OBOE
Embouchure
The key components to playing in tune on the oboe are a great embouchure and a good reed.
1) Place the tip of the reed on the center of your bottom lip. Roll your bottom lip slightly to cover your bottom teeth. 2) Cover your upper teeth with your upper lip, and lightly form a seal around the reed. Do not use so much pressure that you are biting the reed! 3) Pretend like you have a British accent, and hold the facial expression after saying the phrase "no oboe." This will bring the corners of your mouth forward, bring your chin down, separate your jaw, and lower your tongue. 4) Pressure should be coming from all sides of them mouth, allowing all blades of the reeds to be able to vibrate freely. NOTE: When forming the seal, make sure to leave your jaw still, and bring your upper lip down. Open your mouth to breathe without undoing the embouchure. Reseal your lips around the reed, and blow a fast, narrow stream of air. |
Reed Crow
The reed is just as important as the embouchure when it comes to tone production and intonation. Check the quality of a reed by its "crow." After soaking a reed in water for a few minutes, form an oboe embouchure, and put the reed into your mouth up to the cork. (NOTE: this is not a typical embouchure, but this will ensure that the reed is not being pinched at all). Slowly begin to blow air through the reed, and let the pressure build up. A good crow will begin with a higher sound followed by an addition of a lower sound. A high quality reed should crow a C or slightly higher.
Tuning Procedure
Temperature affects intonation dramatically so it is important warm up your oboe before tuning it. When the instrument is about room temperature (72 degrees Fahrenheit), it is time to tune the oboe.
1) Play the following exercises at a mezzo forte dynamic. Playing any louder or quieter may distort the pitch. 2) Play Tuning Exercise #1 several times. Sustain the final B-flat, and check your pitch with a tuner. It should be slightly sharp. 3) Play Tuning Exercise #2. Depending on the fingering you choose for the final sustained F, the result will vary. Using the forked F fingering will cause the pitch to be slightly sharp. Using the standard fingering will cause the pitch to be slightly flat. 4) If you do not see these results on the tuner, it is most likely an embouchure issue. See the chart below for possible solutions! |
Stable Tuning Note
Factors Affecting Pitch
To see the specific pitch tendencies and solutions for the oboe, click here: