The highest note the Bassoon can physically go is on treble clef. The E that is in the highest space that is still on the staff.

There are lots and lots of pieces that require a bassoonist to play e4 and f4 (strictly measuring the bassoon`s range, with low b-flat as Bflat1). Sure, they`re difficult, but also pretty standard. Here`s a partial list (just off the top of my head)

Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (f4)
Ibert: Divertissment for Orchestra (f4)

Dutilleux: Sarabande et Cortege (f4)
Boutry: Interferences I (f4)
Saint-Saens: Sonata (e4)
Harbison: Quintet (e4 -- 4 times in the first movement)

You`ll notice that a lot of the pieces are by French composers, and it`s true that these notes are probably more easily produced on the French bassoon than on a German (Heckel) system, but they should be part of any decent college student`s standard technique.

I forgot one thing.

George Perle`s 3 Inventions for solo bassoon requires the bassoonist to play high G (the space just above the staff in the treble clef), and YES, it is possible.

I found a really cool website that shows fingerings for up to A5. That would be in the first ledger line in the treble clef!These really high notes do require you to use your teeth touching the reed to get the right partial.(hopefully that`s the right term)

hey andrew could you give us the address of that website you found

funny and sad story about the high notes (I have played them):

Throughout high school I played the bassoon in music class... I also played it during our concert band. Anyways during my grade 12 year we all had to play a piece of music that our music teacher chose for us, and that was our final playing exam. Alright, most people got ones that were decent. My music teacher for some freakish reason loved the way that I played the bassoon, and decided that none of the pieces she had were hard enough for me. So she found this messed over trombone song that I had to play on the bassoon-- all of it was the skreching high notes that everyone here is talking about. When she first gave it to me I just laughed and asked for my real piece and she told me thats what it was. I had 2 weeks to learn all of those notes. So the day came when I had to sit down and play this piece for her. Well she told me that due to the fact that it really was high, and that the song itself was challenging and that it was 98 degrees in the room that she would stop me half way. She didn`t.. I kept going and going and going on those stupid high notes... lol.. by the end of it I couldnt feel my mouth, my hands were sore and I was just ready to pummel her-- but on the good side I recieved the highest mark she had ever given someone-- a 106% Someone told me that a couple of the notes that I was playing for that piece was the highest a bassoon could ever go -- I dont know thats what I was told-- Id have to drag out the piece again to tell you what the notes were though

That was the first time I had played really high ones-- Ive played more since than-- and once you get them down they really arent that hard... just take them slowly at first-- and dont strain yourself to much-- it takes awhile

Looking at the list Jeff made-- lol SYMPHONIC DANCES FROM WEST SIDE STORY-- awesome song-- go it!

Andrew about the teeth touching the reed-- word of advice-- be careful if you plan to attempt this-- mind you-- I had chipped my tooth the week before so that may be why it hurt-- but it hurt.

Wow, it`s great you got 106%!

We had to do a play in class for Romeo and Juliet, and the "Westside Story" thing was like based on R+J, so we had to watch it and it was so scary (as in omg wtf) so ya... I personally hate that thing.

wth are u guys talking about i just want to know how to finger super c and i dont know what symstems u peeps r talking about lol. im just in 7th grade i plan to take over the world 1 bassoon fingering at a time and i`ve made it to super c so sum1 put it in fingerings i can understand!!!

All I know is that im an 8th grader and need to know the really scary high notes for band tomarrow for chairs.

i can play B nat. (2nd highest chromatic note on student bassoon), i love the sound of these notes

i play basson and have this is my 3rd year and i can go pretty high not as high as some of you say you can but yea bassoon is my favorite instrument i play i play clarinet tenor sax and bassoon and it is so cool but usually the music i get at school isnt all that high or low its usually all on the staff so its not too bad to play its just usually the oom-pas lol bass line so yea id like to hear from all you bassoon players out there email sometime

Hang on, I can play a C# 4.
http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/bassoon/basn_alt_3.html
That`s the site I use to get my fingerings. I`m self taught so I have to learn all the fingerings from online and thats teh best site for me?

I can hit from the lowest Bb1 to G5 and all the notes in between. It`s way weird how high the bassoon can go, considering it`s like the BASSoon. I`ve heard of like C#6, but it`s like no fingers and you`ve got to bite down on the reed and blow incredibly hard. They are making expiremental bassoons that go higher easier though. It`s so dumb though how like when ever a piece requires tenor clef, there`s like still a million leger lines, they might as well write it in trebel.