 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: woodwindfreak
Date: 2008-10-04 07:10
I'm trying to learn oboe but am thinking I might switch to bassoon-
are the 'reed issues' and embouchure considerably easier on bassoon?
I guess some would say anything's easy compared to oboe,
but I'm wondering if overall the bassoon would be a better experience.
my problems with oboe are:
you hold tons of compressed air, your face turns red
and basically it seems there's no comfortable way to play oboe
and get a good tone - is bassoon a lot better in the 'comfort'
factor?
with oboe the reeds are SO unreliable - you just look at a reed
wrong and it will let you down - I don't like having to
deal with that kind of inconsistency - seems you can't totally
rely on any given oboe reed.
How is this situation with bassoon?
ok, so there are clearly some disadvantages to oboe -
so, what about the pros of oboe playing-
I would say:
- more solo material
- better solo material
- easier to put together/take apart
- doesn't have the 'class clown' stigma that bassoon has -
maybe in some ways gets a little more respect than bassoon
(notice I said 'little')
- easier to play fast melodies
- easier fingerings
well, this is my oboe vs bassoon quandary -
clearly they're both difficult instruments but I'm
hooked on double reeds, so there you have it:)
anyone have thoughts on these things?
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Author: Bret Pimentel
Date: 2008-10-11 17:04
Which one do you *want* to play? That seems to me the most important thing to ask yourself.
But to address the questions you've raised:
The comfort issues you describe on the oboe will become very minor with a good reed, a good instrument, and (especially) some good training.
Bassoon reeds are, in my experience, more forgiving than oboe reeds.
I would disagree with your points about the oboe having "more" and "better" solo material. Both have long and noble histories and rich repertoires.
Oboe easier to put together? I suppose. Is that really going to play into your decision?
There's no bassoon "stigma" among those whose opinions are worth anything.
Easier to play fast melodies on oboe? I doubt it is significantly easier or harder. I've definitely heard some bassoonists who can play circles around the oboists sitting a few chairs away (and vice versa).
Easier fingerings? Perhaps in some ways, but not easier enough to be a deterrent to a motivated potential bassoonist.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Bret
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Author: wkleung
Date: 2009-04-05 06:20
I would say:
- more solo material
- better solo material
- easier to put together/take apart
- doesn't have the 'class clown' stigma that bassoon has -
maybe in some ways gets a little more respect than bassoon
(notice I said 'little')
- easier to play fast melodies
- easier fingerings
I played both oboe and bassoon to a pretty high level. These are my opinions:
more solo material -- agreed. At least for baroque and classical (except that there are more Vivaldi bassoon concerti than oboe concerti)
better solo material -- hard to say. Probably yes in orchestral
easier to put together/take apart -- oboe is easier but i don't think you want to decide based on this. How about portability?
'class clown' -- cannot comment on that
easier to play fast melodies -- definitely, particular at the low and high ranges
easier fingerings -- definitely
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Author: Aubstopper
Date: 2009-06-30 08:14
I play (and have played) both instruments at a professional level and i got to say without a doubt oboe is more difficult. It's been my main instrument for about 11 years, and i picked up bassoon in a few weeks during my senior year in high school. The reed situation is so much easier...i mean, you can play on a bassoon reed with a hardcore crack down the middle of it and it'll be fine, but with oboe, you can have a reed stop working well with even the slightest leak or chip...
to master, i would say that oboe is the most difficult...but i think that it's the most rewarding also. It's one of those things that you do because you love it, not because you get more solos or whatever. Because if you're doing it only for that reason, you're going to drive yourself crazy...
I don't know how you're playing oboe, but it seems like perhaps you need softer reeds? You shouldn't be blowing your brains out...
Bassoon fingerings are a little more difficult (though oboe when you start getting into excessive flats, gets a little tricky with all those left right fingerings (though not as bad as clarinet))...but it's easier to master...
go with your gut...pick an instrument because you LOVE it not because it's easy or difficult...
Instruments: Oboe (primary), English Horn, all saxes, Bassoon, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, and Piccolo.
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2009-07-28 22:27
I have never played an oboe but played a lot on the bassoon. But the trick I learnt early on was dump the stupid expensive double reed and get a mouth piece. Thse are available for about US$50 fit nicely on the end of the crook and take an inexpensive clarinet reed. The beauty here is the reeds can be changed at negligble cost to the strength required. The MPC also protects the reed.
The sound produced is almost identical to the cane double, or is if anything slightly warmer. Depends on the type reed used.
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