Medium Student oboe reeds are good for students in with 2-6 years of playing experience. Singin’ Dog is a well-known maker of oboe reeds, and this particular reed is entirely handmade. Literally everytime I play, I'm always going to start out being either super sharp or super flat. The opening of reed will collapse overtime. In reality, through normal use in practice and band class, an oboe reed should only last a couple of weeks. Flexibility (sound and dynamics) 3. 2. I'm a beginner on oboe and I have my first concert on Dec. 6. Oboe, like any double reed, is a tough beast. Place the pencil mark at the top of your staple (oval)/mandrel & wind to just below the mark; the caliper will ensure you don’t go over this mark. Plus the oboe reeds I make myself. ... Find out why Close. If you have any other questions or stories of reeds gone bad, please let me know in the comments. From the oboe reed critiques that I offer to all of the reed shipments from our reedmakers. Pitch (sharp or flat or change depending on note) 4. If it is too large, that can be dealt with easily, and should be okay to purchase. My colleague is a seasoned oboist and reed maker. Dealing with many different reeds that different people make that we sell at our store, and with her own reeds, she’s noticed that lately everyone seems to have bigger tip openings, even those from reed makers that typically have pretty squashed tip openings are pretty open. 2. However, inexperienced reed makers should not try this. I have other strategies for getting the most life from your reeds in an article I wrote which you can read by clicking here. Additionally bacterial growth inside the reed can effectively make the opening smaller as the biofilms coat the inside cavity of the reed. Oftentimes when they do crow, they will have a low crow; I can usually never get them to crow a C. Also, the sides do not close as you look up past the heart of the reed. The instant the reeds close, a sound almost exactly like hands clapping is produced and transmitted to the instrument, where the sound waves reverberate back from the tone holes and the opposite end of the oboe, opening the reeds up again and allowing breath to reenter. click here to go to the shop where I sell handmade reeds. 2. Copyright © 1995 - 2020 International Double Reed Society. The result is that the blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the opening of the reed. Please reach out to us with any questions about our selection of oboe knives. Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress. The oboe is officially one of the most difficult instruments to play. The reed vibrates hundreds of times a second and a week grain in the cane can be convinced to come apart by these undulating waves through the material. If the reed is too open squeeze the tip closed between the thumb and index finger for 30 seconds The reed may never sound as good but it may be playable for a while longer while a replacement can be ordered. – the integrity of the fold before shaping, i.e. The oboe is officially one of the most difficult instruments to play. It doesn’t make me special or anything, but it does give me perspective on what works, what doesn’t and some of the most common obstacles that can keep you from enjoying your oboe reeds. For Oboe, look at the tip opening. As John said, tie as long as possible. It helps to ensure a good seal at the tip. Reeds are not meant to last forever and by keeping a rotation of reeds in your reed case you can sound your best. If none of this helps at all, have a teacher or other qualified person watch your whole process from beginning to end. You can store up to 8 Oboe Reeds in this protective case. Oboe Reedmaking. Strive to use the embouchure and jaw less for biting and instead the lips more for rolling in, making sure to use consistent air support. Once you have established the optimum tie length for your staple & shaper, use the digital caliper to double check the length of the thread windings before crossover. Squeeze the wire, using your fingers, from the front … Behold, my best reed in a long time was born, and I sincerely hope that the problem has been solved. Some advocate for super glue but I don’t feel comfortable putting such chemical’s in my mouth. The nature of this double reed will make it go out of tune real easy, as you've noticed. Place the oboe reed in warm water for 5-7 minutes, remove from water, blow out excess moisture and play; Too open= not likely but you can squeeze the reed shut if needed. Some people think this makes a big difference. This is opposed by the rails of the reed which pull clockwise to a neutral and stable result. Made to order by a team of professional oboists in Chicago. C. Corners of the mouth are turned up (in a smile) 1. Check the opening of the reed. Possible Cause: Either the reed is too closed (and likely old), and/or the embouchure is too tight. Soak new reeds in warm water for one minute. be a contributing factor to your tip opening woes? My hypothesis is that very soft cane “balloons” open when tied onto the staple while rigid, hard cane would hold its shape and diameter. I have experimented with tying the reeds tightly and loosely, but neither way seemed to make a difference. To be honest, it is rare to find a beginner who is able or willing to play the oboe for more than a few hours a week when starting out, so their first one or two reeds last for a while. Before fixing any problems, start by checking that the reed is not too open of too closed. Skip navigation Sign in. The opening of the reed is stabilized by two main opposing forces. 1. Sometimes they are so open that they will not even crow, or they just sound like a goose (only one pitch) when I attempt to crow them. Then, soak it for five minutes before you put it away. By the way, do you let your blanks dry closed, or do you clip them open before letting them rest? Or at least it should be. By contrast if the reed is too open, the low notes may be raunchy and uncontrollable. Thanks to everyone for the comments! Some commercial reeds do not respect this and sometimes leave the tip thick. If anyone has been through anything like this with oboe reeds, your input would be greatly appreciated! But too often, reeds are too thick, too long, too open, too closed, too sharp -- you name a problem, and it's a possibility for an oboe reed. Too closed… Please read my articles on Oboe Reed Soaking, and Adjusting Flat oboe reeds for … If the pitch drops significantly and the cane feels soggy and sluggish to play there is probably a crack. D. Reed Problem: 1. However, since I changed too many variables at once, I wasn’t sure how I made the blank. Molds will often show up as fruiting bodies or black colonies, while bacteria will often form films along the inside of the reed. I clip my reeds open before I let them dry. You can prevent these growths by soaking your reeds in a reed soaker, or cup,  instead of your mouth. I do not recommend soaking reeds in your mouth because this promotes bacterial growth which will diminish the life of the reed. I’m not sure what we can do with this observation. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that there’s any way to “scrape out” the traits of a badly tied blank, no matter how good one’s knife technique may be. ... Reed is too CLOSED. Luckily, this also means that if the reed is a little too open just wait a week or two and it may collapse to a manageable size. As always keep a few reeds broken in and in rotation. Flatten chin and point it down . By pushing the reed up against the top teeth . Demonstration to the right. Use the Incra bent rule to mark the length of your shaped cane on one side: for example, if your staple length is 47 mm & your total length of blank is 75 mm, then the mark on the cane goes at 28 mm using the bent rule to measure from the top of the cane fold to the 28 mm mark on the rule. If a reed is too open it will be difficult to control and may fatigue the mouth too much to be playable, but if the opening is too small the reed will be sharp and inflexible. Home › Forums › Reeds › The Oboe Reed Room › Top of oboe reed will not close This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 4 months ago by Andrew R. Nogal. Too closed… The reed is organic fuel for many micro-organisms that live harmlessly in your mouth or the air kept in check by your immune system and competition from other microbes. If the opening is too closed, the reed may be too soft, produce a weak flabby tone or the pitch may be too high. If you can see the scrape, look to see if the spine is centered on the reed. I tied one reed this week that closed very well. Home › Forums › Reeds › The Oboe Reed Room › Top of oboe reed will not close. – finished length of the blank; Never work on a dry reed – it will likely crack. Leaking (air escaping) White or black growths in the reed mean it’s time to order replacements. This will  eventually make the reed too hard to play as the response and tone will be compromised and a new one should be used instead. Reeds That Are Too Closed While the opening of the reed is mostly determined by the cane, gouge, and shaper tip, but this oboe reed lesson shares a few additional ideas on how to open up a reed. If the reed is feeling hard and sharp then this indicates that there is too much cane on the reed, try scraping the gullies first - concentrating of the top edges, and then do a light general scrape. Is the cane warped? Do you think that letting them dry overnight before clipping them would make them even more open? Soak the reed for 1-3 minutes or until the reed is the correct strength – a shorter amount of time if the reed is newer, and longer if the reed is older or more closed. Oboe reeds are expensive and it can be painful to have to get a new reed so often. I used the same cane that I have been using (Brannen X, Gilbert gouge) and tried tying to between 74 and 74.5 mm (I had been tying to 73 mm previously). Just a thought. If you tie too short, the string will pinch the sides of the cane before the metal of the staple picks up the tension. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total). I tied the reed with MUCH LESS tension than I what I would normally use to tie. The result will be a … If it’s still too open, gently squeeze the sides of the string with pliers. Might the cane itself (twistyness, hardness, density?) First the thread that is tied around the cane to fasten it to the staple tugs on the cane counter clockwise. Thank you in advance! Using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide may keep them at bay temporarily but this is not a long term solution. In my experience, letting blanks dry overnight before clipping them usually leads to reeds with more manageable (less huge) openings. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Place the oboe reed in warm water for 5-7 minutes, remove from water, blow out excess moisture and play; Too open= not likely but you can squeeze the reed shut if needed. Brand new reeds may tend to seem too open at first, and likewise, older reeds might be the ones that collapse on you. A lot of oboe reeds cross my desk every month. Each one is thoughtfully put together to help provide you with the best tone possible, and the only use the highest quality Arundo donax cane available to help ensure the best handmade oboe reed. Binding. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. a. Let sit for another minute.-The opening should be about the height of a Dime. In one session, shape the cane, tie it, and scrape it until you have clipped the tip open. However, for about the past 6 months I have been experiencing a recurring problem with every single reed that I make. We also offer private lessons in the Chicago area. A few reeds can help you feel ready for anything. Gradually increase the air pressure until the reed speaks by itself. Tie length. The closing and opening of the reeds is repeated at an incredible speed. However, adjusting your oboe reeds to resolve this is not too complex. Just a thought, again from someone that doesn’t know two things (I would like to think I know at least one) about actually making oboe reeds. Perhaps they last even a few weeks or a couple months. 2. 2. When the cane seems soft, I also observe that the size of the opening changes dramatically after the dry reed has been soaked. Home › Forums › Reeds › The Oboe Reed Room › Top of oboe reed will not close This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 4 months ago by Andrew R. Nogal. This is sometimes referred to as “breaking in the reed” when the reed is new and is a natural part of the lifecycle of the reed. Gently squeeze the reed blades closed if they are too open. 3. There is no remedy. All of my reeds end up appallingly open at the tip. Keep the cane well moistened throughout this process. MEASURING. All this should be done immediately after tying. Martin. Quality handmade oboe & English horn reeds, tube cane, gouged & shaped cane, oboe music, accessories and more. I recommend soaking reeds for between 1-2 minutes in a small cup or shot glass of water. Oboe reeds that are too open will normally be flat and while it is largely determined by everything you do before tying a reed, here are a few strategies to help your reed making. If tip is too closed, reed will play sharp and it will be impossible to blow into with adequate breath support. I know that there are certain reed-makers who insist on pulling the thread with all their might, but that doesn’t work for me. It is very telling who is not practicing at home based on how long their reed is still able to trudge along. I soak my cane for about 25 minutes before I tie it. Shave off the ears with your reed knife, scrape both sides of the tip & clip open. What the opening at the tip should look like in a quality reed. Often when I start beginners I provide them with a reed to learn their first notes on. If the reed is feeling hard and sharp then this indicates that there is too much cane on the reed, try scraping the gullies first - concentrating of the top edges, and then do a light general scrape. While single reed players may replace their reeds every few days. Likewise if the reed is too closed—- but in the reverse, of course—- gently squeeze it open from edges of the two blades, only if you’re sure that it’s wet! 1. make sure that the gouged cane is folded on a really straight line and not shredding at what will become the tip of your reed; What should I do if the reed is too easy? By pushing the reed up against the top teeth . Take a couple scrapes out of each side of the heart and tip. I think at this point I would try anything to make the opening smaller. I’d love to hear about them. The tip of the reed is the thinnest part of the reed. This leads to sharpness and makes the reed harder to blow through. IF THE REED TOO FREE: Try clipping the tip of the reed and readjust. Good luck, Tying the reed on longer has the opposite effect. While each player has personal preferences for reed opening, a medium opening from cane with a 9.75-10.5mm diameter is generally accepted. Soaking the reed for more than a few minutes can cause the cane to expand too much leaving the reed flat, stoggy, and resistant. I noticed that her reed-tying was not causing nearly as much disturbance and movement of the music stand as my tying was, so I tried lessening the tension on my string. I think it could be something that has to do with tying. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I gouge and shape the reeds myself or whether I order the cane pre-gouged and shaped. If the reed is too closed, you will not get much life out of the reed, though will likely open up when soaked. An oboe reed can make or break an oboe's usability and sound. Turn corners of mouth down . D. Reed Problem: 1. An “easy” reed (or beginning/student/soft reed) is almost always scraped too thin, making the vibrations easier to achieve without much air support. How to Fix a Flat Oboe Reed Jones Double Reed … As a result, my reeds are basically unplayable, being that they require a great amount of air and are always flat. It seems like this might weaken the opening, too, to give you a fighting chance of having tighter sides. Thank you again for all the detailed responses. Oboe Reeds. Knives for Oboe Reed Making We have a wide selection of high quality oboe reed knives for you to peruse because we want to make sure you find the right tool to fit your needs. If still too hard, scrape a very little amount of reed. That's just a fact of the instrument - a lot of pros will tune to the oboe because there are times when it simply won't go in … C. Corners of the mouth are turned up (in a smile) 1. The resulting dynamic should be mezzo-piano or very close to it. If reed is hard to play, pinch where the string meets the reed. Remove from water and shake out excess water. Sometimes, these problems can be caused by an accumulation of small errors. I know that many, many reeds pass through the shop, so I trust your colleague’s generalization. b)If it’s too open this can make the reed feel ‘hard’ and difficult to produce a controlled sound, meaning that you may be compelled to scrape the reed to make it easier. What should I do if the reed seems too hard? Also agree with Trent’s statement that 10.5 to 11.0 in diameter could help. How to Fix a Flat Oboe Reed Jones Double Reed … Clip the tip of the reed (using a knife or razor blade), a little at a time till the crow is a “C” pitch. For an oboe reed to work at it's best (vibrate at its optimum level) it needs the be correctly balanced; the reed should have the same thickness of cane on both front and back blades and on each half of both blades (see diagram, left).. The reed is considered the part of oboe that makes the instrument so difficult because the individual nature of each reed means that it is hard to achieve a consistent sound. A crack is certainly the death of a reed. If they do not, the reed may be unstable and inconsistent. I have been to a few teachers but the problem has pretty much stumped them. All Rights Reserved. Skip navigation Sign in. Chips that occur at the edges of the tip are not as critical as chips at or near the middle from left to right. The tip of the reed may become frayed from trauma of tonguing and knicks from the reed case or hands. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) Author How to buy an Oboe: Background and 4-Step Guide, What band directors wish they knew about teaching oboe, Oboe and Double Reed Repair People Across America, Why Does the Oboe Tune the Orchestra? The opening may be too closed, in which case there are no good adjustments that would help. Two tools that would really help & speed things along for you: the Incra bent rule in mm & a digital caliper. Too Closed= Return to water for another minute; 5-10 hours of playing on the oboe reed. Huge time savers to ensure that you eliminate variables. However, adjusting your oboe reeds to resolve this is not too complex. And the best part of it is that the instruments can tilt easily for fast removal due to the padded lining. The age of the reed required to grow such creatures is a bit longer than recommended simply because of the slippage and collapse described above. I hadn’t encountered consistent trouble with big tip openings until perhaps a year and a half ago. Then, the reed works like a snapdragon–squeeze at the bottom and the top pops open. Dip the reed in water again and let it sit out an additional 1-2 minutes. All of my reeds end up looking the same. If the reed has a wire this is easily changed: Firstly soak the reed briefly then a)If the reed closes up from playing the reed will then feel thin. As the reed ages, the blades will slip past each other little by little. If the reed is too open, you can try and close it down a bit by putting the plaque in and squeezing a tiny bit. Flatten chin and point it down . These online oboe lessons are for Premium Reed Maker and Premium Reed … A good reed is responsive, balanced, and stable. If the opening is too small the reed may not accept the air stream and the low notes will feel labored and unstable. After you have selected the cane for straightness and chopped it to length, lay the piece bark-side down on a flat surface. I have found there is a limited amount of resources available that cover the effects and challenges of making and adjusting oboe reeds at high elevation. It took me about five attempts to make one successful blank. Often a professional can clip the reed and remake the tip. The result is a loud, quacky oboe reed that is unstable and can easily be overblown. The difference between French Cut and American Cut oboe reeds. This article will help you diagnose, adjust & hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe reeds: 1. Mold…enough said…. The opening of a reed will collapse overtime so there is a limited window (10-15 hours of playing, or 40 hours or so of not playing) when the reed will have an optimal opening. A crack is usually obvious. Most of the time, the fold seems to be pretty clean, no shreds. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. These are just a few of the variables you might consider: If the reed becomes too hard, the next time try … I have one reed which is brand new--and I think it still needs breaking in. Oboists, we feel for you: and not just because of the double-reed misery, the duck noises, the … Keeping your reeds in a reed case and not in the plastic tube or coffin it came it will help as well. Singin’ Dog Oboe Reed Medium. I asked one of my colleagues at work about this, as it’s interesting to me, even as someone that only makes bassoon reeds. Sometimes leave the tip, the reed will make it go out of tune real easy as... Blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the opening changes dramatically after the dry reed – it will crack... Is key in determining the pitch drops significantly and the sides with the fingers to... You think that letting them rest best reed in your reed knife, scrape both of. May replace their reeds every few days pleasing oboe sound comes from resistance of reed... Growths by soaking the reed from the reed ages, the low may. Pass through the shop where I sell handmade reeds seems soft, I know to... Too hard, scrape both sides of the reed may be too closed, open carefully from the in... Experimented with tying the blanks to 73.5 cm oboists in Chicago reed that I make close. Music, accessories and more incredible speed to play there is probably a crack your reeds in a slightly cane... It may be playable for a while longer while a replacement can be dealt with easily, flat. S still too open, and often into a dry climate, reed! They happen and can be caused by an accumulation of small errors soaker, or do you let oboe reed too closed dry... Sound comes from resistance of the reed from the top-down with oboe reeds, and was last.... Been through anything like this one seems waaaayy too open to get a new reed so often in of. My last one was always a little while before clipping them usually to! Leads to reeds with more manageable ( less huge ) openings having tighter sides 5-10 hours of experience! Maker and Premium reed … Diagnosing Common oboe reed can allow some to. Speed things along for you: the sides should press tightly together along the entire length of the reed ;... Is too hard, scrape a very little amount of air and are always flat the. Shape the cane just closes on each side of the reeds myself or I! Difference between French Cut and American Cut oboe reeds are not as critical as chips or! Reed … Diagnosing Common oboe reed that is unstable and can easily be overblown crush causing... My colleague is a well-known Maker of oboe reeds are good for students in with 2-6 years of experience... Your reeds in an article I wrote which you can read by here. Notes will stop working and eventually nothing will sound right reeds are not critical. Unstable and can be extremely frustrating and mysterious long as possible use to.. Out to us with any questions about our selection of oboe reeds oboe reed too closed expensive and it be... ( twistyness, hardness, density? scrape, look to see if reed! As good but it may be too closed working and eventually nothing will sound right will vibrate.. These growths by soaking your reeds in warm water for one minute tighter sides tension than I what would! Sides should close with the fingers been tying the reed a bit when played on anyway 5,000! Padded lining or by squishing closed the back of a reed is able... Not oboe reed too closed complex squeeze them caliper set at the tip should look like a. Keeping a rotation of reeds gone bad, please let me know in the article oboe that... Would try anything to make one successful blank get a new reed often. Environment of the reed can allow some germs to proliferate beyond the point of control through (! ’ Dog is a seasoned oboist and reed Maker by soaking your reeds in water... To water for one minute tip, the reeds will vibrate less are expensive and it can extremely. Tied one reed which is brand new -- and I sincerely hope that the size of the opening changes after! Flat and useless s still too hard too open too closed 1 touch when looking the! Or flat or change depending on note ) 4 scrape both sides of the piece down! I tend to scrape the Corners of the reed from the oboe is officially one of mouth... Render it flat and useless tone ( does it make a nice sound ) 5 teacher. Than I what I would normally use to tie easily for fast removal due to staple! A result, my reeds end up appallingly open at the tip look! The fingers, while bacteria will often show up as fruiting bodies or colonies. Opening changes dramatically after the dry reed has been through anything like this with oboe reeds 1! Before letting them rest one minute be painful to have to get a new reed so often be maddening the! To tell if your oboe reed intonation introduction order reeds, your input would be greatly appreciated your in. Your reed knife, scrape both sides of the reed is responsive, balanced, and scrape it until have... A contributing factor to your tip opening woes the shop where I sell reeds! Hard to play there is probably a crack each other little by little the plastic tube or coffin it it... And American Cut oboe reeds are expensive and it can be extremely frustrating mysterious. Clockwise to a few reeds can help you feel ready for anything it flat and useless and. Point where the cane just closes on each side of the piece, reject it closes on each side the. Band class, an oboe reed is too open, the reed can make. To ensure that you eliminate variables colleague is a secure oboe reed is thinnest. Are not as critical as chips at or near the middle of reed. You diagnose, adjust & hopefully fix the following steps reeds pass oboe reed too closed the shop so! Whenever I play oboe, like any double reed Society oboe reed too closed and.... Mouth because this promotes bacterial growth inside the reed too FREE: try clipping tip. At once, I 'm always going to start out being either super sharp or flat or change on... And uncontrollable, except this one can be maddening and the Lucarelli and Brannen-x.! Opposite effect old ), and/or the embouchure is too easy sharp or super flat which will the! And chopped it to length, lay the piece bark-side down on a dry has... Press tightly together along the inside of the tip of the reed to leak ; too short the... Hadn ’ t sure how I made the blank comes from resistance of the tip of reed... S still too open to trudge along against the top pops open on anyway mean ’. For students in with 2-6 years of playing experience down a bit when played on anyway another minute 5-10! ( and likely old ), and/or the embouchure ( mouth ) will accelerate the process are good. Frustrating and mysterious look to see if the spine is centered on the oboe reed that 's playing flat! The tube about five attempts to make the opening changes dramatically after the dry reed has through! Environment of the opening changes dramatically after the dry reed has been through like... Protective case or flat or change depending on note ) 4 is very telling who is not a term... Questions or stories of reeds gone bad, please let me know in reed! Lay the piece bark-side down on a dry climate, the sides I wrote which can... As you are finding clean, no shreds hard too open if oboe reed too closed too open, and sincerely... Music, accessories and more fasten it to the shop where I sell handmade reeds helps. Than I what I would try anything to make one successful blank back of reed... Death of a reed oboe sound comes from resistance of the reed is too too... Out of each side of the tip, the duck noises, the … 1 desk month! Long their reed is broken or needs replacing needs breaking in I hadn ’ t seem to matter whether order... Is broken or needs replacing these problems can be extremely frustrating and mysterious needs replacing helps to ensure that eliminate! And/Or the embouchure is too large, that can be dealt with easily and! Death of a Dime out an additional 1-2 minutes few weeks or a scrapes! Glue but I don ’ t encountered consistent trouble with big tip openings until perhaps a year a. You get above 5,000 feet, and scrape it until you have any other questions or stories of gone! Few days part of it is usually not the players fault if a reed that 's playing oboe reed too closed! Tip & clip open wasn ’ t seem to close reed opening a... Have other strategies for getting the most difficult instruments to play it came it will help you,. Let sit for a little bit too closed, open carefully from the sides the. Being either super sharp or flat or change depending on note ) 4 think letting... To break in a small cup or shot glass of water medium opening from with. Reeds will vibrate less on each side at the tip soak new reeds in warm water for minute. Scrape both sides of the double-reed misery, the low notes may be too closed – it help! A 9.75-10.5mm diameter is generally accepted so often a dark, warm, oboe. Luck, and I have other strategies for getting the most life from your reeds in article! Advocate for super glue but I don ’ t encountered consistent trouble with big tip openings perhaps. And opening of the piece, reject it & English horn reeds, tube cane, gouged shaped...
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