 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Iain
Date: 2004-07-03 09:41
I have recently taken up the oboe again after some 20 years. I purchased a 2nd hand Selmer oboe (conservatoire fingering system). Although the fingering is coming back slowly, the instrument seems to play slightly sharp. Can anyone give me any advice as to what might be the cause?
Thank you.
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Author: Marielle
Date: 2004-07-03 11:55
Try pulling your reed out a bit. You probably just have it pushed in too far.
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Author: Marielle
Date: 2004-07-03 12:03
Actually, I take that back. Ignore that. I just read another post and now I feel stupid.
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Author: Oboe
Date: 2004-07-03 16:12
Maybe try and make sure that your embouchure is nice and loose...that would help, make sure you aren't pinching the reed really tight with your mouth.
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Author: Amanda
Date: 2004-07-03 19:05
Is it your oboe or your reed? Try different reeds, and see what happens. If it is your reed, there are some remedies. First of all, it may be too short. If you're experienced in adjusting reeds, try scraping some wood off the back of it. The opening of the reed may also be pinched, and there's not much you can do about this. You CAN pull the reed out a bit, but as I said before, that's not really a viable solution.
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Author: the_oboist
Date: 2004-07-03 20:29
I have always played sharp and found that using a different reed like Amanda suggested really helps. You might still need to work on your embouchure but the right reed will make it easier to play in tune.
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Author: Brilliance
Date: 2004-07-04 17:11
It could very well be the instrument. However, this may not be likely since you have not played in a very long time and your embouchure isn't as developed as it originally was. DO NOT EVER PULL THE REED OUT! Oboe is an instrument that relies on your embouchure, reed, and instrument. The reed should always be all the way in.
-Brilliance
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Author: dboe
Date: 2004-07-05 02:51
to Iain and Amanda,
If you are playing on an in tune reed, and you are playing sharp, you are probably biting the reed. Make sure your jaw is nice and low, that you make a deep "O" vowel sound with your mouth as you play. If you try that and it sounds a bit honky, try making your air move faster, and that should remedy the problem. You should play the oboe with LIPS ONLY -no teeth! If you use your teeth, you will bite the reed, and choke the sound. and as Brilliance said: DON'T EVER PULL THE REED OUT! You absolutely can't! The oboe is conical, and if you altered the contact between the bottom of the reed and the start of the oboe bore, you would completely mess up the tuning. It's not an "option" to pull your reed out.
Anyways, it's very possible that your reed is slightly sharp, but this isn't such a big deal as you have to lip down to get the pitch right, and this actually makes the tone slightly more resonant. Not something I would always do, but in the event that your reed is sharp, it's nice to have the strength to lip down. However I really would suggest to first "crow" the reed to make sure it crows an in-tune "C". Put your lips at the string and blow: you should hear the reed produce a C. If it's in tune, then you have to adjust your embouchure to make the reed play in tune, not pull in or out.
dboe
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