Flutter tongue

The musician uses the throat or tongue to create a fast vibrating sound like a buzz or ‘flutter’. 

Microtones

The musician plays intervals smaller than a semitone such as quarter tones (4 divisions of a tone) and even smaller by using different fingerings or embouchure (mouth).

Key clicks

This is simply the the noise of the keys. On the oboe these are unpitched. Only to be used sparingly in quiet passages.

Glissando

A bending of pitch between between two notes either up or down. For the oboe, a glissando is only possible for intervals up to a third.

Pitch bend

The musician moves up or down to a note through a sliding sound similar to a glissando. There are a few variations: rising up to the note; dropping down to the note; dropping off from the note; rising up from the note. 

Vibrato

This is movement within a pitch that enlivens it and is used to create expression. It can be very wide and obvious or very small and gentle.

Write con vib above stave

Blowing down the instrument

The musician blows down the oboe without the reed to make an airy/windy sound.   

Wind tones

The musician plays the instrument without making pitched note. Creates a breathy, windy sound.

Give a verbal or written instruction

Finger trill

The musician alternates playing the same note with two different fingerings. This produces a fluttering effect on the same note through changes of tone colour and slight pitch changes.

Playing the reed

The musician uses just the reed. The range of pitches that can be played depends on the player and will be approximate.