Why should I play the bassoon?

There are many great reasons to play bassoon in school band: The bassoon has a rich and varied sound. The bassoon can play the melody, counter-melody, harmony and more. While learning any new musical instrument will have its challenges, the bassoon is considered one of the more difficult instruments to learn.

What is special about a bassoon?

It has a unique sound From the rich, growling timbre of its low notes, through the stately, lyrical sweetness of the middle, and up to the penetrating highs, the bassoon has one of the most characterful, complex and flexible sounds of any instrument.

Is the bassoon hard to play?

The bassoon is one of the most difficult instruments in the orchestra to play, but people just don’t take it seriously. The reeds are connected to the instrument by a metal mouthpiece.

What notes are hard to play on the bassoon?

E2 and D2 are frequently sharp, especially for young players. These are difficult notes to play in tune, and because of the overtones on bassoon a sharp E or D can make everyone in an ensemble sound out of tune.

Why is it difficult to play the bassoon?

Bassoon is a complicated instrument. In addition to the issue of sound production (getting a good tone), in my experience, it is very hard for amateurs to play it in tune. The fingerings are complicated, much more so than clarinet or saxophone.

Why is my bassoon so flat?

Note: Most bassoons have the tendency to play flat on the high notes and play sharp on the low notes. Other causes can be a weak reed, a poor airtight instrument and excessively loose joints causing air leaks as well. In rare cases of very old bassoons, the bassoon may have been made flat to start with.

How is the way you hold the bassoon different from other woodwinds?

Unlike a clarinet or saxophone that attaches their reed to a mouthpiece, bassoons are double reed instruments. That means, instead of having a single reed that attaches to a mouthpiece, there are two pieces of cane held together by a wire which vibrate against each other to produce sound.

What kind of music can you play with a bassoon?

The bassoon is a double reed woodwind instrument that has a distinctive tone, yet can play a wide range of music from lyrical to humorous. It’s used in orchestras, bands, and even chamber music. If you want to be a bassoonist, there are some things you’ll want to consider.

What should the lips do when playing bassoon?

The lips control the reed completely: the teeth play a minor role. The feeling of the lip should be one of grasping the reed all around, and the reed should be supported on the sides, as well as from above and below. The teeth should be apart when playing bassoon, much like when playing trombone.

What should I look for in a bassoon reed?

Having good reeds is one of the most important considerations when playing the bassoon. You can save money by making your own reeds, but it is a time-consuming process. Your reeds should not have cracks in them. All of the wires should be intact. You should look for professional, handmade reeds rather than machine-produced reeds.

Which is the predecessor of the bassoon instrument?

The bassoon is often thought of as one of the more comical instruments of the orchestra due to its wide range of expressive capabilities (see the audio examples below). The precursor to the bassoon is thought to be the dulcian (see a picture of a dulcian) which was used from the early 1500’s.