Oboe octave keys and the half-hole: playing above the staff
On the oboe, most notes in the upper register use the same fingers as the note an octave lower. What changes is a small vent that helps the note jump up. The oboe has three of them: the half-hole, the octave key, and the second octave key. This guide shows which notes use which, and how to move between them smoothly. It teaches a conservatory-system oboe with semi-automatic octave keys, from C in the third space up to high C.
Jump to the map of which note uses which keyThree ways up
| Vent | Notes | How |
|---|---|---|
| Half-hole | C♯, D, E♭ (3rd space to top space) | Roll left 1 down to open the small hole in its key |
| Octave key | E in the top space up to G♯ above the staff | Left thumb presses the key on the back |
| Second octave key | A above the staff up to high C | Side of left 1 presses a key beside it |
The half-hole: C♯, D, and E♭
The half-hole is part of the left first finger's key. Instead of lifting the finger, you roll it down toward your palm, like a hinge, until the small hole at the top of the key opens. The rest of the key stays pressed.
- Rolled too little? The note may crack down to the low octave or sound stuffy.
- Lifted off? Lifting your finger uncovers too much of the tone hole, and the note may wobble or squawk. Keep the finger touching the key.
The first octave key
From E in the top space up through G♯, press the octave key on the back with your left thumb. The thumb rolls up onto it from the wood, without leaving the oboe.
The second octave key
From A above the staff up to high C, use the second octave key instead. It sits beside the left first finger's key; press it with the side of that finger while the pad stays on its own key.
Automatic vs. semi-automatic oboes
Oboes handle the octave keys in one of two ways. Ask your teacher whether your oboe has a semi-automatic or fully automatic octave mechanism. Use the instructions for that system. The rest of this guide teaches the semi-automatic system.
| Semi-automatic | Fully automatic | |
|---|---|---|
| Octave keys you press | Two: thumb and side | One: the thumb key |
| Going from G♯ to A | Add the side key. You can leave the thumb down; the side key closes the first vent for you. | Keep the thumb down; the mechanism switches vents for you. |
| Found on | Many student and professional oboes | Some student, intermediate, and professional oboes |
| Good to know | Some players prefer it for control in the high register and in trills | Fewer motions; some high notes and trills are fingered differently |
Smooth register changes
The hardest moves are the ones where a vent changes and fingers move at the same time: D to E (half-hole off, octave key on) and G to A (octave key to second octave key).
- Keep the air steady through the change. Avoid pushing or pinching for the upper note.
- Move the thumb and fingers at the same instant. Practice the change silently first, watching that nothing lags.
- Keep the embouchure in place. Small adjustments are fine, but don't take in more reed or bite for the upper note.
- Slow first. Each group at 60 beats per minute until it's clean three times in a row, then faster.
Practice these fingerings
Quiz yourself on the upper notes in Woodwind Trainer, set to oboe and the full range. Then play the slurs above with the tuner: the upper note should land in tune without biting. For the notes from middle C to high C in one place, see the oboe fingering chart.
From Band Trainer · bandtrainer.net/guides/oboe-octave-keys