
As with most instruments you have to develop a feel for the amount of air needed the positions and the fingerings. This is a basic for any musician.
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Author: Lizzie McGuire
Date: 2002-01-19 06:23
Oboes are annoying and squeaky. My friend plays oboe, and no matter how good you are, and what finerings you use, it'll always sound squeaky to me.
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Author: Torus Tubarius
Date: 2002-05-18 14:50
Umm... I think you should actually listen to some GOOD oboists before drawing a conclusion like that. I seriously doubt anyone could say that John Mack or Marcel Tabuteau ever sounded "sqeaky".
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