A Guide for band students

Bassoon Assembly

The following instructions serve as a reminding process for putting together the Bassoon. Students should not attempt to put together the bassoon for the first time by themselves.

  1. First place your reed in some water and allow it to soak while you are assembling the Bassoon.
  2. Remember the Bassoon is extremely fragile, do not bend the rods or keys!
  3. Grasp the Bassoon by the solid wood parts only
  4. Take the boot joint by the metal end and rest it in your lap
  5. Take the wing joint and put the cork end into the smaller hole in the boot joint gently twisting.
  6. Line up the keys on the wing joint with the keys on the boot joint.
  7. Note the curvature of the wing joint that doesn't have any keys or holes in it. This is the part you want the next piece of the bassoon to line up with.
  8. Next, take the long joint and place the cork end into the boot joint. Be sure that the area with no keys or rods is aligned into the curvature of the wing joint.
  9. Line up the thumb keys on the back of the instrument.
  10. If your bassoon has a locking mechanism to lock the wing joint and long joint together you should lock it together now.
  11. Place the bottom end of the bassoon gently on the floor and grasp the bell.
  12. When putting the bell on the top of the Bassoon be sure to press the key down on the bell so that the rods do not get stuck together.
  13. Next comes the seat strap. Attach the seat strap end to the bottom of the boot joint.
  14. Place the end of the seat strap under your thighs.
  15. The bocal is next.
  16. The bocal is easily bent or damaged. Be sure to grasp the bocal by the curvature closet to the cork end only.
  17. Place the cork end of the bocal into the receiver being sure to not catch the whisper key pad on the bocal hole.
  18. The final piece is the reed. Place the reed on the bocal with the flat part of the reed horizontal.
  19. Adjust the seat strap so the reed is even with the mouth and the head does not have to move up or down to get the reed in your mouth.

Care of your Bassoon

PictureAvoid this!
The Bassoon does not need a lot of care but these simple guidelines will ensure many years of faithful service from your instrument.

  1. After each use make sure to swab out the boot joint on your bassoon and wipe any excess water from the holes.
  2. Swab out each of the joints
  3. Every six months the bassoon should go into the shop to get the keys and bore oiled
  4. Wash out the bocal with warm (not hot) soapy water at least once a month
  5. When not actively playing put the bocal in the top of the bell to avoid damage to it
  6. Do not expose your bassoon to extreme heat, cold or humidity. It could crack
  7. Be sure to label your bassoon case with a luggage tag and your phone number in case it gets lost
  8. Be careful with your bassoon. It is made of wood or plastic  and if dropped or used roughly it will break or be damaged