HOW OBOISTS CRAFT theIr own DOUBLE REEDS

Many people have heard of woodwind instruments, and a large percentage of them require reeds--delicately carved pieces of cane that vibrate and let air flow through the hollow instrument. A select few, mainly the oboe and the bassoon, use double reeds: which instead are composed of two pieces of cane that vibrate against each other and form a sound, instead of a single reed vibrating against a mouthpiece. Single reeds can be bought at local music stores based on the instrument and the size needed, however, double-reed players typically craft their own reeds in order to fit the embouchures of the select player. This allows the player to provide a unique sound and touch of bright and bold color, whether they play a solo or in an orchestra.

Soak In Water

materials you will need:

By: arushi ahMed

and:

- planing board

- planer

- gouging machine

- guillotine

- beeswax

- water

- carving tools

Split Down The Middle Chop At 77mm

Pre-gouging is necessary so that once the gouging process comes up, the results for each reed will be consistent. The planing process includes a planing board and a planer, with indentures for the cane to be placed and then shaved until flush with the face of the board. Lastly, narrowing the ends will be needed later in the process to attach the reed to the staple.

Gouge The Cane At Preferred Measurements

gouging machine

Now that the cane is pre-gouged to the consistent thickness, the actual gouging process can begin to thin the edges of the reed. Oboists typically prefer a center thickness of .58-.61mm, and a side thickness of .45-.48mm. If the edges are too thin, the sound might come out flat and brittle, and if it is too thick, it will be much more resistant and difficult to form a sound.

Place Staple Between The Faces Of The Cane Score And Fold Cane Over

Rub Beeswax Along String

Wrap String To Connect Staple And Cane

Once the cane is folded over, the reed is placed on a shaper tip, and a razor blade is used to scrape the edges until it matches the curve of the shaper tip. A wider shape can help warmth the lower register while a narrower shape can improve stability along the higher range.

Scrape And Shape The Reed

Now the cane is on the staple, but it is still not playable yet. First the very top edge needs to be slightly cut so that the two faces can separate into two pieces of cane, and be able to vibrate against each oth er. Players will often cut at a slight angle so one face will be taller than the other, and this improves the ability of the cane to vibrate.

tip channels