How would you describe the differences between the sound of a well played oboe and a well played clarinet?

Question

I play the oboe, and I'm always bugged by how many people confuse the oboe and the clarinet just because they look alike. They obviously have totally different sounds qualities, but it's kind of hard to explain the difference. Whenever people ask me, I always say that the oboe has "sort of a brighter sound and is usually played higher." I know, that sounds like I'm stupid, but I'm not sure how else to explain it. Any suggestions? :) Thanks.

Believe it or not I actually meant this question seriously. And I was hoping just A BIT to get serious answers...

Answer 1

Point out to your friends the very basic difference that the clarinet is a SINGLE reed (just one reed vibrating the air column) while your oboe is a DOUBLE reed (two vibrating reeds that are bound together).
The oboe has a range from B below middle C up about two and 1/2 octaves.
The clarinet has nearly a four octave range from G below middle C up to C two octaves above the treble staff.
The clarinet has a cylindrical bore (the hole that runs the length of the instrument is a constant diameter) while the oboe has a conical bore (the diameter increases from the reed to the bell).

These three characteristics are, perhaps, the most significant ones in distinguishing the timbre (tone quality) of the oboe from the clarinet. They determine the relative strengths of the various overtones that occur in the sound waves produced by each instrument. In the oboe, the even numbered overtones are stronger, while it's the odd ones in the clarinet.

I didn't mean to get too technical, but wanted to explain the basic reasons why the two instruments sound different.

Frequently, the word "nasal" is used to describe the oboe sound, while the clarinet is harder to define because its sound changes greatly in different registers. It has been called "throaty" in the low register, "mellow" in the middle and "screechy" or "strident" in the higher register.
The oboe has also been called "melancholic", "mesmerizing" or "dreamy" which probably more describes the music written for it than the tone quality itself. But it suggests what kinds of emotions composers are trying to convey with the instrument.

The composer Hector Berlioz, famous for his book about orchestration, said this about the oboe: "It has a rustic character, full of tenderness, I would say even of shyness."
About the clarinet he said, "No other wind instrument is able like the clarinet to voice a note quietly, make it to swell, decrease, and fade away. Hence its priceless ability to produce a distant sound, the echo of an echo, a sound like twilight."

And yours is not at all a stupid question. It's great that you're thinking about that as it's important in how you develop your sound.

Answer 2

The clarinet. It seems like you can do more with a clarinet than an oboe. Also, I believe the reeds are cheaper for a clarinet too.

Answer 3

Compare the oboe and the clarinet to people. I played the clarinet and my brother played the oboe. I always said my clarinet had the voice of a smooth talking southern gentleman, while my brother's oboe sounded like a stereotypical mad scientist.

Answer 4

The clarinet has a smoother, more relaxing sound.

Answer 5

One sounds Oboey and the other sounds Clarinetish.