Bassoon article
Bassoon Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Large, mechanically complex and immediately distinctive in sound. Here's what makes it different from every other woodwind and how it fits into ensemble music.
The bassoon is one of the least-understood orchestral instruments — large, complex and immediately distinctive in sound, yet rarely the first instrument a beginner thinks of. Understanding what it is, how it works and what makes it different from other woodwinds helps demystify it, whether you are considering learning or simply want to understand what you are hearing in an orchestra or wind ensemble.
What the Instrument Is
A bassoon is a double-reed woodwind instrument that produces its lowest notes in the bass register and can extend up into the tenor and even alto range. It forms the bass voice of the woodwind section in most orchestral and band settings. The instrument uses a bocal — a curved metal tube — to connect the reed to the main body. Sound is produced when the player's embouchure (lip and facial muscle position) controls two thin reeds vibrating against each other at the top of the bocal.
Construction and Key System
The bassoon body is made up of several sections: the bell, the long joint, the boot joint (the U-shaped lower section where the tubing doubles back), the wing joint and the bocal. When assembled, the tubing length totals around 2.5 metres folded into a manageable instrument approximately 134cm tall. The key system is substantial — around 25 to 30 keys, operated by all fingers and both thumbs — making it one of the most mechanically complex woodwinds. Most instruments produced today use the Heckel system, which is standard in Germany, the UK and most of the English-speaking world. The French Buffet system, used less widely, differs in key placement and tonal character.
The Reed
The bassoon reed is handmade, double-layered and significantly affects tone, intonation and response. Many advanced players make their own reeds from raw cane. Students typically use commercially made reeds, which vary considerably in quality between suppliers. Reed selection and adjustment is one of the ongoing practical skills of bassoon playing and represents one of the instrument's most significant ongoing costs and time investments.
Who Plays the Bassoon
In orchestras, the bassoon section typically consists of two players, with the principal bassoonist taking solo passages. A third player doubles on contrabassoon (a lower, larger instrument) in larger scores. Concert bands and wind ensembles include multiple bassoon parts. The instrument is rarely played in popular music contexts; its primary home is classical, contemporary classical and film music. Players typically begin on another woodwind (often clarinet or oboe) before switching, as the embouchure and respiratory demands are considerable even for experienced woodwind players. For a guide to buying, the buyer's guide covers the key instrument options at each level.
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