Step # 1 Oboe Reed Adjustments (No tools Necessary)

The oboe reed is the most important aspect of oboe performance.  It is important for oboists to find the proper reed strength.  Most beginning students play a soft or medium soft reed.  Most intermediate students (2nd year players) use a medium soft or medium reed.  Most advanced students (3rd and fourth year players) use a medium or medium hard reed.  The oboe reed is very delicate and is constantly changing from the reed being soaked and being dried from day-to-day.  The following are some tips on important reed adjustments with no tools necessary.  Sometimes a small adjustment of the oboe reed can result in a major improvement in the resistance of the reed and the overall sound of the reed in the low, middle, and high registers

 

# 1

When purchasing a new oboe reed it is important to soak the reed for at least five minutes before buzzing or crowing the reed.  Some players put the reed in their mouth, others dip the reed into water and sit the reed down on a safe surface, and others fill a small vial of water and soak their reed from the tip to the thread.

 

# 2

As the reed soaks up the water, the shape of the reed expands and opens up.  With some reeds the opening at the tip swells too much and with other reeds the opening at the tip is too closed.  There should be a crescent shape to the tip opening.  If the blades are too closed the opening looks flat, will produce a sharp pitch, and will be difficult to move the air through the reed.  If the opening is too large is looks rounded, will play  a flat pitch, and the player will feel a push back of air (like trying to blow up a small balloon that does not want to inflate).

 

# 3

If the reed is too closed after proper soaking simply open up the tip of the reed by gently opening the sides of the sides of the blades one side at a time.  Place your first finger along one side of the blades and repeat the same on the other side of the blades.  DO NOT SQUEEZE  BOTH THE SIDES OF THE BLADES AT THE SAME TIME WITH YOUR FIRST FINGER AND THUMB.  This will crack the blades, and you will have to purchase another oboe reed.

 

# 4

 

Often a new reed will open up too much requiring one to manually close down the reed just above the thread.  Be sure the reed is well-soaked (at least five minutes) when you close down the blades.   Just above the thread use your first finger and thumb on the flat portion of the blades (not the sides of the blades) and squeeze the tip opening closed so that both blades are touching at the tip of the reed.  Hold down both blades for twenty seconds.  You may have to repeat this process more than once to move the tip to a crescent shape.  If the blades are too closed open the tip by using your first finger to gently open the sides of the blades one side at a time as outlined above.

 

# 5

You can adjust the pitch of your reed by finding the “sweet spot” on the reed that produces the best sound.  Play the note “G” (second line of the treble clef) on your oboe .   Remove your reed from the oboe and buzz using  just your reed the exact same pitch (“G”).  When you can match this pitch, you have found the “sweet spot.”  For most players they need to pull the reed farther out of their mouth to buzz the correct pitch (“G”).  Play the note “G” on your oboe having found the “sweet spot.”  You will hear the reed vibrating to its maximum potential, the pitch better in tune, and the quality of sound more pleasing.

 

# 6

When playing the oboe in a small or large ensemble, it is very important to play in tune with a good sound.  Endurance is always a challenge on the oboe; thus, performing on a good reed with the proper resistance is of major importance.  With more daily practice with reed adjustment you will become more comfortable adjusting your reed.  Remember to always soak your reed for five minutes before adjusting your reed and always gently open the sides of the reed when making adjustments.  Small adjustments on your oboe reed often results in major improvements in your oboe sound.   Good luck!

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