 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Muzic
Date: 2000-04-16 21:39
Hi, at the moment i play Bb Bass and Soprano Clarinets. I am interested in play the bassoon and was wondering if anyone knows if the fingerings are similay or the articulation is etc...
Also anything else which is similar about the 2 instruments would be appreciated
Thanxs
PS. Could you e-mail me the coment as i don't visit this site that often!!!
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-04-18 12:45
(This post also e-mailed)
I think you will find that the bassoon is a very different instrument from the clarinet. It has a conical bore instead of a cylindrical one, so its registers are an octave apart rather than an octave and a fifth, so this should make learning the fingering a bit easier. But it doesn't seem to jump easily between registers. There are nine different keys operated by the left thumb to do various things such as go up an octave, go up two octaves. Some notes won't start until a special key is pressed, but the key should be released once the notes sounds. In general, the fingering is totally different from the clarinet.
The bassoon is a double reed instrument like the oboe and cor anglais. It uses a special double reed which protrudes from the end of the instrument. No part of the bassoon itself goes into your mouth. The two reeds are held between your lips. This means that the embouchure is totally different.
I think the bassoon is generally considered to be a difficult instrument, while the clarinet is generally considered to be an easy instrument. Of course any instrument is difficult when you push it to the limits. But the bassoon is more limited than the soprano clarinet. It will not respond as quickly so it will not be capable of the fast passages you can do on a soprano clarinet. I don't know how it compares in this respect with a bass clarinet.
Hope this is of some help.
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Author: Seisouso
Date: 2000-04-19 02:09
I am a serious bassoonist, and I switched from clarinet to bassoon. I played clarinet for about 4 years, and then played the oboe for a summer, and then finally went to the bassoon at a spur of the moment idea.
I found the transition difficult, but not so hard it's impossible. I also have double-jointed fingers, which can be a no-no for bassoon. This may have been easier for me beacuse of my earlier training on oboe.
As far as fingerings go, the clarinet fingerings for one thumb F all the way to 6 finger G are exactly the same, except for the fact you hold it like a saxophone. After that, though, it's all different. The register changes and embouchure are different at first, and your jaw/mouth will get very sore from playing with the double reed.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. I am an experienced bassoonist, having played solos and in concert bands, along with marching in marching band with the sucker. (Quite a sight to see a marching bassoon, as I'm told) I will performing in Disney World and Universal Studios this upcoming week also, which should be a great experience.
Hope this helps.
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