oboe tone (at)

Subject: oboe tone
From:    at <HARTMANNPA.MSU.EDU>
Date:    Tue, 25 Nov 1997 18:46:55 -0500

Re question from Punita Singh:

        Why use an oboe to tune the orchestra?

The 440-Hz oboe tone has much of its spectral strength in harmonics 3, 4, and
5. Therefore, when other instruments tune to the oboe tone, their relatively
strong fundamentals do not mask it badly.

Harmonics 3, 4, and 5 are consecutive, leading to a strong pitch at the
fundamental (which is not missing in any case). These harmonics are in the
spectral dominance region and convey pitch well.

The playing frequency of the oboe may be a good reference because it is
unusually stable. That means that the musician is less able to bend the note
than with other winds. Normally, musical acousticians say that the ability to
bend the frequency depends on the mass of the primary vibrator. The lips of
the brass instrument player are heavier than a clarinet reed, and the double
reed of the oboe is particularly light. Therefore, the playing frequency of
the oboe is strongly determined by the air column in the instrument body.

I hautbois you find this answer useful.

Best,
Bill