Author: vboboe
Date: 2007-04-01 21:44
... OK ohsusan, glad you clarified right 4th finger as covering D tonehole, as i think many of us count our index as 1st finger, so your 4th is our 3rd (ring finger) -- and left ring finger also has a tendency to wander off the G tone hole, so ditto, any leak there also affects getting low notes
I find giving the oboe a slightly firmer squeeze with all fingers generally covers the low tone holes better (but i will also readily admit i've had to restore the right Eb key a couple of times because it's been bent a bit low, so don't squeeze too hard!)
Ashley91489
The reed -- is is MOIST enough? If it seems stiff just getting started maybe it needs a bit more wetting through, is the colour bright or does it still look a bit pale and dull?
Is it too wet? If over-soaked it'll be swollen and stiff, the aperture will probably be gaping quite wide, blow dry it in your mouth awhile, blow softly from the cork end, or just air dry it a short time
If it's moist enough, is the reed warm enough? A cold wet reed is a whiny thing, doesn't feel cosy enough to mellow out, so warm it up on long tones & scales, etc.
Is the reed RESPONSIVE enough or is it actually a bit too hard for you? If it seems more like work to blow it, needs a bit more fining down for your embouchure as it is just now
Make sure your oboe is warmed up enough, a cold oboe doesn't do gorgeous chocolate fudge in the basement
What's the air temperature around you when you're having trouble with your low notes? Are you, the player, physically warm enough yourself?
I find that if my fingers are feeling too cool and dry they just don't seem to cover the tone holes as well as when they're nice and warm and ever so slightly moist
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