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This page is designed to assist oboe players with intonation issues.
No wind instrument is designed to play perfectly in tune for every note. Oboists can make adjustments with their voicing and how much reed they take in to adjust for pitch. To raise a pitch,
create a higher voicing in the oral cavity
roll in slightly more reed
To lower a pitch,
create a lower voicing in the oral cavity
roll out and take slightly less reed
A tuner or drone pitch can be used to practice and check intonation. See below for specific notes, their tendencies, and how to adjust.
F4, when played with the forked F fingering, can be flat. This is why we add the Eb key in the right hand to raise the pitch. Sometimes that alone is not enough. Work for a more focused embouchure and higher voicing to get the pitch up.
C5 can be flat or sharp depending on the reed and instrument. Check this note with a tuner to learn the pitch tendency for your particular instrument and reed combination. Roll the reed in and use a higher voicing to raise the pitch, or roll the reed out and use a lower voicing to lower the pitch.
All three of these half-holed notes can be quite sharp. Roll out, drop the jaw, and use a lower voicing to get these notes in tune.
E5 is usually sharp, but some reed and instrument combinations can be flat. When it's sharp, roll the reed out slightly and use a more open oral cavity to correct the pitch. Make the opposite adjustments if it tends to be flat.
Sometimes, the lower and higher registers can have pitch issues related to the instrument, the reed, the embouchure, and the voicing.
Problem: Lower notes tend to be loud and flat.
Solution: Strive for a balance between rolling the reed in or out, more or less embouchure pressure, and an open oral cavity. Use a tuner to check pitch, but also work to get the best tone possible. Experimentation is key. A quality reed that isn't too old is also extremely important.
Problem: Higher notes tend to be very sharp and the tone is pinched.
Solution: The most likely cause for these tendencies is an embouchure that is too tight. This can also result in a closed-off reed tip. Remember that the embouchure should be forming a "pillowy" support system around the reed. If the reed tip cannot be opened more, you may need to get a new reed.
Problem: Higher notes tend to be flat and/or difficult to play.
Solution: There are a few possible solutions here. First, make sure that the air stream is supported from the diaphragm and is constant. Try slurring up to that register from a middle note. There should be a slight increase in the activity in the abdominal muscles.
Second, the embouchure may not be firm enough around the reed. We never want to bite the reed, although more support may be necessary in this situation. Consider rolling the reed and lips in more slightly to raise the pitch.
Third, your voicing may be too open in the register above A5. Consider raising your tongue slightly to create a smaller resonating chamber in the oral cavity.
Finally, your reed could be too soft or too old. Try another reed to see if the problem persists.
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