Hey my names Matt and i'm actually a tuba player (as you can tell from my user name), but I want to learn bassoon. If it may help, I played alto saxophone for a year, but I switched to Tuba. So, I know it's GOOD to have a wet reed but I haven't played woodwind instruments for about 6 years. There are so many buttons. Does anybody know a simple, easy-to-understand fingering chart on the internet? Also, I want to start now, but I think my school has oly one bocal and the guy that plays it doesnt want to let me borrow it for some reason, so how much is a cheap bocal at a music shop? Also, anybody know a good instruction book? Thanks.

Oh also, I've heard you can play a low A (below the bass clef staff) with an extension, so how much do those cost and is that the only way to play it?

You would never need a low A, so getting an extension for one is pointless, and in addition, I have never heard of them.

Also, I wouldn't suggest learning bassoon on your own. Saxophone and Bassoon are two TOTALLY different beasts...

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About the bocal thing, you would probably have to order one, unless you have a specified woodwind shop in the area. A CHEAAAPPPP one would run you about $70. Something decent would run about $200.

A linton is 70 on WWBW. 200 may be low...

Why do bassoon players worry about sharing a bocal? I have seen people play bassoon, and there mouth never touches the bocal, only the reed.

Nothing to do with health reasons just the practicalities of the bocal being with the right person & instrument at the right time.
Also if the bassoons are different brands the bocal cork might need to be different thickness for each instrument.

I consider my bocal to be an integral part of my horn and would never loan it out!

If you want a bocal and don't want to spend too much money, there are several Fox bocals on eBay right now. Make sure they are Fox bocals and not a no-brand name.

So why are people so over-protective with bocals, even if they are borrowing them from the school? If someone wanted to borrow the school's tuba that I play, I wouldn't say, "sure, but you have to but your own tuning valves for it" cause that is just dumb. Sharing a reed would be wierd since you put it in your mouth, but you dont put bocals in there.

One reason is because it's so easy to get them bent, and if that happens the bocal won't work and the horn won't play. Bocals cost a lot of money, they stick out and get in people's way, people fall into them, trip over them, knock them, and just generally they are the most fragile part of the bassoon. You can even bend it just while fitting it into the wing joint of the horn if you don't hold it the right way.

One can spend as much as $750 for a bocal and most people don't even want you touching their bocal if it's an expensive one like that. You can buy a much cheaper bocal but people who really get into their music spend lots of money on their bocal, which gets specially matched to the horn they have, so it's a big thing.

Surely the main point is that if both players are enthusiasts & wish to improve quickly they will both be playing every day - at school, home, band or wherever - so how can you share one bocal between two?

I play oboe. I heard they are related to bassons and i want to try one. Are they Similar??

Easier / Harder?

Eh...I think oboe is harder personally. The reeds are more tempermental and I dislike the fingerings. The similarities end at the reed unfortunatley.

'Easier / Harder?'

Different.

The lowest note on the bassoon is two octaves lower than the oboe.