Hello everyone, I`ve been a tuba player for about year now, and have advanced very quickly with it, i started around february, back then I didnt even know how to learn bass clef, and by august I was already marching with the band. I`d like to learn a more melodic instrument, since most of the time I practice I do so by myself, and tuba parts arent exactly the most exciting to play alone (don`t get me wrong, I <3 Tuba).

I was Interested in learning to play the cello, but I also love the sound of the oboe (I`m aware it takes longer to get beautiful sound off an oboe than off a cello) The school band has an oboe, which nobody plays, and I get along with the teacher so I could borrow an oboe from the school, the orchestra also has a full set of string instruments, but I hardly know that teacher and dont know about borrowing a cello from her.

I am very unsure on which instrument to play, and was hoping you guys could clear my thoughts up a bit.

It really depends on what you really want to go for.

Are you willing to put more time in the instruments?
Oboe isn`t like other instruments, it`s very different.

Just go for what you want more.

yea, and if you don`t know how to read treble clef, that`ll be something new for you to learn on the oboe... and if you want to go great lengths with the cello, prepare to learn to read tenor clef (although that`s nothing you`d see in band music, for solo music it appears a lot. i play bassoon, (started at the beginning of the school year after switching off clarinet) and i`m trying to memorize it right now)

hmm...
Cello:
Pro- sounds nice, and your a tuba player, and i`m a bassoon player. we can both agree that bass clef is kickass. easier than the oboe to get started one, and the cello has an awesome range... much better than an oboe. you will have way more acess to cello music than tuba music (same with oboe music)
Con- not as much of a challenge as the oboe (that is, if you like challenges), it`s heavier than an oboe but you play the friggin tuba so that shouldn`t be a problem. no struing instrument will ever be as cool as a double reed (*cough* pick the bassoon instead*)

Oboe:
Pro- sounds beautiful... in a solo, everyone will know it`s the oboe because of it`s distinctive sound. it`s light. =) it has a smaller range (about 3 octaves) so if you think about it, that can be a pro. less work memorizing fingerings.
Con- when not in a solo, no one will hear you... (i have this cool line on the bassoon in O Canada where i play real fast, no one even notices x___X) iunno how much it costs to keep a cello in shape, but reeds cost a hecka lot. i mean oboe reeeds are cheaper than bassoon reeds, but we`r tlaking about $9 a month. =O bassoon reeds cost $14 eaach... omg (this is in canadian dollars, don`t panic)

anyways, in conclusion, which has nothing to do with above--

PICK THE BASSOON. you get the double reed sound of the oboe, with the kickass bass of the cello and the tuba. =) the bassoon can reach down to the A# 3 ledger lines below the staff... it`s so powerful. =D

although i`ve been thinking about taking up oboe two... hmm... thanks for bringing this to my attention, maybe i`ll ask ym teacher if i can add that to my bassoon and claarinet. =)

omg long post. anyways. cya
-jay

If you really want to play a part with no boring whole notes or half notes, then i think you should play the oboe. It gets the melody and at the very least the counter-melody in almost every song. It has a great sound. However, it does take a very long time to develope the perfect embouchure(Spelling?) and will be a big change from the tuba. Im not a cello player, so im not very sure what kind of parts it gets really. Ive heard it play melody a couple of times. Stringed instruments will also be a big change. Learning the bowings, and the fingerings for all the notes takes time. So really, each one is equal. And do you know how to read in bass cleff, and treble cleff. B/c if you can read bass cleff, then you are a step ahead on the cello, which is written in bass cleff most of the time. Oboe is written in treble, so if you cant read it, then you may take a while to adjust. It really is all up to you. Each instrument has an awesome sound (when developed) and you will have a great time with whatever you choose! Good Luck!

Hi there! Back in 6th grade I started playing the Trumpet. I like the trumpet dont get me wrong, but in 8th grade I picked up the bassoon and have been playing it ever since. I also play the trumpet still for pep band. Just this past year I have also picked up the Oboe (yay!) Now from my experience from playing a brass instrument and Double reed instruments at the same time I would have to say that if your used to playing the tuba, the oboe will be very difficult for you to keep your lips in descent shape to play both. If you could choose between the oboe and the bassoon, the Bassoon would seem like a more plausable instrument for you if you have one avaliable to use just because the embouchure isnt as tight as an oboes. If you can you may just want to take the schools oboe and buy a reed and play the oboe for a bit with the correct embouchure, and then play the tuba or vice versa and see how your lips are. I still have difficulties transferring from the trumpet to the bassoon because of the different lip structure, but transfering to the trumpet to the oboe is easy because the same tight embouchures are kinda similar, hope this helps.

^oh yea! hopefully we can get time to switch to the bassoon... haha.

i wanna try oboe though... i wonder if my band director will let me. =/

oboe is better. it is always better. why don`t you try both and see which you like better. (the oboe of course)

the cheapest oboe reeds i have seen at the music stores are $8. intermediete reeds are more and hand made reeds are $11-$50+

k im a different taylor so here`s my oppinion. For starters your right, oboe takes a lot more skill to make it sound better. I personally would go with the cello. Frankly it just sounds so much better, it will be easier to stay in bass cleff for you. plus there seem to be better parts for the cello.