Assembly and Holding the

Instrument
Oboe & English horn

Parts of the Oboe

Top Joint Bottom Joint Bell

Assembly
1. Ensure that corks on the top and bottom joint are greased well. If not,
place some cork grease on the cork, and smooth over the entirety of
the cork with the fingers.
2. Build from the bottom up: start by placing the bottom joint (cork end)
into the bell, and slowly twist the two pieces
together until they are pushed together as
far as they can go.
a. Proper Alignment: the post on the top
of the bell should sit over the platform
at the very bottom of the bottom joint.
3. Next, place the top joint (cork first) into the
top of the bottom joint. Place the bottom of
the bell on your leg and slowly push the two
 pieces together until they are pushed in as far as they can go.
a. Proper Alignment: the bridge keys on either side of the instrument
should align, with the bridge keys from the top joint sitting over
the bridge keys from the bottom joint. The tone holes on the front
of the instrument should be in a straight line.
4. Push the reed into the top of the reed socket (AKA reed well) as far as it
will go with the crossover in the thread facing you (or at the back of the
oboe).

Tips for Assembly without Bending Keys/Rods

● Before opening the case, set it on a flat surface - floor or table. Do not
open the case in your lap.
● Ensure before opening that the case will open correctly - one can
typically know which side is the top by which side the logo is on the
case. If the case is unmarked, mark it yourself with a bright piece of
tape, a sticker, etc.
● Squeeze against key platforms, not the rods on either side of the
instrument.
● No extreme tension should be needed to push the pieces of the
instrument together. If the instrument is hard to put together, it most
likely needs more cork grease.
● Once assembled, set on an instrument stand (sometimes included with
the instrument) or flat on a chair leaning on the right side of the
instrument (if looking down from the player’s perspective.

Holding the Oboe

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

● Right hand on the bottom, left hand on top.
● Right Hand:
○ Thumb sits under the thumb rest between the bottom of the nail
and the first knuckle. The thumb should be slightly angled to allow
correct curvature in the fingers and finger alignment with the
tone holes in the bottom joint.
○ The index, middle, and ring finger should hover on top of the three
main tone hole keys (the largest circular keys), with the pinky
hovering over the three pedal keys on the bottom to allow fluidity
of motion.
■ Do not rest the inside of the index finger on the key
extending from the top joint. It should hover over this for
ease of use.
● Left Hand:
○ The thumb should rest lightly below the octave key(s). It should
be there for some support, but ready to be used to push the
octave key(s).
○ The index, middle, and ring finger should hover over the three
main tone holes (the largest circular keys) on the top joint, with
the pinky hovering over the cluster of pedal keys (or cluster keys)
on the left side of the instrument.
■ Do not rest the inside of the index finger on the key
extending from the top of the instrument. It should hover
over this for ease of use.
● Both Hands:

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

○ All fingers should close tone holes with the squishy part at the end
of the fingers to ensure all holes are completely covered when
necessary.
■ Fingers should be rounded at the knuckles to ensure the
right part of the finger is being used - think of putting your
fingerprint on each key.
○ When closing tone holes, there should be little tension in the
fingers - think of pressing them closed rather than squeezing.
■ Exercise to Ease Finger Tension: To affirm or adjust the
tension with which one presses down the keys of the oboe,
first squeeze the keys of the oboe as you normally would.
Then, applying the same amount of pressure, squeeze your
thumb and fingers on each side of your opposite hand. If
there is a lot of pressure or painful pressure, that means
that there is too much finger tension being used when
playing the instrument.
● The correct amount of finger tension will vary from
person to person and from instrument to instrument
(depending on the height placement of each key in
relation to the tone hole).
● To affirm how much tension is needed, use a low D
fingering. Start by blowing into the instrument just
touching the keys and gradually applying more
pressure until the right note speaks from the
instrument. Ensure you are using enough air and a
good reed to allow the note to speak.

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

Parts of the English horn

The English horn contains all of the same essential parts as an oboe. They are
made larger and are spread out to accommodate the key system to the size
of the instrument.

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

Assembly
1. Ensure that corks on both the top and bottom joint and bocal are
greased well. If not, place some cork grease on the cork, and smooth
over the entirety of the cork with the fingers.
2. Build from the bottom up: start by placing the bottom joint (cork end)
into the bell, and slowly twist the two pieces together until they are
pushed together as far as they can go.
a. Proper Alignment: the post on the top of the bell should sit over
the platform at the very bottom of the bottom joint.
3. Next, place the top joint (cork first) into the top of the bottom joint.
Place the bottom of the bell on your leg and slowly push the two pieces
together until they are pushed in as far as they can go.
a. Proper Alignment: the bridge keys on either side of the instrument
should align, with the bridge keys from the top joint sitting over
the bridge keys from the bottom joint. The tone holes on the front
of the instrument should be in a straight line.
4. Push the bocal into the top of the bocal socket (AKA bocal well) as far
as it will go with the bocal bent towards you.
5. Place the English horn reed onto the bocal with the crossover in the
thread facing down (or towards the player).

Tips for Assembly without Bending Keys/Rods

● Before opening the case, set it on a flat surface - floor or table. Do not
open the case in your lap.
● Ensure before opening that the case will open correctly - one can
typically know which side is the top by which side the logo is on the
case. If the case is unmarked, mark it yourself with a bright piece of
tape, a sticker, etc.

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

 ● Squeeze against key platforms, not the rods on either side of the
instrument.
● No extreme tension should be needed to push the pieces of the
instrument together. If the instrument is hard to put together, it most
likely needs more cork grease.
● Once assembled, set on an instrument stand (sometimes included with
the instrument) or flat on a chair leaning on the right side of the
instrument (if looking down from the player’s perspective.

Holding the English horn

● Right hand on the bottom, left hand on top.

● Right Hand:
○ Thumb sits under the thumb rest between the bottom of the nail
and the first knuckle. The thumb should be slightly angled to allow
correct curvature in the fingers and finger alignment with the
tone holes in the bottom joint.

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

 ○ The index, middle, and ring finger should hover on top of the three
main tone hole keys (the largest circular keys), with the pinky
hovering over the three pedal keys on the bottom to allow fluidity
of motion.
■ Do not rest the inside of the index finger on the key
extending from the top joint. It should hover over this for
ease of use.
● Left Hand:
○ The thumb should rest lightly below the octave key(s). It should
be there for some support, but ready to be used to push the
octave key(s).
○ The index, middle, and ring finger should hover over the three
main tone holes (the largest circular keys) on the top joint, with
the pinky hovering over the cluster of pedal keys (or cluster keys)
on the left side of the instrument.
■ Do not rest the inside of the index finger on the key
extending from the top of the instrument. It should hover
over this for ease of use.
● Both Hands:
○ All fingers should close tone holes with the squishy part at the end
of the fingers to ensure all holes are completely covered when
necessary.
■ Fingers should be rounded at the knuckles to ensure the
right part of the finger is being used - think of putting your
fingerprint on each key.
○ When closing tone holes, there should be little tension in the
fingers - think of pressing them closed rather than squeezing.
■ Exercise to Ease Finger Tension: To affirm or adjust the
tension with which one presses down the keys of the English
horn, first squeeze the keys of the instrument as you
normally would. Then, applying the same amount of

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

 pressure, squeeze your thumb and fingers on each side of
your opposite hand. If there is a lot of pressure or painful
pressure, that means that there is too much finger tension
being used when playing the instrument.
● The correct amount of finger tension will vary from
person to person and from instrument to instrument
(depending on the height placement of each key in
relation to the tone hole). English horn will also require
a greater amount of tension due to higher placement
of the keys than on the oboe.
● To affirm how much tension is needed, use a low D
fingering. Start by blowing into the instrument just
touching the keys and gradually applying more
pressure until the right note speaks from the
instrument. Ensure you are using enough air and a
good reed to allow the note to speak.

Neck Straps and Additional Support:

An English horn is significantly heavier than most models of oboes

causing many players to turn to forms of additional load-bearing to
help support the weight of the instrument to prevent muscle injury.

■ Neck straps are worn around the neck and over the
shoulders with a connection hook that helps to support the
weight of the English horn (can be worn
sitting or standing)
■ Pegs are attached to the bell of the
instrument and support the weight of the
instrument from the floor (can be used sitting
or standing)

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023

■ Chest straps are uncommon in English horn playing, but
can be utilized to more equally distribute the weight of the
instrument from the shoulders and back and connects to
the instrument like a neck strap (can be worn sitting or
standing)

Lauren N. Kowal – Updated 2/2023