Tonguing

Unless the music specifically says otherwise, every note on the oboe should be started with your tongue. Notice the yellow circle in the picture to the right. This is the general area where your tongue will come into contact with the reed. There is some flexibility. Some people will tongue dead center near the tip of the tongue, while others may be slightly off to the side. Whether in the middle or slightly off to the side, oboists should tongue slightly behind and above the tip of the tongue. The critical part is that oboists are using a light tongue to begin every note. Experiment with different tonguing techniques to find what is the best-sounding and easiest way to start your notes off.