Topmusicanswers
If it's still too open, gently squeeze the sides of the string with pliers. 2. If the opening is okay and it's still too hard, put a plaque between the blades and lightly scrape the reed all over, starting at the tip, then heart, then back. ... The reed is undoubtedly being pinched shut with a tight embouchure.
- How do I make my oboe reed more closed?
- Why do my oboe reeds keep cracking?
- How do you tell if your oboe reed is broken?
How do I make my oboe reed more closed?
Soak the reed well and, with the plaque inserted, squeeze just behind the tip gently, holding the reed between your thumb and index finger. Once you're pretty sure it won't crack, squeeze harder. Then, gradually squeeze a little closer to the string. Finally, squeeze as hard and as close to the string as you dare.
Why do my oboe reeds keep cracking?
The vibrating blades of the reed create the sound. The vibrations travel through the air and are interpreted by the ear as sound. The sound is then amplified by the instrument body when it is placed in the oboe. Since the reed is so thin it can easily chip or crack from even slight trauma.
How do you tell if your oboe reed is broken?
If the wood is tinted black on either the inside or the outside of the reed! If two blades are so closed that you have to squeeze it open to see through the reed! If one of the blades has cracked and the double reed has become a triple reed!
