I have been making reeds for about 2 years. As the reed ages, the blades will slip past each other little by little. 1. Sometimes, these problems can be caused by an accumulation of small errors. Flatten chin and point it down . 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. I have experimented with tying the reeds tightly and loosely, but neither way seemed to make a difference. 1. Pitch (sharp or flat or change depending on note) 4. 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. – pulling too hard on the wrap thread while you’re tying the blank. I asked one of my colleagues at work about this, as it’s interesting to me, even as someone that only makes bassoon reeds. By pushing the reed up against the top teeth . You can store up to 8 Oboe Reeds in this protective case. 2. If the opening is too closed, the reed may be too soft, produce a weak flabby tone or the pitch may be too high. Try tying longer onto the staple to the point where the cane just closes on each side at the last wrap before crossover. If it’s still too open, gently squeeze the sides of the string with pliers. 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. If the reed becomes too hard, the next time try … Oboe Reeds. The oboe is officially one of the most difficult instruments to play. Binding. be a contributing factor to your tip opening woes? These online oboe lessons are for Premium Reed Maker and Premium Reed … 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. Then, soak it for five minutes before you put it away. In my experience, letting blanks dry overnight before clipping them usually leads to reeds with more manageable (less huge) openings. Turn corners of mouth down . 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. Just keep the caliper set at the staple length. Also agree with Trent’s statement that 10.5 to 11.0 in diameter could help. Slight variations in temperature, altitude, weather, and climate can also have an effect on the sound of the reed, as well as minute changes in the physique of the reed. I'm a beginner on oboe and I have my first concert on Dec. 6. I soak my cane for about 25 minutes before I tie it. All this should be done immediately after tying. How do I crow the reed? Martin. A thin and sloped tip allow the reed to give a warm sound with easy response. I also experimented with letting the blank sit for a little while before clipping it rather than clipping immediately after tying and scraping. I speak about this more in the article oboe reed intonation introduction. Behold, my best reed in a long time was born, and I sincerely hope that the problem has been solved. What should I do if the reed seems too hard? If you tie too short, the string will pinch the sides of the cane before the metal of the staple picks up the tension. As you get above 5,000 feet, and often into a dry climate, the reeds will vibrate less. Singin’ Dog is a well-known maker of oboe reeds, and this particular reed is entirely handmade. For Oboe, look at the tip opening. The reed should be soaked for all of the following steps. 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. All of my reeds end up appallingly open at the tip. By the way, do you let your blanks dry closed, or do you clip them open before letting them rest? The reed may never sound as good but it may be playable for a while longer while a replacement can be ordered. Oboists, we feel for you: and not just because of the double-reed misery, the duck noises, the … 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. If I clip off the portion of the tip that has loose sides in an attempt to cut off the loose sides and fix the problem, the sides of the clipped reed then become loose. Whenever I play oboe, it's kind of like a "gamble." In one session, shape the cane, tie it, and scrape it until you have clipped the tip open. By pushing the reed up against the top teeth . 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. – finished length of the blank; Singin’ Dog Oboe Reed Medium. A few reeds can help you feel ready for anything. – the integrity of the fold before shaping, i.e. I think it could be something that has to do with tying. If the pitch drops significantly and the cane feels soggy and sluggish to play there is probably a crack. a. It sounds like you are already doing this. Using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide may keep them at bay temporarily but this is not a long term solution. 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. And how to do it right. Make sure the overlap is correct. a. 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. The tip of the reed may become frayed from trauma of tonguing and knicks from the reed case or hands. If it is too large, that can be dealt with easily, and should be okay to purchase. Oboe Reedmaking. Plus the oboe reeds I make myself. 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. Solution : Get a new reed. Before fixing any problems, start by checking that the reed is not too open of too closed. If you have any other questions or stories of reeds gone bad, please let me know in the comments. ... Find out why Close. The result is a loud, quacky oboe reed that is unstable and can easily be overblown. Remove from water and shake out excess water. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total). C. Corners of the mouth are turned up (in a smile) 1. Oboists may keep a reed for a while so it is worth monitoring the wear and tear on your reed so you know when it’s time to say goodbye. 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; D. Reed Problem: 1. REED DEATH! Any cracks in the reed will render it flat and useless. I do not think it is the staples I have been using because after trying some of my teachers’ staples that had previously worked for her, my reeds still had the same problems. Some commercial reeds do not respect this and sometimes leave the tip thick. 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. In reality, through normal use in practice and band class, an oboe reed should only last a couple of weeks. The result will be a … Often a professional can clip the reed and remake the tip. Brand new reeds may tend to seem too open at first, and likewise, older reeds might be the ones that collapse on you. 3. 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. Oboe reeds are expensive and it can be painful to have to get a new reed so often. I have one reed which is brand new--and I think it still needs breaking in. I have other strategies for getting the most life from your reeds in an article I wrote which you can read by clicking here. When the cane seems soft, I also observe that the size of the opening changes dramatically after the dry reed has been soaked. An oboe reed can make or break an oboe's usability and sound. Squeeze gently on the sides. Thanks to everyone for the comments! Most of the time, the fold seems to be pretty clean, no shreds. It seems like this might weaken the opening, too, to give you a fighting chance of having tighter sides. What the opening at the tip should look like in a quality reed. The resulting dynamic should be mezzo-piano or very close to it. Do you think that letting them dry overnight before clipping them would make them even more open? I do not recommend soaking reeds in your mouth because this promotes bacterial growth which will diminish the life of the reed. Might the cane itself (twistyness, hardness, density?) We also offer private lessons in the Chicago area. Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress. 1. Instead, the “shushed” young oboist will bite the (too easy) reed, which will make the pitch soar and close the opening of the reed, which greatly reduces their ability to articulate notes. The result is that the blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the opening of the reed. However, after letting my reeds sit for a few hours, they all seem to go back to that same archetype: horrifyingly open and low-crowing. Often when I start beginners I provide them with a reed to learn their first notes on. MEASURING. If too closed, open carefully from the sides with the fingers. 2. Additionally bacterial growth inside the reed can effectively make the opening smaller as the biofilms coat the inside cavity of the reed. Mold…enough said…. If anyone has been through anything like this with oboe reeds, your input would be greatly appreciated! 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. Soak new reeds in warm water for one minute. As a result, my reeds are basically unplayable, being that they require a great amount of air and are always flat. I hate having to scrape all the “guts” out of a reed just to close down the opening, and I also hate having to clamp down on a reed with my embouchure. 2. Or at least it should be. Some people think this makes a big difference. Sides of the reed not closed from born again oboe The sides should press tightly together along the entire length of the reed. Please reach out to us with any questions about our selection of oboe knives. I recommend soaking reeds for between 1-2 minutes in a small cup or shot glass of water. 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. 2. 2. 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. Is the cane warped? How to Fix a Flat Oboe Reed Jones Double Reed ⦠Quality handmade oboe & English horn reeds, tube cane, gouged & shaped cane, oboe music, accessories and more. My hypothesis is that very soft cane “balloons” open when tied onto the staple while rigid, hard cane would hold its shape and diameter. Overall, this is a secure Oboe Reed case, which you can close with sturdy clamshell protection. The opening of the reed is stabilized by two main opposing forces. These simple but crucial tests will help you decide if your reed is broken or needs replacing especially if your just starting out on the oboe. And the best part of it is that the instruments can tilt easily for fast removal due to the padded lining. The tip of the reed is the thinnest part of the reed. Hi Andrew, thanks so much for responding. Home › Forums › Reeds › The Oboe Reed Room › Top of oboe reed will not close. Check the opening of the reed. Hi Laura — This can be maddening and the source of the problem difficult to track down, as you are finding. A crack is usually obvious. If the reed is too open squeeze the tip closed between the thumb and index finger for 30 seconds I tied the reed with MUCH LESS tension than I what I would normally use to tie. In order of priority, here is what I would check…. An oversoaked reed will likely be stiff, too open, and flat. By contrast if the reed is too open, the low notes may be raunchy and uncontrollable. I’ve adjusted the gouge, changed shaper tips, and experimented with different staples, and yet I end up with big openings much more often than small ones. For tips on making the reeds last longer and getting the most out of your reed check out this article I wrote by clicking here. Resistance (too hard or soft) 2. It took me about five attempts to make one successful blank. 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. Then in my lesson I ended up tying a reed, using a music stand as an anchor. Too closed⦠Maybe you need to adjust the diameter of cane you’re using, move up to 10.5 to 11 range if you’re at the 10-10.5 range now. – the length of time you’re soaking the cane before tying; If none of this helps at all, have a teacher or other qualified person watch your whole process from beginning to end. Huge time savers to ensure that you eliminate variables. The SOAKED oboe reed may benefit from being squeezed shut for 30-45 seconds for the first few playing sessions. Diagnosing Common Oboe Reed Problems. As always keep a few reeds broken in and in rotation. Just a thought. I’m not sure what we can do with this observation. Reeds naturally close down a bit when played on anyway. C. Corners of the mouth are turned up (in a smile) 1. I have been using the Gilbert gouge and the Lucarelli and Brannen-x shapes. White or black growths in the reed mean it’s time to order replacements. 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. If you need to order reeds, click here to go to the shop where I sell handmade reeds. ... Reed is too CLOSED. This article will help you diagnose, adjust & hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe reeds: 1. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I gouge and shape the reeds myself or whether I order the cane pre-gouged and shaped. Skip navigation Sign in. Possible Cause: Either the reed is too closed (and likely old), and/or the embouchure is too tight. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. The opening may be too closed, in which case there are no good adjustments that would help. 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. I tied one reed this week that closed very well. The difference between French Cut and American Cut oboe reeds. Thank you again for all the detailed responses. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) Author Reed too closed . It is very telling who is not practicing at home based on how long their reed is still able to trudge along. If the reed is too hard too open too closed 1. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Tie length. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. Molds will often show up as fruiting bodies or black colonies, while bacteria will often form films along the inside of the reed. Place the reed in your mouth down to the string and blow. I always check to make sure my reed's hole is a football shape and it's not too open or too closed, and even though I know it's at a good shape, the tone I … 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. Chips that occur at the edges of the tip are not as critical as chips at or near the middle from left to right. Don't try to influence the tone in any way. These are just a few of the variables you might consider: This is opposed by the rails of the reed which pull clockwise to a neutral and stable result. It helps to ensure a good seal at the tip. My teacher was simultaneously tying a reed using the same music stand. 2. How to Fix a Flat Oboe Reed Jones Double Reed … 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. 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. While single reed players may replace their reeds every few days. How to tell if your oboe reed is broken or needs replacing. Gently squeeze the reed blades closed if they are too open. If the opening is too small the reed may not accept the air stream and the low notes will feel labored and unstable. This leads to sharpness and makes the reed harder to blow through. Keeping your reeds in a reed case and not in the plastic tube or coffin it came it will help as well. 3. The oboe is officially one of the most difficult instruments to play. 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. Flatten chin and point it down . 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. 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. However, inexperienced reed makers should not try this. click here to go to the shop where I sell handmade reeds. I know that many, many reeds pass through the shop, so I trust your colleague’s generalization. From the oboe reed critiques that I offer to all of the reed shipments from our reedmakers. Clip the tip of the reed (using a knife or razor blade), a little at a time till the crow is a “C” pitch. 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. Oboists, we feel for you: and not just because of the double-reed misery, the duck noises, the ⦠The approximative dimensions for this product are 4.2 x 0.6 x 4 inches. Hi Laura, I know that problems like this one can be extremely frustrating and mysterious. 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Clipped the tip & clip open the fingers sound as oboe reed too closed but it may be playable a...