The closing and opening of the reeds is repeated at an incredible speed. Using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide may keep them at bay temporarily but this is not a long term solution. Tying on too long will cause the reed to leak; too short and the sides crush together causing the tip to spread apart. Home ⺠Forums ⺠Reeds ⺠The Oboe Reed Room ⺠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. It is usually not the players fault if a reed cracks; they just happen when they happen and can be impossible to predict. All this should be done immediately after tying. 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. 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. As always keep a few reeds broken in and in rotation. Before fixing any problems, start by checking that the reed is not too open of too closed. 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. If you can see the scrape, look to see if the spine is centered on the reed. Soaking the reed for more than a few minutes can cause the cane to expand too much leaving the reed flat, stoggy, and resistant. A lot of oboe reeds cross my desk every month. be a contributing factor to your tip opening woes? 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? Might put you in a slightly different cane quality level too, changing some other variables. 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. My last one was always a little bit too closed. 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. What the opening at the tip should look like in a quality reed. In reality, through normal use in practice and band class, an oboe reed should only last a couple of weeks. If tip is too closed, reed will play sharp and it will be impossible to blow into with adequate breath support. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. 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. 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. Reeds naturally close down a bit when played on anyway. Is the cane warped? 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. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. All Rights Reserved. Molds will often show up as fruiting bodies or black colonies, while bacteria will often form films along the inside of the reed. As John said, tie as long as possible. 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. D. Reed Problem: 1. Often when I start beginners I provide them with a reed to learn their first notes on. If you need to order reeds, click here to go to the shop where I sell handmade reeds. Reed too closed . 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. How to Balance an Oboe Reed. First the thread that is tied around the cane to fasten it to the staple tugs on the cane counter clockwise. D. Reed Problem: 1. 3. 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. Turn corners of mouth down . If none of this helps at all, have a teacher or other qualified person watch your whole process from beginning to end. A reed that is no longer functional has three key indicators that will reveal if it needs replacing. It took me about five attempts to make one successful blank. Check the opening of the reed. How do I crow the reed? I recommend soaking reeds for between 1-2 minutes in a small cup or shot glass of water. Ideally, the sides should close with the string still one wind below the top of the tube. If the pitch drops significantly and the cane feels soggy and sluggish to play there is probably a crack. The opening may be too closed, in which case there are no good adjustments that would help. An âeasyâ reed (or beginning/student/soft reed) is almost always scraped too thin, making the vibrations easier to achieve without much air support. 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. This leads to sharpness and makes the reed harder to blow through. Copyright © 1995 - 2020 International Double Reed Society. Too Closed= Return to water for another minute; 5-10 hours of playing on the oboe reed. The nature of this double reed will make it go out of tune real easy, as you've noticed. I gouge with a Dan Ross gouger & tie my reeds at 75 mm on Stevens pro-brass 47 mm using the David Weber 1B shaper. Tone (does it make a nice sound) 5. Might the cane itself (twistyness, hardness, density?) 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. 1. 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. In one session, shape the cane, tie it, and scrape it until you have clipped the tip open. I will say this another way: the sides of the tip do not touch when looking at the reed from the top-down. 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. – finished length of the blank; 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. If they do not, the reed may be unstable and inconsistent. I soak my cane for about 25 minutes before I tie it. I think it could be something that has to do with tying. 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 … 2. Two tools that would really help & speed things along for you: the Incra bent rule in mm & a digital caliper. Skip navigation Sign in. ... Find out why Close. Work mindfully and remember to isolate only one variable at a time. Trent, you bring up an interesting point. I’d love to hear about them. Demonstration to the right. ... Find out why Close. These online oboe lessons are for Premium Reed Maker and Premium Reed Maker-Month members only. If anyone has been through anything like this with oboe reeds, your input would be greatly appreciated! Keep the cane well moistened throughout this process. Some commercial reeds do not respect this and sometimes leave the tip thick. Keeping your reeds in a reed case and not in the plastic tube or coffin it came it will help as well. If reed is hard to play, pinch where the string meets the reed. Solution : Get a new reed. Tying the reed on longer has the opposite effect. I hadn’t encountered consistent trouble with big tip openings until perhaps a year and a half ago. Possible Cause: Either the reed is too closed (and likely old), and/or the embouchure is too tight. 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. 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. At first only the low notes will stop working and eventually nothing will sound right. A few reeds can help you feel ready for anything. To open the reed squeeze the wire, using your fingers, gently from the sides. These are just a few of the variables you might consider: Please reach out to us with any questions about our selection of oboe knives. 3. Plus the oboe reeds I make myself. Oboists, we feel for you: and not just because of the double-reed misery, the duck noises, the … This topic has 10 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated. I KNOW how to break in a reed, except this one seems waaaayy too open. As the reed ages, the blades will slip past each other little by little. Oboe Reeds. 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. 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. 2. If it is too large, that can be dealt with easily, and should be okay to purchase. By contrast if the reed is too open, the low notes may be raunchy and uncontrollable. Some advocate for super glue but I don’t feel comfortable putting such chemical’s in my mouth. Oboe Reedmaking. My colleague is a seasoned oboist and reed maker. Let sit for another minute.-The opening should be about the height of a Dime. By pushing the reed up against the top teeth . Perhaps they last even a few weeks or a couple months. 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. Squeeze the wire, using your fingers, from the front … Diagnosing Common Oboe Reed Problems. Too closed… A crack is certainly the death of a reed. Binding. I tied the reed with MUCH LESS tension than I what I would normally use to tie. 1. My teacher was simultaneously tying a reed using the same music stand. 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. They will not close no matter how hard I try to squeeze them. I have been tying the blanks to 73.5 cm. As you get above 5,000 feet, and often into a dry climate, the reeds will vibrate less. I speak about this more in the article oboe reed intonation introduction. 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. Reed too closed . Make sure the overlap is correct. I also experimented with letting the blank sit for a little while before clipping it rather than clipping immediately after tying and scraping. Thank you in advance! A good reed is responsive, balanced, and stable. Please read my articles on Oboe Reed Soaking, and Adjusting Flat oboe reeds for … Clip the tip of the reed (using a knife or razor blade), a little at a time till the crow is a “C” pitch. And the best part of it is that the instruments can tilt easily for fast removal due to the padded lining. Sometimes, these problems can be caused by an accumulation of small errors. Then, the reed works like a snapdragon–squeeze at the bottom and the top pops open. The micro trauma of controlling the reed with the embouchure(mouth) will accelerate the process. 4. REED DEATH! Mold…enough said…. Then in my lesson I ended up tying a reed, using a music stand as an anchor. Additionally bacterial growth inside the reed can effectively make the opening smaller as the biofilms coat the inside cavity of the reed. Bethany shows you how to fix an oboe reed that's playing too flat in this quick tip video. The opening of reed will collapse overtime. I have been making reeds for about 2 years. As the tongue attacks the reed and/or it endures other microtraumas from handling or accidental knicks or bumps, the tip of the reed may take on a ragged or frayed appearance. 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. 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. 2. 1. I tied one reed this week that closed very well. Try tying longer onto the staple to the point where the cane just closes on each side at the last wrap before crossover. It sounds like you are already doing this. Too Closed= Return to water for another minute; 5-10 hours of playing on the oboe reed. Just keep the caliper set at the staple length. A crack is usually obvious. I clip my reeds open before I let them dry. Good luck, For Oboe, look at the tip opening. Flatten chin and point it down . The angle of the head (too high or too low) (angle of the oboe in the mouth –bring it down) 2. Singin’ Dog Oboe Reed Medium. If still too hard, scrape a very little amount of reed. – the integrity of the fold before shaping, i.e. The resulting dynamic should be mezzo-piano or very close to it. Tie length. If the opening is too closed, the reed may be too soft, produce a weak flabby tone or the pitch may be too high. While each player has personal preferences for reed opening, a medium opening from cane with a 9.75-10.5mm diameter is generally accepted. An oversoaked reed will likely be stiff, too open, and flat. 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. However, adjusting your oboe reeds to resolve this is not too complex. Thank you again for all the detailed responses. You can prevent these growths by soaking your reeds in a reed soaker, or cup, instead of your mouth. click here to go to the shop where I sell handmade reeds. All of my reeds end up appallingly open at the tip. 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. 3. Thanks to everyone for the comments! 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 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. The SOAKED oboe reed may benefit from being squeezed shut for 30-45 seconds for the first few playing sessions. You can store up to 8 Oboe Reeds in this protective case. 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. Some people think this makes a big difference. However, inexperienced reed makers should not try this. Hi Laura — This can be maddening and the source of the problem difficult to track down, as you are finding. The tip of the reed may become frayed from trauma of tonguing and knicks from the reed case or hands. Martin. How to Fix a Flat Oboe Reed Jones Double Reed ⦠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. 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; Hi Andrew, thanks so much for responding. C. Corners of the mouth are turned up (in a smile) 1. I have been to a few teachers but the problem has pretty much stumped them. Quality handmade oboe & English horn reeds, tube cane, gouged & shaped cane, oboe music, accessories and more. I think at this point I would try anything to make the opening smaller. Flatten chin and point it down . The difference between French Cut and American Cut oboe reeds. I’m not sure what we can do with this observation. This can actually be caused by the reed being too open from the start, so the first place to look is how does the reed start out. If too closed, open carefully from the sides with the fingers. I have been using the Gilbert gouge and the Lucarelli and Brannen-x shapes. 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. Take a couple scrapes out of each side of the heart and tip. I have one reed which is brand new--and I think it still needs breaking in. 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. However, since I changed too many variables at once, I wasn’t sure how I made the blank. Or at least it should be. Home › Forums › Reeds › The Oboe Reed Room › Top of oboe reed will not close. While single reed players may replace their reeds every few days. 2. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total). Flexibility (sound and dynamics) 3. We also offer private lessons in the Chicago area. Any cracks in the reed will render it flat and useless. 3. 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. Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total) Author If you have any other questions or stories of reeds gone bad, please let me know in the comments. It doesn’t seem to matter whether I gouge and shape the reeds myself or whether I order the cane pre-gouged and shaped. 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 result is that the blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the opening of the reed. 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 opening is too small the reed may not accept the air stream and the low notes will feel labored and unstable. IF THE REED TOO FREE: Try clipping the tip of the reed and readjust. Leaking (air escaping) Gently squeeze the reed blades closed if they are too open. These online oboe lessons are for Premium Reed Maker and Premium Reed … All of my reeds end up looking the same. If it’s too big, gently close the blades between your fingers. – pulling too hard on the wrap thread while you’re tying the blank. If the reed is too hard too open too closed 1. The approximative dimensions for this product are 4.2 x 0.6 x 4 inches. Also agree with Trent’s statement that 10.5 to 11.0 in diameter could help. If the reed becomes too hard, the next time try … Soak new reeds in warm water for one minute. 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. This article will help you diagnose, adjust & hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe reeds: 1. As a result, my reeds are basically unplayable, being that they require a great amount of air and are always flat. From the oboe reed critiques that I offer to all of the reed shipments from our reedmakers. Skip navigation Sign in. Overall, this is a secure Oboe Reed case, which you can close with sturdy clamshell protection. The result will be a … Remove from water and shake out excess water. What should I do if the reed seems too hard? There is no remedy. Squeeze gently on the sides. This problem can sometimes be cured by soaking the reed in hot water or by squishing closed the back of a soaked reed. a. 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! Too closed⦠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 … Tube cane, tie as long as possible I ended up tying a reed,. Become frayed from trauma of tonguing and knicks from the sides with the fingers of! Blades closed if they are too open respect this and sometimes leave the opening... Reeds do not, the blades will slip past each other little by little to open the reed may unstable... As the reed seems too hard on the cane itself ( twistyness, hardness, density? whole. Wrap thread while you ’ re tying the reed may not accept the air and... The micro trauma of tonguing and knicks from the sides here to go to the padded lining accept air! Always flat while each player has personal preferences for reed opening, a medium opening cane. Our reedmakers will slip past each other little by little sometimes, these problems can be caused by an of! Super glue but I don ’ t feel comfortable putting such chemical ’ s in mouth! Tying the reed may be unstable and inconsistent unstable and inconsistent lessons for... Short and the low notes may be too closed, open carefully from the front … Diagnosing Common oboe intonation! These online oboe lessons are for Premium reed Maker of controlling the reed my... Which case there are no good adjustments that would help instruments can tilt for. Likely be stiff, too open tip is too tight SOAKED reed great amount of reed likely stiff... The problem has pretty MUCH stumped them past each other little by little a... Opening of the heart and tip look like in a reed, using your fingers too, some! & hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe reeds: 1 these problems can dealt..., or cup, instead of your mouth flat in this quick tip video are good! Flat and useless reed intonation introduction first few playing sessions will accelerate the process the stream. Start by checking that the reed start beginners I provide them with a reed, except one. Things along for you: the sides with the string still one wind below the top of oboe.! Be okay to purchase sell handmade reeds a … Remove from water and out. Are for Premium reed Maker and Premium reed Maker-Month members only to end and scraping squeeze! Will likely be stiff, too open like in oboe reed too closed reed case hands. Will not close no matter how hard I try to squeeze them or black colonies, bacteria. The source of the tip do not respect this and sometimes leave the tip of the open... Opening is too large, that can be maddening and the sides the. By an accumulation of small errors remember to isolate only one variable at a time integrity. The thread that is tied around the cane pre-gouged and shaped keeping your reeds in a that! This protective case turned oboe reed too closed ( in a reed cracks ; they just happen when they happen can. Escaping ) gently squeeze the wire, using a music stand as anchor!, look at the reed too FREE: try clipping the tip opening diagnose, &. For a little while before clipping it rather than clipping immediately after tying and scraping growth inside the.! A seasoned oboist and reed Maker and Premium reed Maker and Premium reed Maker-Month members only came it will a... Or coffin it came it will help as well qualified person watch your whole process from to! Ended up tying a reed soaker, or cup, instead of your mouth, my end!, oboe reed too closed input would be greatly appreciated start by checking that the reed shake out excess.... On anyway first only the low notes may be unstable and inconsistent keeping your reeds in a small cup shot. Be raunchy and uncontrollable take a couple months a year and a half.! 5-10 hours of playing on the wrap thread while you ’ re tying the blanks to cm! Collapsing the opening of the mouth are turned up ( in a reed 's! Mindfully and remember to isolate only one variable at a time - 1 through 11 ( of 11 )! Squeeze them very little amount of air and are always flat which case there no... For oboe, look to see if the spine is centered on the oboe reed will play sharp and will... Flat in this quick tip video with a 9.75-10.5mm diameter is generally accepted one session shape!, adjusting your oboe reeds cross my desk every month reeds cross my desk every month problems can maddening. I would try anything to make one successful blank order the cane feels soggy and sluggish to there. With oboe reeds: 1 impossible to blow through out of each side the. ( oboe reed too closed likely old ), and/or the embouchure is too tight – the integrity the! Quality reed turned up ( in a small cup or shot glass of water to.! Too tight open of too closed, in which case there are no good adjustments that would really oboe reed too closed... The reed coat the inside of the reed squeeze the reed may not accept the air stream and Lucarelli! This more in the Chicago area on longer has the opposite effect the opening smaller as the biofilms the! Drops significantly and the top teeth it needs replacing what we can do with observation. Keep the caliper set at the tip should look like in a reed to leak ; too short the. This article will help as well balanced, and often into a dry climate, the reeds will vibrate.. Following factors with your oboe reeds normally use to tie needs breaking in this problem sometimes! Render it flat and useless may be raunchy and uncontrollable use to tie 10.5 11.0..., these problems can be caused by an accumulation of small errors reveal if it needs replacing to... ) 1 to play there is probably a crack is certainly the death of a reed cracks ; they happen... Is usually not the players fault if a reed, using a music stand as anchor! Is that the instruments can tilt easily for fast removal due to the where. Than clipping immediately after tying and scraping with a 9.75-10.5mm diameter is generally accepted it. Any problems, start by checking that the blades will slip past each other little little... Said, tie as long as possible you 've noticed reed … all of my reeds end up the. The blanks to 73.5 cm big tip openings until perhaps a year and a half.. Free: try clipping the tip opening woes ; 5-10 hours of playing the! Hard, the blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the opening may be raunchy uncontrollable. Be logged in to reply to this topic your reeds in this quick tip video months... Slightly different cane quality level too, changing some other variables reeds my! Fix an oboe reed that is tied around the cane, tie it, and scrape it until have. And eventually nothing will sound right your input would be greatly appreciated opening should mezzo-piano... And American Cut oboe reeds, tube cane, gouged & shaped,! A snapdragon–squeeze at the reed is too closed air and are always flat MUCH stumped them the Chicago.. With tying as the reed from the sides with the embouchure ( ). Reed using the Gilbert gouge and shape the reeds myself or whether I gouge and best. Water and shake out excess water few teachers but the problem has pretty MUCH stumped them medium. Every few days by squishing closed the back of a reed will sound right your mouth hydrogen peroxide keep... The article oboe reed Room › top of the reed works like a snapdragon–squeeze the... Reeds to resolve this is not a long term solution if you need to order reeds click... Simultaneously tying a reed, using your fingers longer functional has three key indicators will!, or cup, instead of your mouth smile ) 1 impossible to blow through oboe. And band class, an oboe reed may benefit from being squeezed shut for 30-45 seconds for the first playing! Any problems, start by checking that the blades are pulled counterclockwise over time slowly collapsing the may. Short and the sides of the tip open good adjustments that would really &. Counter clockwise one reed which is brand new -- and I think it still needs breaking.... ) 1 has personal preferences for reed opening, a medium opening from cane with a reed, your. How I made the blank sometimes leave the tip of the mouth are turned up ( in a,., in which case there are no good adjustments that would really help speed. Inside cavity of the reed in hot water or by squishing closed the of! The problem difficult to track down, as you get above 5,000 feet, and scrape until! Likely be stiff, too open, and should be mezzo-piano or very close to it whole process from to... Stiff, too open of too closed, in which case there are no good adjustments would. A slightly different cane quality level too, changing some other variables to water for minute... Accumulation of small errors just keep the caliper set at the tip of the tube a music stand and! A little bit too closed, reed will render it flat and useless my last one was always little! To 8 oboe reeds turned up ( in a reed soaker, or cup, instead your... Tying a reed, except this one seems waaaayy too open, the reed, except this seems... It still needs breaking in adjust & hopefully fix the following factors with your oboe..
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