Q&A for How to Play the Bassoon

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If I have big front teeth, can I play bassoon?

Community Answer

Yes, but try not to bite down and make sure you are using your lips for pressure, not your teeth because that leads to poor sound and you could break your reed.

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Question

I'm a saxophone player, and I usually wet reeds in my mouth (like I was taught to do). Can I do the same with bassoon reeds?

Community Answer

No, use water. The reed needs to be wet on the inside as well as the outside.

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Question

How long should I keep my bassoon together? I read you should apply grease every two weeks. Is that a good measure?

Kai Schlegelmann

Community Answer

Yes. If you have one at home and don't ever need to take it apart, it is still a good idea to grease it every few weeks.

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Question

Why do some people in the photos have their bassoon on their left side?

Ruby

Top Answerer

You can get left-handed bassoons too.

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Question

Would it be easy to switch to the bassoon after playing the oboe for a few years?

Ruby

Top Answerer

It will still be different and the fingering may be different. However, they're both woodwind and, if you have had experience playing one instrument, it won't be so hard taking up another.

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Question

Can the bassoon be played in the treble clef?

Community Answer

Yes it can, the middle of the clef is middle c or high c.

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Question

How expensive can a bassoon be?

Community Answer

Up to more than $28,000 brand new, or maybe less than $1,500 if you can find one used, at a pawn shop for example.

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Question

Will be hard to switch from the baritone to the bassoon?

Community Answer

The clef is different, but you will get used to it in a few months.

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Question

Is the bassoon a bad choice for someone who’s never played wind before? I’ve only played the violin for 8 years.

Noelle Mallo

Community Answer

It may be challenging at first. You may want to check out similar instruments, such as clarinet or oboe. The clarinet is probably the best choice for you, as it requires the least amount of air. Bassoons and oboes require a lot of air, which is one of the most challenging aspects of a wind instrument. You need to have a constant, steady air stream.

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Question

Will it be difficult to learn to play the bassoon if I have never played a reed instrument before, but I have played the flute?

Community Answer

It will be hard at first, but you will get the feel for it in a month or two. Look at exercises to see how the embouchure works.

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Question

How hard will it be to switch from brass to a bassoon?

Community Answer

Pretty hard. The reed is double reed, which might seem simple. Don't be fooled! A clarinet reed is a simple reed, bassoon reeds require pressing your lips together and it can hurt the first couple weeks, but you build up calluses. The main reason it is hard is the embrasure. Way different from any brass instrument.

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Question

What if I don't have the cleaning supplies?

Community Answer

You don't have to clean it all that frequently, but I recommend you take it to a music shop and have it professionally cleaned every couple of months.

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Question

I have played trumpet for 6 years and I really want to play bassoon. Would it be hard to be able to play both?

Community Answer

I currently play both and it is definitely very different regarding embouchure. However, it is still possible. I would choose which one you want to focus on as one may mess up the embouchure for the other. I only play trumpet in marching band as the bassoon is my primary instrument. I also started on trumpet and I learned bassoon in my freshman year of high school. Now, I'm about to graduate college with my music degree. If you want to learn it, just try it out! It may be a little intimidating at first, but it is definitely worth it.

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Question

I play flute, clarinet and saxophone. Can I play the bassoon?

Community Answer

It is definitely possible! The only issues you may have are the fingerings. They are very different from flute, clarinet, and saxophone. The fingerings can be awkward, especially with thumb keys,but nothing practice can't fix!

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Question

How do I reduce the amount of cork grease my bassoon needs?

Community Answer

This depends on a lot of factors. This can result from thick corks that can easily be sanded down, or if you have string around it, you can clip only a little off that to loosen it up. With string, make sure you don't unwind it too much, maybe only twice. To put the string back where it needs to be, I usually stick it under another string, but I would look up other possible ways to do this. Also, this may also result from weather as it can mess with the instrument as well. I would find what is causing it to happen before doing any of the above.

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Question

Can I still play the bassoon if I'm shorter than the bassoon?

Taboo

Community Answer

You could look into a mini bassoon. The keys are the exact same as a full sized, but it will be easier to manage and get your fingers covering all the holes.

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