Getting Started on Bassoon
You want to learn to play bassoon. Great. I'm here to help. In order for my help to be as useful as possible, I HIGHLY recommend that you go through the steps in order and don't skip anything.

It is assumed that you already play another wind instrument before you begin this course. In designing its structure I assumed that you already have a basic knowledge of reading music, breathing to play a wind instrument, how fingering charts work, and other basic musical knowledge that you've probably already picked up in your band classes. This is not a comprehensive music course, but a guide to picking up bassoon as a second instrument.

Try to come into this endeavor with no assumptions or preconceived notions about what works on your current instrument. Don't try to apply your clarinet embouchure to bassoon, or your saxophone horn angle, or even try to moisten your reed in the same way you would on whatever instrument you play. Bring your musician's ears, your general knowledge of music, and your intuition, and leave everything else at the door. Let's go have an adventure.

Chapter 1:
​Gathering materials

Let's start by making sure you have everything you need ​to be set up for success

Chapter 2:
​Embouchure and First Sounds

In section 2 we'll form an embouchure and learn to crow on the reed alone, as well as the reed and bocal.

Chapter 3:
Instrument Setup

Don't skip the "boring part."
​Instrument assembly, posture, and using the
​seat strap ​are vitally important

Chapter 4:
​Let's play some bassoon!

Playing your first notes on the instrument,
up to the first scale.

Chapter 5:
Care and Maintenance

Keep your bassoon happy and in good condition with simple care and maintenance.

Chapter 6:
Resources and Links

Fingering Charts, links to product websites
​and helpful tools, and other resources to help you along the way.

Blog / Q&A

Do you have any questions or ideas for this site? Anything you wish I would have covered that I didn't?
Comment here and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

We can also use this as a bassoon nerd meeting place.
Did you discover a cool bassoon video on youtube? Got any good bassoon jokes? Post them here. Bassoon IS very memeable.