Hi,

I am a beginner oboist (I have been playing for....6 hours ) and I am wondering what kinda sound am I meant be making with the oboe. It sounds kinda like one of those indian snake charmers. How far off am I?

Other than the sound though, I think I am going pretty good. I am just playing a simple new Artley 18Q Oboe with a med-soft cane reed. My background in music is from clarinets and saxaphones so its a bit of a change, but nothing to drastic.

I fixed the sound. I soaked the reed for a lot longer and played around with my embrochure and the oboe now sounds A LOT less jarring.

My new question. With the register key, when I use it nothing really happens. All it does it make teh sound more airy. I am asuming that I have to pitch it to the higher level, because in testing it seems to work that way.

If you play the clarinet also, do you remember when you were beginning and it was hard to get a sound with the register key? You may want to try to push more air through the instrument. I`m not sure if you play the flute, but it`s similar to finding out how much air is needed to produce a higher pitch toned. I don`t know if that made any sense, but I hope it helps! ;-D

Remembers the hate of learning the register key on the Alto Clarinet. Its getting better with teh register key, the sound isnt stable, but at least it sounds higher . Im really enjoying the oboe though, so much fun.

Oh yes, compared to the clarinet the fingering is crazy on an oboe. You go up the oboe lifitng fingers, then you go all the way down ago using the half key, go up, then down again with teh register key, thern up with teh funny side key.....crazy. :D

You`re right! The fingering on the oboe is crazy compared to the clarinet. I`m just really glad that it`s quite similar to the flute.