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BASSOON

Embouchure Formation

  1. Use just the reed.

  2. Remember to have good Posture and Air Support.

  3. Make your lips into the shape of a whistle.

  4. Drop your jaw so that your teeth are slightly open.

  5. As you draw the reed into your mouth let the lower lip come with it.

  6. Bring the reed in 2/3 of the way between the tip of the blade and the first wire.

  7. Your top lip should slightly cover your top teeth.

  8. Your bottom lip should slightly cover your bottom teeth.

  9. Draw your lips firm around the reed like pulling drawstrings on a hoodie.

    • Your upper lip should almost touch the first wire of the reed.

    • Keep your teeth apart.

  10. You should have an overbite when the embouchure is formed correctly. (see the picture at right)

  11. Click on the SEE YOUR EMBOUCHURE button to check your embouchure.

  12. Watch the Video for this formation in action.

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Overbite

Embouchure Issues

When the embouchure is incorrectly formed, you can hear some distinct sounds.  Click on the buttons here to see causes and solutions to common embouchure tone problems.  You can also compare your sound to the listening examples next to the buttons.

Assembling The Bassoon

  1. Familiarize yourself with the different parts of the bassoon.

  2. Put the tenor joint into the small hole on the boot joint slightly twisting them as you push together.

    • Make sure you are aware of the bridge keys and that you are not squeezing any of the keys on the tenor joint too hard.

  3. Set this aside in the case.​

  4. Put the bell onto the long joint with a slight twisting motion.

    • Make sure you press the bad on the bell to lift the bridge key.

    • Line up the bridge key as you assemble.

  5. Put the assembled long joint into the hole on the boot joint with a twist.

    • Watch to make sure the whisper key is not bent as you do this.​

  6. Add the bocal, holding it near the vent hole and twist into position so that the whisper key covers the vent hole.

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Holding The Bassoon

  1. Sit towards the back of the chair with your body balanced over your sit bones.

    • Your seat strap should have a cup and be towards the front of the chair.

    • Do not lean too far forward or back as this will create tension in your back and your abdominal muscles respectively. 

  2. Your back should be straight and tall with legs out in front of you with either your feet flat on the floor or slightly tucked under your body ensuring that your chest and abdomen have enough room to expand without creating tension.

  3. The bassoon should sit in a seat strap with the butt joint resting against your right hip.

    • The weight of the instrument should be in the seat strap and the chair.

    • The seat strap should be towards the front of the chair.

  4. The bassoon should lay across your body and look like one side of on “X”.

  5. The height of the instrument should be adjusted so that the reed will land in the “soul patch zone” when the instrument is brought to the mouth. Your head will tip down between 5 and 10 degrees. 

  6. Your left hand will be closest to your face with your right hand below.

  7. Your fingers should be able to comfortably stretch to cover all open tone holes. 

    • The biggest stretch being between your left middle finger and ring finger. 

  8. If you have large hands, a hand rest for your right hand maybe necessary but is not required. This needs to be looked at to make sure your fingers can comfortable reach the tone holes and thumb buttons.

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Front View

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Side View

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Yourself

A Guide to Great Embouchure...

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