A popular member of the double reed family usually found in concert bands and orchestras.

The most common oboes play in the treble or soprano range and tend to be made out of wood, although synthetic materials are now becoming more popular. The instrument features a conical bore and a flared bell which produces a bright, distinctive tone. Unlike the Cor Anglais, the Oboe's reed is installed directly into the instrument rather than via a crook. When choosing an Oboe it is important to be aware of the difference between 'thumbplate' and 'conservatoire' models as these have different fingering. Some dual models offer a dual system to enable access to both.

A member of the double reed family, the Cor Anglais is similar to the oboe but pitched in F.

The Cor Anglais is very similar to the Oboe but pitched a perfect fifth lower in F. Approximately one and a half times longer than an oboe, the Cor Anglais has a distinctive pear shaped bell and small crook. Cor Anglais' are said to have a more mellow sound compared to the Oboe and are usually found within orchestras and chamber music ensembles. More recently, Jazz musicians, notably Paul McCandless, have started to incorporate this instrument into their work.