I like my reed, but...
it's too hard:
1. If it's too hard because the reed opening is too big, then scrape the sides of the heart, scrape a lot out of the bottom of the back, and/or scrape a little off the center of the heart. This allows the curvature (arch) of the cane to flatten a little (collapse), which will make the reed opening a little more closed.
2. If it's too hard because the cane is dense, scrape the tip. Keep in mind that every scrape will cause the reed to go a little flatter in pitch. You may need to clip the tip to get the oboe reed to crow octave C's (C#'s for English horn).
it's too closed:
1. Clip the tip...the more you clip, the bigger the opening.
2. If you are truly desperate, you may pinch the staple a little flatter with a pair of pliers near the top of the thread, but it will ruin your staple forever.
it's too open:
1. If the tip is too open, then scrape the sides of the heart, scrape a lot out of the bottom of the back, and/or scrape a little off the center of the heart. This allows the curvature (arch) of the cane to flatten a little, which will make the reed opening a little more closed.
2. If you are truly desperate, you may pinch the staple a little with a pair of pliers on the sides of the staple near the top of the thread, but it will ruin your staple forever.
it's too bright:
1. Clip the tip.
2. Scrape "windows" into the "back" of the reed.
3. Run tip across fine sandpaper a time or two.
it's too dark:
1. Scrape more out of the tip, but stay away from the middle of the tip.
it's flat in pitch:
1. Clip the tip.
it's sharp in pitch:
1. Scrape more cane off of the back.
2. Scrape back longer so that the back almost goes to the thread.
3. If you are desperate, play with the reed pulled out of the instrument just a little.
it leaks air:
1. Wrap "fishskin" (also known as goldbeater's skin) to outside of reed.
2. Wrap teflon tape to outside of reed.
it's squeaky:
1. If the reed is too closed, clip the tip.
2. If the reed has a bump in the tip, it may squeak on some notes. Scrape the tip so that it is even and symmetrical on all sides.
3. Insert a pipe cleaner through a soaked reed and pull it out through the top to clean the inside of the reed.
E, F#, and G are sharp:
1. Scrape back a little higher into the bottom of the heart.
the low notes don't speak:
1. Assuming the oboe is sealing (no leaky keys), then make sure you are playing a fresh reed. (Note: Old reeds become sharp over time and low notes disappear.)
2. Scrape in the channels of the heart to allow the vibrations to flow into the back of the reed. A little goes a long ways, so only scrape a little on each side.
it doesn't crow octave C's:
1. Scrape in the channels of the heart to allow the vibrations to flow into the back of the reed. A little goes a long ways, so only scrape a little on each side.
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