Tune the Strings

Oboe Tuner

The oboe gives the A the orchestra tunes to, so it pays to be exact. Play a long A and this tuner shows how many cents off you are; set the reference to 440, 442 or anything else.

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Press Start and allow the microphone. Audio stays on your device.

Oboe tuning notes

Tuning noteEnglish horn / cor anglais (F) readsConcert pitchFrequency (A4 = 440)
Orchestra AE5A4440.00 Hz
Band B♭F5B♭4466.16 Hz
Low register checkC5F4349.23 Hz
Octave checkE6A5880.00 Hz

Concert pitch vs written pitch

The oboe reads concert pitch. The English horn (cor anglais) is in F and sounds a perfect fifth lower than written; choose that setting to see your written note.

How to tune a oboe with this tuner

  1. Soak your reed and warm up for a couple of minutes.
  2. Press Start tuner, allow the microphone and set the Reference to your ensemble's pitch (440 or 442 are common).
  3. Play a long, steady A. If you are flat, push the reed in a little; if sharp, pull it out (only a millimetre or so).
  4. If the pitch is far off, the reed is usually the cause rather than the instrument: a reed that crows flat or sharp may need adjusting.

Oboe tuning tips

Reed first

Reed scrape, opening and length affect pitch more than anything else. A crow on the reed alone should sound around a C (C5 and C6 together) for most players.

Giving the A

When you give the tuning A, hold it steady and in tune for several seconds. Practise with the tuner until the needle stays centred without you watching it.

Lips and air

Pinching makes the oboe sharp; too much reed in the mouth or slack lips makes it flat.

Tune by ear with reference notes

No microphone? Press a reference note above to hear it for three seconds and match it, listening for the "beats" (a wobble) to slow down and disappear. The buttons are labelled with the note you read in the selected setting, with the concert pitch underneath.

FAQ

Why does the oboe tune the orchestra?

Its clear, penetrating tone is easy for everyone to hear, and its pitch is harder to adjust than most instruments', so the orchestra matches the oboe.

Is the oboe A = 440 or 442?

It depends on the orchestra. Many US groups use 440; many European orchestras use 442 or 443. Set the Reference option to match.

Does this work for English horn?

Yes. Choose "English horn / cor anglais (F)" to see written notes a fifth above concert pitch.

Other tuners