Wanna learn Bassoon

[somethinorwatever]

I play tenor sax, and bass clarinet, and i want to learn bassoon. I already know bass clef (from past piano lessons) but I am rusty with tenor clef. What is a link to a good fingering/trill chart :?: Also I know that you have to learn to make reeds, how do you do that :?:

[SaxPlayer1004]

I double bassoon often and unless you plan on making a primary or secondary instrument, then learning to make your own reeds just becomes a hastle. been there done that. for a good basic fingering chart, the rubank books, and the Accent on Achievment have good charts. Chromatic with a few alternates from low Bb (its lowest note. same as a tubas) up to i believe high d. so that will give you a good 2 and a half octaves to start. with the tenor clef, you probably won't come across it until the very hard music. i played bassoon in districts and all states, along with my high school band which plays grade 6 music, and i have yet to come across tenor clef at all.

[Bnatural]

That's becoming less common, tenor clef I mean. You'll still run into it in some ensembles that are big on using original parts or if you have some old books. Good to know but most bassoonist I no don't use it much

[bpimentel]

For fingerings, try here:
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/

Tenor clef shows up fairly often in the standard methods (Weissenborn) and solo and orchestral literature that college-level students play, as well as in common bassoon-doubling situations like Broadway shows. If you plan to be a serious bassoonist, plan to tackle tenor and even treble clef, as well as the whole reedmaking thing.

Good luck!
Bret

[Todd in Texas]

Terry Ewell and Lisa Hoyt have put a fantastic and exhaustive fingering chart on the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) website. For beginners, check the standard fingering chart at http://idrs.colorado.edu/bsnfing/note/heckstnd.htm
There is a more extensive page with several different chart links at http://www.idrs.org/BSNFING/FINGHOME.HTM

One of the most important aspects of technique that is often ignored by doublers is the use of 'vent' or 'flick' keys on the bassoon. You'll definitely want incorporate the use of the 'A' vent key for 5th line (bass clef) A and the 'C' vent key for Bb, B and C above the staff EARLY in the learning in your learning, rather than later. Since the bassoon does NOT have a single octave key, these keys must be used to have these upper notes speak consistently.

Hope this helps-
Todd

[AbrahamFackle]

This has nothing to do with bassoons but bothers me and must be corrected.

The lowest note on a tuba is NOT a Bb. On a three-valve instrument, the lowest note (excluding pedal tones) is E below that. On an instrument with four or more valves, the chromatic range down to the first pedal tone (Bb in the octave below the lowest bassoon note) is possible and the range can be extended indefinately based on the ability of the player down from there.

Sorry. I know that was totally random and probably uncalled for, but I had to do it.

[SaxPlayer1004]

Sorry miss typed that. and a 4 valve tubas range is to low B not Bb before pedals. The same as tubas was meant for when a " low Bb" is called by a director for a tuba the open Bb, space below the second ledger line is played not the one way down there. and i wouldn't quite go indefinetly. there is a range that the lop vibration exceeds the range of the instrument. there is a stopping range on a tuba, where it has to go to the subcontra tubas because the instrument isn't big enough, but it is about 2 octaves below a piano, making it almost pointless to get that low unless you have 12 of them which would make it somewhat audible.
and the low Bb is used because a tubas tuning Bb is the second line Bb and it is gone on from there.

[txsphere]

My junior year of highschool the orchestra director asked me to play bassoon. (At that time playing legit clarinet, sax and flute.) It is a totally different beast. Start by borrowing a horn from school or a friend as to avoid investing to much money till you know if you want to stick with it.

As far as clefs I found a lot of orchstra literature move into tenor clef.

Good luck.

[DD3]

Todd, Where are you located? Thanks

[Razzy]

The show "The Music Man"'s reed V book called for lots of bassoon, and there were definitely a few lengthy passages in tenor clef. I've experienced other shows with fair amounts of this too. Of course, transposing bassoon to bari is already fun enough with the adding sharps/taking away flats concept, but in tenor clef! Whoa man. I just figured those out at home and memorized them the night before the gig.

[Merlin]

Trick is to play the tenor clef parts on bass clarinet. It becomes analogous to reading bari in bass clef.

[Tim Price]

If you want to play bassoon- JUST DO IT. :D

I've played bassoon sinse 11th grade in HS and always loved the bassoon- it enhanced my sax & woodwind playing also :)

[Razzy]

Yea, bass clarinet is definitely one of my next projects, slated for addition around the same time as piccolo for a nice counter-balancing effect. Only then can I begin to approach double reeds!

[Todd in Texas]

DD3,
I'm located in Garland, a suburb of Dallas. I play principal bassoon in the Plano Symphony and Irving Symphony, and teach saxophone at Texas A&M University-Commerce. My masters degree is in saxophone performance, and I'm a DMA bassoon candidate, so I have to really keep my chops tip-top on both. Gotta be ready every time the phone rings! :D

Todd