Troubleshooting Bassoon
Written by
Professor David Pierce, Bassoon
"My low D is sharp."
Arch the left thumb and depress the low B-flat key in addition to the normal fingering. Adjust the reed to play the D in tune.
"Ouch! What a sharp top space g!"
Add left hand Eb or C-sharp key with the 4th finger.
"I'm so sharp, but I can't help it."
Several things may cause the bassoonist to play sharp overall:
- Try a Heckel #2 or a Fox #3 bocal.
- Adjust the reed wires to flatten the tube by squeezing both the first wire and the second wire from the top and bottom.
- Try sanding or scraping the reed to make it softer by carefully removing cane from the sides and tip.
The reed affects pitch, articulation, and tone. Often pitch and articulation are interdependent. A sharp reed may be "edgy" or "stuffy." A flat reed may be "rubbery" or unstable.
- Relax and BLOW emphasizing an OPEN feeling and sound.
"In the low range, I'm all thumbs!"
For low range agility, use a "whisper" key lock. If your instrument does not have a lock, a small cork wedge can be devised to hold the whisper key closed during low range passages.
"The low notes don't come out!"
For low range articulation problems watch for "loose" left hand 3rd finger and right hand 1st finger. These may leak just enough to cause a "misfire" when articulating low range notes. Leaks in the boot and bass joints may also cause poor low range articulation. Test joints individually and reseat pads as necessary. Use bathtub sealer to create a gasket for the boot. The whisper key/"pancake" key bridge should be adjusted to be sure the whisper key pad closes when the pancake key alone is depressed.
"I can't get the [a, bb, b, c1, or d1] to come out."
Articulating the a, b-flat, b, c1, and d1, particularly while slurring requires a brief venting of the appropriate left hand thumb key (a, c, or d). This is called flicking or snipping.
"My reed is cracked."
When are these serious? Superficial cracks at the corners of the tip will not seriously affect the reed. Splits along the spine require the "wall test." Despite reed frustration, "fibercane" (plastic) should be avoided!
"Nobody can hear me."
Some student bassoonists play too softly. Clean out the bocal and reed. Emphasize AIR and SINGING. Increase reed tip opening. Listen to recordings of good American bassoonists in order to develop a "larger" tone concept. It takes physical effort to create a full, resonant sound!
"I can't play any softer."
The actual physical sound power range of the bassoon is only about 10 db. Much of the impression of dynamic contrast is the result of changes in tone quality and articulation. Try slipping the first wire of the reed a little to temporarily close the tip before a soft passage. Encourage the student to maintain a consistent air stream, particularly when playing very softly-just above the threshold of response. In a few cases, low F-sharp for example, a mute fingering may help. As a last resort, particularly in the orchestra pit, try a mute (fabric inserted in the bell).
"How do you make a vibrato?"
Try to emphasize amplitude modulation (not pitch modulation). Use exercises to encourage a regular vibrato rate. Model after singers. Some of the best bassoonists prefer to think of vibrato as a natural result of musical playing when all other aspects of the technique are approached correctly. Don't create a wide vibrato to hide a poor tone or imprecise pitch.
"My reed came unwrapped!"
Just wrap it up again. Use cotton embroidery floss, button & carpet thread, or FF nylon. Choose your favorite color. Seal with fingernail polish or Duco cement.
"I only twisted it a little?!?"
Fragile bocals may be damaged easily. Don't attempt to straighten dents or kinks in the bend. You may open the seam if it already isn't open. Send bocals with large dents and open seams to the repair shop. Bocal tips out of round may be carefully straightened by squeezing the bocal tip with pliers around a gently inserted mandrel. Be careful to avoid "flaring" the bocal tip. Use a fine file to get rid of any burrs which may tear the reed cane tube.
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