Play the Oboe
An oboe looks similar to a clarinet, but it does not have a mouthpiece. Instead, it has a double reed. Although it is not easy to play, it has a beautiful and unique sound. Try this instrument out to get an idea if you like it, and then you can take lessons to learn to play it in a band.
Steps
- Allow your reed to soak in warm water for at least 3 minutes in a cup. Saliva is not good for reeds. Be careful not to soak the reed for too long because then it will be harder to play. While the reed soaks, grasp the bell of the instrument and attach it to the bottom of the main part of the instrument.
- Before the reed is inserted into the instrument, blow into it for a few seconds to get the spit/water out, make sure your lips are completely covering your teeth to prevent damage to the reed. Crowing it will help warm it up too: this is where you put the reed in your mouth, lips at the top of the string, and blow. After that, take the reed and insert it into the top of the main section of the instrument. Blow into the reed for a few seconds and follow that by a few short bursts of air.
- Place the reed in the center of your lower lip and roll your lip over your teeth so they are just covered. Close your lips around the reed. The tip of the reed is where you should place your lips. The tip of the reed is a little bit above the middle of it. It is thinner than the rest of the reed.
- If this is your first time playing the oboe, there is an exercise you can do to get used to the reed. Place the tip of your tongue over the opening of the reed. To blow, think of pronouncing the syllable "doo" (of course, with your lips still around the reed). If steps 6-8 are performed correctly, a high pitched note will come from the reed. If not, refer to those steps again.
- Continue by inserting the reed into the upper joint. Apply cork grease, if needed, though don't put too much on or the joints will slip off while you are playing. Obtain a fingering chart from a beginner's oboe book or on a trusted website. An easy note to start with is a middle A or B. For an A, put your right thumb underneath the thumb rest on the lower-half of the oboe. This hand does not push any keys. Your left hand goes on the upper-half of the oboe. The thumb rests on the wood, not the octave key, and the first two holes are covered.
- Get into a good position to play, as good posture is important for a good sound. Put your feet flat on the floor, a straight back and have your oboe facing outward, and away from your knees. The oboe should form an approximately 45 degree angle with your body.
- Place your left hand on the upper joint. Your index and middle fingers cover the first two keys that have holes. Make sure the holes are covered. Your thumb goes under the key that is on the back of the instrument, for now.
- When you're done playing, you will have some water condensed from your breath left in your instrument. Take a weighted swab and pull it through the the top and the middle joint sections of the oboe. The bell, as it as at the end, can look after itself. Then put everything back in your oboe case.
- And remember, the oboe isn't for everyone. You must tune with your mouth and reposition your mouth to get the proper sound.
Tips
- Get to know another oboist. It will be helpful to have someone who can act as a mentor if you are just starting out.
- Resist the temptation to buy plastic reeds. Although they are a lot sturdier than cane reeds, they produce inferior sound, cannot be easily manipulated, and will not help you develop a proper embouchure.
- Remember to place enough of the reed into your mouth, or the sound will be out of tune. But, you can't put a lot of the reed in your mouth either. A good rule of thumb is to place the very tip of the reed onto the line where your lip turns into skin. Roll your lips in, and take note of how much reed you have in your mouth. This is a good amount, and will help keep you in tune.
- Don't blow too hard or you may hear an unpleasant and harsh sound.
- When blowing, avoid tensing up your lips to avoid a muffled tone quality. Think of your lips as pillows rather than clamps.
- You won't be an oboe genius within 5 minutes of playing. Start with easier material, then gradually work your way up to more difficult material.
- Once you're confident with your abilities and if your teacher recommends it, join a local orchestra or band. It's great for experience, meeting other musicians and improving your playing skills by taking on more difficult pieces. Traditionally, oboes are in orchestras, so you'll likely be more suited toward that situation. However, oboes are in bands - so if a band is more your style, go for it!
- If you have trouble covering all of the holes on the keys with your fingers, small squares of duct tape can be applied to the keys to cover the holes. This is only a temporary solution, much like training-wheels on a bicycle.
- If you are serious about being an oboist, join your school's or community's band or orchestra. You should also find private instruction for personalized lessons.
- Warming up the instrument is mandatory if you are using a wooden oboe. If you're playing in a cold room without warming up, the wood may crack or (on rare occasions) cause irreplaceable damage such as exploding. Place the top joint of the oboe inside your jacket, hold it in your hands or in your underarms to warm the outside of the wood. This is the area most likely to crack.
- If a key is 'sticking,' take a dollar bill and press it under the key for a few seconds. Do not stick it under the keys and rub it; doing so will fray the pads.
- Never force your oboe together. Different temperatures cause the cork joints to swell. This is normal. Apply liberal amounts of cork grease until it slides easily together.
- If your oboe is consistently difficult to put together and take apart, you may have to file the corks slightly. 'Do not do this on your own. Instead, seek a professional.
- Buy a swab for your instrument to prevent it from becoming dirty and smelly. If you own a wooden oboe, swabbing is essential to avoid cracking, especially in cold or dry weather.
- Every few months, hand wash your swabs . Regular dish washing soap is fine.
- Consider buying reeds handmade by a professional. Most lesson teachers make their own reeds that provide much better tone than store-bought reeds.
- Relax when playing it. Don't put to much pressure on the keys or on the Reed.
- Be careful with the reed.
Warnings
- Be gentle with your reeds. They can break very easily, and they are much more expensive than reeds for instruments such as the alto saxophone or the clarinet (but they do wear out after a few months if used properly).
- If you have a wooden oboe, be sure warm it up with your hands in cold weather before playing, to reduce the risk of cracking. Oiling your oboe once every year or so will help, as well as keeping a small humidifier in the case.
- Do not play right after eating, as food residue and salts and sugars blown into your oboe can damage it. If you absolutely must, rinse your mouth out with water, or even better, brush your teeth first.
- Make sure the holes on the keys are covered completely. Otherwise, the wrong note or a very unpleasant sound may be produced.
- Never mess with the screws or rods unless you're a professional . If your instrument has a tight or loose key or a broken rod, take it to an instrument repair shop or a professional oboist.
- Never fiddle with the spring mechanisms, unless you are skillful in repairing oboes. If you feel any double-motion on any of the keys, contact someone skilled in the trade. It's also advised to make sure the person you contact is reliable. Like in any industry, there are those who aren't so skilled at what they do - and if you have an expensive instrument, you don't want it to be damaged further when it should be fixed.
- Unlike with some other instruments, taking at least a year of lessons is very important. The oboe cannot truly be learned from a method book, and attempting to do so will only hurt the ears of those around you! If taking lessons is out of your price range, you may want to consider another instrument.
- The oboe is a very difficult instrument to learn, and you may get frustrated at times. Power through!
- If you have a large swab, don't force it through the upper joint if it resists. Buy a smaller, separate swab if necessary. Turkey feathers are also commonly used for this.
- Avoid the temptation of soaking your reed in your saliva. Saliva tends to degrade the reed faster than water.
Things You'll Need
- An oboe
- An oboe reed, for example Jones medium soft+, available at your local music store, or materials and tools to make your own reeds (Warning: making reeds is a long and very complicated process and should not be attempted without proper instruction). Reeds made by another oboist (i.e. a teacher) are best.
- An unused pill bottle or a clean film canister (to hold water). Shot glasses are also quite useful, but they can break if dropped.
- A reed case (to protect your reeds from bouncing around in your oboe case)
- Cleaning swab made of cotton or silk (cotton is more effective, as it absorbs the saliva more effectively; however, some say it increases the risk of keys sticking)
- Cork grease, available at a music store (also mentioned above)
