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Re: low notes - attack

Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2011-11-04 14:55

Mark,

I find the reeds with the smaller tip openings tend to be more reliable for low volume low-range playing. So I like 10.5 - 11 mm tube cane for that.

Reeds that play with my embouchure further out on the tip also work best down there. That means the reed cannot be flat or you will take in more reed and lose the subtle tip control.

Very thin extreme tips work best for me down there, too.

A good oboe friend here in Colorado switched to the Chudnow staples with the o-rings and is convinced they help his low range low vol control. He says he can blow harder and still get softer with a fuller tone. His explanation is the extra resistance imparted from the staple causes the effect. It seems a little counter-intuitive, but makes sense when I observe my friend demonstrate it. I have not tried those myself, yet.

I used to believe there were good 1st oboe reeds and different good 2nd oboe reeds, but no longer approach them that way. It may be true the 2nd player does not go as high as 1st, but not true the 1st never goes as low as the 2nd.

A playing demand for the response you desire applied during the reed refinement process makes that a requirement rather than an unpredictable lucky outcome.

Playing drives... <pp -- p -- mf -- f --mf -- p -- pp>, articulating 8 - 9 notes on each pitch, and descending chromatically, say from low g down to low Bb is one way to improve these things. It will place physical demands on you and the reed and is something I do every day as part of the warmup. Then its also a good reed test for finishing the reed.

-Craig

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