The oboe is the most important, unique, and musical instrument in the woodwind family. It is the most distinct and challenging music instruments that has been developed over the years. The oboe, is a very unique musical instrument in the modern orchestra.

The oboe has developed as the music industry has evolved. This musical instrument is being used since ancient Greek times. Different varieties of the oboe were found in Asia, Greece, and Egypt. The first oboe was created in France half way through the 17^th century. It had only few keys in the start and gained popularity in many of the countries as time passed.

After the popularity of the oboe, the oboe family comes in. there are many different members. The oboe is kept in the key of C. The next popular musical instrument of the oboe family is the cor anglais commonly known as English horn. It was named on the name of baroque oboe. It is slightly curved in shape. This is also known as bent horn. This English horn is very popular. It has been played in the key of F. The English horn has long bore with a bell that has bulb shape. It has a double reed but it is different from the reed of the oboe. The English horn has bocal in which the double reed is placed. It has same fingerings as that of oboe. The English horn has a very rich and beautiful musical tone.     

Another very popular member of oboe family is the mezzo-soprano instrument. This is also known as oboe d'amore. It is played in the key of A which is third lower than the original oboe. The oboe d'amore is a bit longer in length than the oboe. It also has a bell that is bulb shaped exactly same as that of the English horn. It has same fingerings as that of oboe. Its reed is unique which is placed on the bocal. Its reed is slightly smaller than that of the English horn. The oboe d'amore can be heard in Bach's music. 

The bass oboe is another very important musical instrument of the oboe family. The bass oboe plays in the key of C as that of the oboe. It has different reed with a more curved bocal. The bass oboe can be taken as a very large English horn.

There are some other instruments in the oboe family that are being less used such as the heckle phone and the musette. The heckle phone resembles to the bass oboe. It has a more powerful sound. The musette is very rarely used now. This is the highest member of the oboe family that plays in flat E or F keys.