Oboe
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The Oboe is the smallest orchestral, double reed instruments. Its expressive sound is often used to play sad or emotional melodies. However, it is a difficult instrument to play. Because air is forced at high pressure into the tiny reed, stale air can gather in the lungs, making you feel faint if the air is not expelled quickly.
| Family |
| Woodwinds |
| Pitch range |
| Two-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| Wood. |
| Size |
| Just under 24 in (60 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| The oboe was developed from the early shawm, which had a wider bore and a very loud sound. |
| Classification |
| Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
| And also... |
| The oboe was one of the first woodwind instruments to have a regular place in the classical orchestra. Because its pitch does not vary much with temperature, the oboe sounds the A-note to which all the other instruments in the orchestra adjust their tuning. |
