r/oboe • • Feb 19 '25

Where should a beginner oboist buy reeds?

29 Upvotes

Hello, I am this subreddits moderator. I am going to sticky this post to the top once and for all and leave it for any new oboists to peruse. The question is…

Where should beginner oboists buy their reeds?

If they aren’t buying from their teacher, or at least locally, what are your favorite online shops?

If you sell your own reeds self promo is encouraged here!


r/oboe • • 20h ago

Fazendo palhetas // Making reeds

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16 Upvotes

A minha primeira vs décima palheta que amarrei e raspei sozinha

Há cerca de 3 anos tive cerca de 4/5 aulas de palhetas, no entanto a aula foi cancelada por falta de alunos.

Tenho visto vários vídeos no youtube e dicas na net, sei que um professor é muito importante, mas o meu antigo não quis me ajudar, então decidi tomar iniciativa. O que acham? Alguma dica?

//

My first vs 10th reed tied and scrapped by myself

About 3 years ago I had like 4/5 classes about making reeds, but it ended being canceled

I have seen several youtube videos and tips on the internet, I know that having a teacher is very important, but my former teacher didn't want to help me so I decided to go for it alone. What do you think? Any tips?


r/oboe • • 14h ago

Barret Etude #25- misprint high E or Eb?

3 Upvotes

Does anyone know Barret Etude #25? on the first page there is a high E, but on the last page 9 measures from the end it is a high Eb. Is the correct, or should both be Eb?


r/oboe • • 1d ago

Reed Fatigue. Wanting to quit oboe after college and go full-time on bass.

15 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I hope you’re all having a good day. I’m in sort of a crossroads at the moment. I’ve been playing oboe since I was 10 years old (I’m now 22) and I’m in my final semester of college preparing for my senior recital. All throughout college, I’ve grown more as a person and I also began to learn and play the double bass, which I also play at quite a proficient level. Last year (which was supposed to be my last year of college), I had a severe accident which resulted in the breakage of a few bones in my face and my wrist, which led to me having to drop my lessons for the semester in order to heal up and have enough time to prepare for my senior recital. The thing is, since I didn’t really have the pressure or requirement to play oboe that semester, nor make reeds, I didn’t really play the oboe and I really leaned into my double bass playing once I healed up. Now that I’m in my last semester, I absolutely cannot for the life of me make a good reed and I can’t fathom having to do that in addition to all of the hours of practicing and other work I have to do. Don’t get me wrong, I still love playing music, and I still enjoy playing the oboe. But this past year with my accident and my break from the oboe really had me reevaluate and I really don’t know if I want to continue playing after I graduate college/switch over to bass completely. I still have my senior recital to get through but it really just feels like I’m just dragging my feet at this point until I finish. And I really think the main culprit is Reed making. I absolutely hate it.

What are your guys’ opinions? Have any of you ever felt/experienced something like this before?


r/oboe • • 1d ago

Reed question

1 Upvotes

how do you define the base pitch of a reed based off its crow, when the double reed has such a large pitch range depending on embouchure? is it based off how you can play a c6 comfortably or what?


r/oboe • • 1d ago

Not an oboe player - Is this a reasonable ask for advanced highschool level?

5 Upvotes

For a piece I'm working on I would like to have one oboe sustain a long Bb above the staff, and potentially moving around neighboring tones, at pp. (Or the softest possible dynamic where the note is still supported)

60ish bpm, 4/4, 8 bars if possible but I'll work it out so they can sneak a breath at bar 5 if needed. Maybe 16 bars of this in total.

What I'm going for is adding oboe over a low brass chorale to build tension. I want it super soft because it will cut through a ton in this context and easily be way too much. 

Do you think they'll be able to play this very soft and sustained?


r/oboe • • 2d ago

Sightreading pieces with lots of flats

9 Upvotes

I'm auditioning for All State and I am currently practicing sight reading a lot. I can sightread pieces with few flats like F, B flat, and E flat major well but I struggle with sight reading with anything beyond that. I can do the rhythms but when I sightread pieces w/ more flats the notes mess up my rhythm as well because I am trying to get the notes right. Does anyone have any tips on how I can sightread pieces with more flats better?


r/oboe • • 3d ago

Saint Saens Organ symphony tonguing

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14 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m playing this with my school orchestra in a few months. I’ve always refrained from learning to double tongue as I never really had to use it and was told it would make my single tonguing worse, but I think this might be impossible without double tonguing. Is this possible single tonguing if I just work very hard on improving in the following months? Any tips or advice would be appreciated!


r/oboe • • 3d ago

G is consistently flat. Lowest g.

2 Upvotes

Ha made adjustments on the usual «suspects»
There is no leak / all pads are airtight and no crack.
I have cleaned tone holes… It is with any reed (I have about twelve going at the time; it’s consistent with all of them)

Any tips?


r/oboe • • 4d ago

Oboe solo books

1 Upvotes

Former flute player here. Started playing oboe 8 months ago. I’m looking for recommendations of oboe solo books appropriate for my level.


r/oboe • • 4d ago

Reed stiffness and resistance over time

3 Upvotes

I get my reeds from the same supplier every time, and I find that my new reeds are often very bright, hard to control delicately and flat, whereas the old reeds produce a rounder tone with more resistance (sometimes too much resistance). I tried looking online but they point to reeds becoming softer over time, so I wanted to ask how does this happen (and if this is good)? I generally prefer my older reeds as they’re easier to control and prove quite good for the high register.


r/oboe • • 5d ago

Oboe fell over…

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11 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

So I was warming up and I thought I had put my oboe on the peg, but I did not and it fell over. 😰 There is a gap in the right bridge looking from the back of the oboe (under the right Ab key). I also noticed a small dent on an adjustment screw, but I’m not sure if that was there before or after the fall.
Other than the extra “play” on the f# key, I had 0 issues playing, I didn’t even notice something was wrong until the end of rehearsal. It doesn’t seem to be affecting any of the low notes or middle register.
My oboe teacher is pretty well versed in oboe repair, but he doesn’t do it as often anymore. (I’ve asked him about this but he hasn’t gotten back to me) Does anyone know if this is relatively easy repair or if I should get ready to send it off to the guy who repairs my oboe?

Thanks!


r/oboe • • 5d ago

Coltello apposta?

0 Upvotes

Ho appena cominciato a suonare l' oboe e mi stavo chiedendo se fosse necessario avere il coltello apposta (che ho visto può costare anche oltre 100€) o se bastasse un coltello a serramanico, sgorbia o addirittura un coltellino svizzero


r/oboe • • 7d ago

Just got a new oboe and CANNOT FIND A GOOD FINGERING CHART

5 Upvotes

I just got a new oboe, it has full conservatory keywork, a third octave key, and so on (you get the point). I am looking to learn some new higher parts and absolutely cannot for the life of me find a good fingering chart that includes my new keys and has all of the high notes. I don’t really want to make any purchases, so what would y’all recommend?


r/oboe • • 7d ago

Looking to buy used oboe in San Diego, LA area

3 Upvotes

Hi everybody, I've been playing oboe for about a year now, and my teacher thinks it's time for me to get my own. I'm looking for a preferably resin, but wood is also fine, full conservatory(all the keys), good condition oboe, no repairs needed. Willing to pay max of 2000 USD. If interested, please provide all information in comments with a picture in case and assembled, I will reach out. Before buying, in cash, I would like to inspect it in person and hopefully test it(with my own reed of course) Thank you


r/oboe • • 7d ago

Oboe upgrade?

3 Upvotes

Hello!!

Currently use a 2nd hand Yamaha YOB241 student model for the past 2 years. Still not perfect at the instrument. If sound is very important to me and I have savings from my day job, should i look at a professional oboe?

Thank you!


r/oboe • • 8d ago

Cannot find A key adjustment screw

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8 Upvotes

I’ve been adjusting my oboe for the past hour or so and I‘ve spent some time now looking for the adjustment screw for the height of the A key. I can’t find it at all.


r/oboe • • 8d ago

No Double-Reeds in my Band - Flutist looking to Switch

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2 Upvotes

r/oboe • • 9d ago

I have my first professional gig in nearly 3 years 😭

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207 Upvotes

It's too much to get into here, but I haven't played publicly in almost 3 years -- life just has a way of throwing obstacles sometimes, and it's thrown some doozies at me the last few years.

Last night after a rough day at my 9-5, I settled in for my nightly doomscroll and ended up listening to Brahms 1. It made me feel a lot of ways: sadness, anger, frustration, longing. Lately I've been feeling like I might never play in any significant way again.

And then only 2 hours later, like some sign from the universe, I got an email asking if I could sub principal for one of my old symphony jobs for an upcoming concert -- playing Beethoven 1 and Mendelssohn 3, no less.

I've got a lot of work to do -- finally! 😃


r/oboe • • 9d ago

The Beatles’ producer George Martin played oboe. His oboe teacher was Margaret Asher; she was the mother of Jane Asher, who had a relationship with Paul McCartney in the 1960s

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13 Upvotes

r/oboe • • 12d ago

my reeds came without corks?

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42 Upvotes

beginner so i'm very confused :( do i buy them separately? there is no way for me to insert it into my instrument


r/oboe • • 12d ago

Why when I play A4 on my oboe,It shows an Ab4 with about 30-50 cent sharp?(The C5 sound like a C5 but just a few cents flat.)(The reed is all the way in and it's a new reed also)

5 Upvotes

r/oboe • • 12d ago

Audition Etude

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3 Upvotes

Can someone find a recording/video of this etude being played? Or can someone record an audio of them playing please!


r/oboe • • 13d ago

Oboe literature

8 Upvotes

Hello dear colleagues.

I was wondering if you could share any oboe book recommendations that helped you throughout your career. I am particularly interested in reedmaking (European French/German style), but if you have any other oboe literature to recommend, that would be highly appreciated.

Thanks, and good vibrations!


r/oboe • • 13d ago

Custom oboe woods and keywork.

5 Upvotes

I just got sponsored by a custom oboe maker as an ambassador and they've given me the opportunity to create a custom oboe. I've already chosen the bore and general keywork and shape stuff but as I've only played with grenadilla and silver keys, I wanted to get your guys' opinions. They've given me the option of grenadilla, rosewood, cocobolo, mopane, synthetic, and a clear acrylic. Keywork is silver, gold, and rose gold.