In a classical orchestra, the oboe is the double-reed woodwind known for its notably nasal tone.
An oboe produces sound when air passes between two small pieces of cane bound together. This double reed gives the instrument a focused, penetrating quality that remains audible even when many other instruments are playing. The oboe's conical wooden body and elaborate key system support a wide range, although it requires considerable control because the reed opening is small.
The oboe often provides the orchestra's tuning note: the oboe sounds an A, commonly designated A4 at 440 hertz in modern practice, and the other sections tune to it. This tradition is practical because the oboe's tone is stable and easy for players to hear. The English horn is a larger relative with a lower range, not a different reed family.
The clarinet uses a single reed, the flute uses an air jet rather than a reed, and the bassoon is also a double-reed instrument but is much larger and lower-pitched. These distinctions are common sources of confusion when classifying woodwinds.