The Oboe The oboe is a soprano-range, double-reed woodwind instrument of length 62 cm. Its wooden tube is distinguished by a conical bore expanding at the end into a flaring bell. The modern oboe's range extends from the B-flat below middle C (B3-flat) to the A nearly three octaves higher (A6). Sounding a fifth below the oboe is the English horn and the bass member of this family is the bassoon. A melodic instrument capable of very gentle, expressive passages, the instrument is yet said to take a large air pressure to play. Although the range of pressure between the softest and loudest sounds is said to be larger than other woodwinds, careful control of the pressure on the reed is necessary with some embouchure adjustments to play each note in tune.

Traditionally made from African Blackwood, also called grenadilla, the instrument is made in three parts. The top joint has 10 or 11 holes, most of which are manipulated by the player's left hand. The bottom joint also has 10 holes, for most of which the player uses the right hand. The bell section has two holes, covered with keys, which are not often used by the player. Oboes are still hand made by expert craftsmen who are very secretive about the dimensions, size of aperture, etc. used in the construction. The double reed is fashioned from cane which is grown on the east coast of Spain or the south of France, which is usually dried and aged for several years. The careful fashioning of the double reed is a key part of getting a fine musical sound from the instrument.

The English Horn

The English horn is a woodwind instrument of the oboe family, sounding a fifth lower than the oboe. It is normally played by the third oboist in modern symphony orchestras. It has a range from E3 below middle C upwards for about two-and-a-half octaves. Its slightly conical bore usually ends in a bulbous-shaped bell. A transposing instrument, the modern English horn sounds a fifth lower than written.

The Oboe Reed

The double reed of the oboe is fashioned from cane which is grown on the east coast of Spain or the south of France, which is usually dried and aged for several years. The careful fashioning of the double reed is a key part of getting a fine musical sound from the instrument. This is an example of the "American reed" design. Reed example courtesy Liz McKeown.