Well, being a grand collector of musical instruments, I certainly couldn't go past the oboe. So, when I found one sitting in the store-room at school, I absolutely had to learn it. Only problem is, I'm pretty sure it isn't playing the way its supposed to. I've done everything my teacher has said (both of them) but it still doesn't play the notes right. The lowest A, Bb, B, C, C#, D work fine, the Eb, E and F are a tiny bit flat but that's just me not putting enough pressure into it :\ The F#, G, Ab are fine, but the A (the one after the lowest one) is ridiculously sharp, but when I decrease the pressure and adjust my embrasure, all the others notes are ridiculously flat. The Bb is a quite flat and the B is also like the A, ridiculously sharp, the C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A are all fine, but the highest Bb is quite flat as well, and, you guessed it, when I adjust to that, all the other notes that were originally ok, go really out-of-wack. The topmost B, C are fine. So what I'm getting at is, that I think this oboe is just a dodgey one; because I'm pretty sure that even with my playing that the notes shouldn't be ridiculously flat or sharp. The other student who was learning it before me said that she had problems with it, and one of my teachers said that it was a troublesome oboe when she was teaching other students. So, any ideas? Is it just a dodgey oboe, or am I doing something wrong. I've tried adjusting the reed, trying different reeds (soft, medium, and hard) drastically adjusting my embrasure, but to no avail <_< So, can anyone help me on this, oh, and by the way, I've got a concert tomorrow and I'm supposed to play oboe in that, so reply ASAP! Please :sweat:

Any idea what make or model the oboe is? Judging by the fact its a school oboe, i'd lay my money on it being the oboe xD

The best thing you can do, is to find which notes are out, and which way, then you adjust your embouchure specifically for that note, and that note only. For example, i know that on my oboe, the first octave F is flat, so whenever i play a first octave F i lip up, but i wouldnt lip up an F# or an E, because then they'd be sharp. And, as top notes are notoriously out of tune anyway, i'd suggest trying some harmonic fingerings as they usually give a steadier note.

For top C - play F but with the second octave key open (that one takes some pushing out)
For top B - play E but with the second octave key open
For top Bb - play Eb with the second octave key
For top A - play D with the second octave key

however whilst harmonics are good for tuning issues, the sound is somewhat thinner than when played with the regular fingering. Hope that helps and good luck with your concert [:

Any idea what make or model the oboe is? Judging by the fact its a school oboe, i'd lay my money on it being the oboe xD

The best thing you can do, is to find which notes are out, and which way, then you adjust your embouchure specifically for that note, and that note only. For example, i know that on my oboe, the first octave F is flat, so whenever i play a first octave F i lip up, but i wouldnt lip up an F# or an E, because then they'd be sharp. And, as top notes are notoriously out of tune anyway, i'd suggest trying some harmonic fingerings as they usually give a steadier note.

For top C - play F but with the second octave key open (that one takes some pushing out)
For top B - play E but with the second octave key open
For top Bb - play Eb with the second octave key
For top A - play D with the second octave key

however whilst harmonics are good for tuning issues, the sound is somewhat thinner than when played with the regular fingering. Hope that helps and good luck with your concert [:

Thanks for your help, I didn't consider harmonics. But, even when I do adjust my embrasure, its a really big change, from playing at the top of the read, to all most completely covering it, not to mention that my cheeks hurt from been so tense to get the notes right. Also what I've noticed is that the notes that are out are extremely flat/sharp, not just by a little bit or only like 20 or 30Hz, my A is closer to an A# rather than the A its 'supposed' to be. The oboe is a Selmer. Oh, and my concert went brilliant, apart from the fact that my reed broke after the first song <_< (had to use my flute for the oboe part instead) But I think a good service might do it some good. Thanks again.