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Pad adjustments

Author: Craig Matovich
Date: 2007-04-11 15:47

I think 'hautbois' gave very good info about adjusting the oboe around forked-f and the d keys.

This is tricky stuff at first but important for intermediate and more advanced players to learn.

I had the pleasure to attend the Mack oboe camp in 1981 and Pat McFarland gave an oboe adjustment class. I have not feared doing it since then and have gotten the oboe and ehorn back in top playing order when needed ever since.

McFarland made an intersting point about the small tone hole adjustments... he said to leave them very slightly looser then the bigger companion keys, such as the small pads above a and g... and also for the low e and d adjustment of the f pad.

In other words, he felt equal tension using a sliver of cigarrette paper as a feeler guage indicated the small pads were over adjusted. He also suggested after the class we go back and practice adjusting the oboe from scratch about ten times. I did that and it really reenforced his lesson plus made me very aware of the intricate relationships between both neighboring keywork and the complex things related to more distant keys affecting other parts of the oboe.

I have found his guidance about the very slightly looser adjustment for small tone holes really helps, especially for playability below low e.

I mean, a stuffy d or e becomes more lively when I loosen the b-flat or c small pads on the top joint. Suction test still passes fine.

Post Edited (2007-04-11 15:50)

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