 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Schell
Date: 2007-08-23 00:08
Does anyone know what causes a reed to be hard and flat or weak and sharp? Both scenarios obviously render the reed hopeless but I was wondering if there is something I am doing early on that causes these problems and/or if there is anything I can do to remedy the situation... Anything helps,
thanks
ashle
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Author: hautbois
Date: 2007-08-23 01:02
Max -- there are so many possible variables at work here that it would be difficult to identify the particular source of your problems. I am certain that the other Boarders will contribute their insights. Let's just start at the beginning by looking at the cane you are using. Is it all from the same batch, and are you selecting the pieces yourself for gauging? That initial selection process can make a difference. Some cane is inherently hard and some soft (often detectable by the tightness of the fibers, sometimes the color, and how the cane curls off in the gauging process), and some pieces have a natural opening (measured with a radius gauge on the tube cane) which is larger or smaller. A wider opening will produce a flatter reed than one which is otherwise made the same but has a smaller opening. If you can describe your supply of cane, then maybe one of the Boarders can work with that information to help you further.
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Author: Schell
Date: 2007-08-23 01:27
Thanks,
just to clarify- when I mentioned hardness I did not mean hardness of the cane, but actual difficulty in creating sound.
The cane I'm using is Rigotti, and no I'm not gouging it myself, so I have no control over the initial selection process.
once again, anything helps,
thanks
ashle
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Author: JRJINSA
Date: 2007-08-23 13:37
For me, not sure if this applies to everyone, but here's what I observe:
When a reed gets older and nice and broken in, it be comes more "closed" and much easier to blow. It's a great feeling playing the oboe with ease like this, but.... even though it's nice and easy and takes hardly any effort, it's *sharp*. Get out that tuner and check it. Time to get a new reed...it may take some effort to blow but using the abs and breathing right makes it easier and it maintains a good pitch. Unless the reed is too long, I don't generally have a problem with playing flat. Sharp seems to be the problem and it's usually the fault of an *old reed." Beware of biting, too. Work on a totally relaxed, rounded, embouchure just to the point of no air leaking.
Hope this helps you.
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2007-08-23 23:17
generally, poor cane will give you both of those characteristics. Usually, that means cane that is too soft, or too hard.
If you remove too much cane out of the heart or back, that can also give you hard+flat/soft+sharp, depending on the cane.
To remedy that, it's always best to remove too little cane, and then have to remove more, than be stuck clipping an over-scraped reed.
For "early on" remedies, I would suggest that you *just* remove the bark from the areas of the reed where it will need to go anyway. Then, start at the very end of the tip and work your way back. Work only the end of the tip for a bit, then move further down to loosen the reed even more. Then go back to the end. Keep moving further back until the reed is loose enough to play, then go back to the end again.
This way, you avoid removing too much cane from the heart or back.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2007-08-24 05:08
What kind of gouge are you using? Or what are they gouging on? I've said it before... and I know I sound like a broken record, but I believe the gouge accounts for very large percentage of how reeds turn out. A good gouge can cover bad quality cane, bad scrape, etc.
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