Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-15 17:09
It's only since I started playing oboe again that I've been aware of tuning up top - obviously on clarinet the top notes need to be lipped up, but I was doing this on oboe for notes above high C#, and though I thought they were in tune, they were way sharp. That's what comes with playing in big bands where the brass really push up the tuning, and we all have to end up playing in tune with them otherwise it sounds like crap. But that's brass (esp. trumpet) players - everything HAS to be higher, louder, faster than the next one for them - they should realise it's not a competition, and none of us are impressed.
So since starting oboe lessons and having a player as a teacher I could practice tuning these top notes while she played an octave or a 5th or 6th lower so I could tune my top notes so the intervals sounded right.
But I do practice top notes with a tuner to be sure how little or much pressure I need to use to pitch the top notes - but when I practice away from a tuner, if it sounds in tune to me, chances are I'm going sharp, so I lip the top notes down.
Though this is alright if I'm playing with piano accompaniment - but in bands if I'm stuck in front of the trumpets, which is usually the case, they won't be tuning down to pitch when they play up high, and as there's more of them blasting away oblivious to the fact they're sharp, I usually end up having to play at their pitch (and most of the time I can't hear myself so I can't tell if I'm in tune or not). Then you get flute players going sharp up top as well, and clarinet players going flat, and sax or string players with no fixed pitch centre!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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