The main DIFFERENCES between OBOE and CLARINET

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The world of musical instruments It is a vast area that offers us thousands of opportunities to create very interesting sounds. Thanks to so much diversity, it is possible that sometimes we cannot distinguish the differences between some instruments that work on the same principle. This is the case for example of the violin and viola, the trumpet and the flugelhorn, and the oboe and clarinet... In a PROFESSOR we will clarify these doubts with this lesson in which we will discover the main differences between oboe and clarinet so that the next time you see them you will have no problem recognizing them from each other.

Index

1. What is the oboe and its characteristics
2. What is the clarinet and its characteristics
3. Similarities and differences between the oboe and the clarinet

Before getting to know the differences between the oboe and the clarinet, it is important to better understand what each of these instruments is like. The

To play it, the instrumentalist who blow from one end of the instrument and use your fingers to switch notes, altering the pace of the wind. The oboe has "keys" which are the mechanisms that cover or release the holes in its body and this is how the sound is altered to change the pitch.

His body is made of wood, usually black, and his parts are made of metal. It works with double tongue, here lies the first characteristic of the instrument. In contrast to other instruments such as flutes, the oboe has a nasal sounding timbre. It is played vertically with both hands through mechanisms with keys, which are made of metal.

His tessitura: from B flat 2 low to G 5 high. There are variations of the oboe that mainly change tessitura, these include: the musetta, the oboe of love, the English horn, the baritone oboe and the heckelphon.

The clarinetalso belongs to the category of woodwind instruments, its an instrument aerophone. It is also played vertically and works with mouth ofsimple reed. Like the oboe, it is made of wood that is usually black in color and has metal parts.

In terms of sound, the clarinet is very sweet and plush, not as vibrant as transverse flute and much less nasal than the oboe. Its operation is also similar to the instruments of the same category, the instrumentalist blows through the embouchure and uses the mechanisms of the keys with the fingers, to change notes.

His tessitura: from Re 3 low to high Sun (may vary). The clarinet also has variables from the same family such as the piccolo clarinet, the sopranine clarinet, the alto clarinet and the bass clarinet among others.

Let's get into the "crux" of the matter now and discover the similarities and differences between the oboe and clarinet. Here you are.

Similarities

Both instruments belong to the same category and have a highly similar appearance, therefore, their operation has the same system of blowing through the embouchure and altering the notes by means of keys with the fingers.

Regarding instrumental function both the oboe and the clarinet are woodwind instruments, which provide them with similar functions both as a soloist, as within an instrumental group or in an orchestra. Both are very expressive instruments that can make a melody stand out, and at the same time, they can blend very well within a section to the point that it is very common for them to play simultaneously as group. The oboe and clarinet are versatile, they can be very agile with fast and short notes, at the same time, they can sustain a long and expressive note.

Differences

• The most important difference between the two is the type of mouthpiece they possess and the timbre of sound they produce. As we mentioned, the oboe has a double reed mouth, while the clarinet has a single reed mouth.
• As for sound, it is easier to distinguish the oboe, since it has a much more "nasal" than the clarinet. In contrast, the clarinet can pass as less strident and more subtle, with a sound "Velvety" and warm.
• In learning and accessibility we have another important difference, as the oboe is a slightly more complex instrument and is also more difficult to control due to its double reed embouchure. In contrast, the clarinet turns out to be a much friendlier instrument to advance.
• Finally it remains to mention that due to its characteristics, theoboe tends to be quitemore expensive than the clarinet, including its parts and long-term maintenance.

Examples of use of each instrument

Now that you know more about each of these instruments you can now proceed to listen to them to practice differentiating them. If you want to listen to a couple of works for each one, we recommend a couple by the same composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, so you can compare the sounds between both instruments:

• Oboe artwork:Concerto for Oboe in C Major, K314. I. Allegro aperto
• Clarinet work: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622

Image: Miguel Ángel Espinel Music School

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