Posture
It is important to sit up with the instrument in the proper playing position to facilitate proper breathing, tone, and technique.
- Set the seat strap over the front 1/3 of the chair with the hook off to the right. Let it hang over the edge about 5-6 inches.
- Sit on the seat strap and hook the bassoon to the seat strap using the hole closest to the chair.
- A properly balanced bassoon should appear weightless. Bring the instrument across your body to form half of an 'X'.
- When you are looking straight ahead, bring the reed to you so that it touches the divot in your chin. When you play, your head should be lowered slightly.
- Look at the images below and follow the fingering chart on the "fingerings" page to place your fingers in the proper playing position.
Embouchure
The embouchure is the shape your mouth makes to let the reed vibrate properly.
- Form a whistle with your lips
- Draw in the rest of your lips around the reed like the drawstrings of a hoodie
- Make sure you have equal pressure on all parts of the reed.
- Make sure your lips are in front of your teeth
- Put as much reed in your mouth as possible without going beyond the first wire
Crowing
Crowing is the sound the reed makes when it is not on the bocal. You should try to get as much "rattle" or as many sounds as possible when crowing on the reed to ensure all overtones are being engaged.
.This is an example of a proper crow
This crow is high pitched with too few sounds.
Causes:
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This crow is low pitched.
Causes:
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Adding the reed to the bocal
Once you have a good crow it's time to add the bocal. The note with just reed and bocal should be around a middle C. You should be able to move the bocal side to side in your mouth without changing the pitch, however; playing with the reed at too steep of an angle will create unsatisfactory results.
First Notes
- The first note you play should be C on the second space in the bass clef (C3). Use the whisper key and all three fingers in your left hand to play this note.
- Move up from C to F on the fourth line (F3) by removing one finger at a time, bottom to top. Refer to your fingering chart for specific notes.
- After moving up, go back to the C and move your way down to the low F substituting a B flat for B natural. If you have sputtering on the F, the opening in your reed might be too small. Make sure it is fully supported so you have a nice full sound in the lower register of the instrument.
Low F
Correct sound on low F
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Supported sound moving to unsupported sound.
Causes:
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