I've moved on to it from playing flute, violin and piano so it couldn't be more different. Obviously, the first difference I noticed was how incredibly heavy it is! I have a strap but the weight and very awkward fingering means my fingers start hurting very quickly Also my stomach muscles get tired from the force of my blowing, something i'm not used to when playing flute.

Am I doing something wrong or does everyone go through this when they start? I only got it on Monday (yesterday), but i'm getting very frustrated! I'm worried i'm going to need to hire a teacher rather than just applying my knowledge from other instruments. The nearest teacher is 50-60 miles away and I don't have a car I don't want to give up!

To make sure you have things set up properly, go to this webpage: http://www.2reed.net/bdp/ and scroll right down to the bottom, where there is a section entitled "Starting Bassoon." Here you will find several very basic videos to help you get started. There's lots of other help on this web page also.

New instruments always use different muscles, etc., and you will certainly find blowing a double reed a lot different from blowing a flute, where there is no resistance involved. You use more air in blowing a flute but a double reed offers lots more resistance and so your stomach muscles have to work harder. However, your hands should not be hurting, so watch the videos to make certain you have things set up properly.

At first when I picked up the bassoon (from tenor sax), my left hand was killing me, but after a while, it stopped. Maybe when you get good, your pain should go away like mine did, as previously mentioned, instruments use different muscles. Mine was probably the fact that you hold bassoon far differebtly than saxophone, lol

I also found I had problems with my left hand, which in the conventional playing position has to support part of the weight and also finger the notes. Eventually I started using a balance hanger which more or less takes all the weight off that hand by enabling you to support the bassoon at its centre of gravity.
As a more general comment, stance and posture are really important to get right with any instrument and you might be well advised to have at least a few sessions with a bassoonist to make sure you're ok. It's a heavy thing to manage, and if you're going to play a lot you don't want any musculo-skeletal problems. You don't need to go very often - maybe once a month would do it - but if you can avoid getting into bad habits from the start you could save yourself time and effort correcting things later.
I spent a lot of time working out the best combination of harness, hanger and crook shape (I use a straight one) to get me into a relaxed playing position; and it was worth it.

When I started playing Bassoon, my left hand hurt as well. it starts to go away the more you play. If you become lax in playing, the pain may come back though. I stopped playing over the summer because I started working 40 hours a week, and just started up again, and am having the hand problems again. I think I'm never going to take a break again.
I switched from flute, and it is very different! Best of luck on this. You'll probably come to love the instrument. I love its tone and how everyone loves that I play. They never hear me play, but think its cool that I do.

My hands are slowly becoming like that of a burly man so handling this monster of an instrument is getting a little easier. The fingering isn't that hard, really, if not awkward.
But now i'm having alot of trouble with any notes below low A. They just wont come out! All that happens is a loud, guttural wail and then I run out of breath. I've tried all different mouth positions and blowing pressures but it just wont do it. Occasionally I can get out a G but thats only when I hold an A and then quickly surprise it, so I know it's not the bassoon.

Any suggestions?

Are you sure it's not the bassoon?

It is easy to knock the thumb G# pad arm where it loops over the G pad key causing a leak. This pad frequently gets wet the pad hardens & any slight misalignment will cause a problem.

Maybe... i'll have a look. I hope it's not the bassoon, when I damaged the pads on my flute it cost me a fortune. Can I fix it myself of will I have to have it serviced?

If it is just that pad it shouldn't cost much. If you ask for 'a service' it will!

I switched from a clarinet to a bassoon and my muscles didn't really have a problem adjusting. I just got my second bassoon(my 1st was from the 40's)and my right hand has been getting sore, but it is because there is extra metal parts that my old one didn't have.

i say dont try to fix the pads by yourself. I dont play bassoon but i do play clarinet and i know that if you try to fix them yourself with no experience you will damage it even more. My friend try to fix his bassoon by hisself and he still had to take it to the shop

if you have instrument problems i'd take it to a proffesional, i don't play basoon, but i play flute and clarinet (flute first) when i first stated i noticed it was alot differant, my thumb hurt from taking the weight, and i was struggling with the stamina of playing though a piece breath wise, but only because the amount of resistance in a reeded instrument compared to the flute is pretty pnominal, it takes a bit of getting used to. just hang it their, basson is awesome

How are you holding your bassoon? It should be pretty upright, with only a small angle to it. This will keep some of the weight off your left hand. You'll need to sit up straight, also.