Oboes are a family of
double reed woodwind musical instruments. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. Oboes are usually made of wood, but there are also oboes made of synthetic materials. A soprano oboe measures roughly long, with metal
keys, a conical
bore and a flared bell. Sound is produced by blowing into the
reed and vibrating a column of air. The distinctive oboe tone is versatile, and has been described as "bright". When the term
oboe is used alone, it is generally taken to mean the standard treble instrument rather than other instruments of the family, such as the
cor anglais (English horn) or the oboe
d'amore.
