Bassoon article
Bassoon for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Most players who take it up come from another woodwind. Here's what to expect, what to prioritise and how to set yourself up correctly from the first session.
The bassoon is not typically a first instrument. Most players who take it up seriously come from another woodwind — usually clarinet, oboe or flute — and transfer those foundational skills: breath support, embouchure control, reading music and understanding basic technique. Starting from zero is possible but demands patience, a strong teacher and a realistic understanding of the physical and technical challenges involved.
Finding a Teacher First
Before anything else, find a teacher. The bassoon's physical demands — embouchure development, reed adjustment, correct hand position across a large and complex bassoon key system — are difficult to establish correctly without guidance. Self-taught approaches that work for guitar or piano rarely work for double-reed woodwinds, where bad physical habits compound quickly and are slow to correct. A teacher with experience in the instrument, ideally a conservatoire-trained player, is the most important investment a new player can make. Look for teachers through the British Double Reed Society or through local music schools and conservatoires.
Assembling the Instrument
The bassoon assembles from five sections: the bell, long joint, boot joint, wing joint and bocal. Learning to assemble the instrument correctly — in the right order, without forcing joints, with appropriate cork grease applied — is the first practical skill to master. The boot joint goes together first. The wing joint attaches next, then the long joint, then the bell. The bocal inserts into the wing joint last. Handle the bassoon key mechanism carefully during assembly; keys bent out of adjustment require a repairer to fix.
Embouchure and Reed
The double reed sits between the lips, which must seal around it without clamping. The bassoon embouchure — the position and tension of the lips, jaw and facial muscles — needs to produce enough tension to control the reed's vibration without choking the sound. Beginners typically have too much tension at first, producing a thin, constricted tone. The goal is a relaxed, firm seal with enough air pressure to drive the reed. Working with a teacher on a single long-tone exercise (one note, held, with attention to tone quality) in every early session is the most effective embouchure-building approach.
The Reed Question
As a new bassoon player, start with a medium-soft commercially made reed from a reputable supplier. Reeds that are too hard produce a stuffy, resistant response that makes embouchure development harder; reeds that are too soft are difficult to control. Your teacher will likely suggest specific suppliers. Bassoon reed-making is a skill that comes later — most students learn to adjust existing reeds first, then progress to making their own. For guidance on setup and instrument preparation, the bassoon overview covers the instrument's components and key system in detail.
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