 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: lucyw
Date: 2006-06-05 16:50
I've been playing the oboe for almost a year and recently I've had a strange thing happen. I'll be playing and get a weird bubble/vibrato sound (completely awful!). It seems to happen mostly when I'm playing the second line G. Is this something that I'm doing wrong with the reed, or water somewhere in the horn or what? Thanks for any help.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-06-05 16:56
The reed aperture could be too narrow causing the bubbling.
What make of oboe are you playing? Some East European oboes have a large top joint bore which can also contribute to this bubbling sound in the low register.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: lucyw
Date: 2006-06-05 17:05
I'm playing a Buffet. It doesn't happen consistently, it happens randomly, so I don't think that it's the oboe. I think that it's me - or moisture?
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2006-06-06 02:09
Well, when it does it to me, it's also on the high G, but sometimes on the high A, and if I take it apart and swab out the top joint real good, it fixes it. So, yeah, "moisture".
Also, using too much spit in an attempt to keep the reed moist while playing sometimes leads to blobs of spit in the reed itself, which makes weird gurgling noises. Try sucking in a bit, see if it goes away.
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Author: oboemelli
Date: 2006-06-12 12:44
This often happens when you have been playing for a while. Just clean it out.
Mel
"People imagine they can reach one another. In reality they only pass each other by"- Schubert.
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Author: vboboe
Date: 2006-06-14 05:04
... moisture problems and gurgly bubblies = oboe's usually on the cold side and hot moist breath is meeting cold instrument = rapid condensation buildup = gurgly and bubbly noises, elementary but commonly overlooked
... my gurglies happen mostly at basic F vent during cold wet weather = that's where my blow power fades out down the pipe at the moment (long-term goal is to be able to blow firmly enough to exit the bell all the time, lungs need building up to that task)
... when oboe's 'hot' enough, it keeps itself dry by evaporation
... reed is too wet inside, take out of oboe and suck it dry cork end, not too hard, if suck it while inside oboe, sound is magnified, ugly
... keyhole pad is wet, blot on single layer of silk swob (or cigarette paper if you use that ill-favored item nowadays) several times, may need to draw swob over the wet hole inside too, always down the pipe to the bell
... warming up oboe -- prewarm with body first until oboe no longer feels cold, then blow firmly and quite forcefully through several times, all keys closed, no reed, then play long tone warmups, mid register only, keep octaves closed until upper joint nice and warm, then do upper register work
...if G is your moisture trap, try blowing more firmly down the pipe when you play
... and lastly, but most important, is the cork end of your reed pushed right into the bottom of the aperture? Is the lower cork end in good condition, not missing a tiny piece that will reduce a good seal? Spit will collect in any gap there and produce some weird noises in the upper register
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Author: lucyw
Date: 2006-07-15 16:14
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to help. I've been much more careful about warming up the oboe before I begin playing, watching for moisture build-up in the upper joint, and water build-up in the inside of the reed. As a result, the problem has almost completely disappeared. I'm also working to learn to play through the horn.
Thanks for all of this. I love playing the oboe. I think that all oboe players are just blessed. What a joy to play such a wonderful instrument.
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