I'm fairly new to the bassoon - I've only been playing it six months or so. I'm looking for a teacher right now, but up until this point I've been learning by teaching myself and with the help of a friend that plays bassoon. Anyway, I have trouble with a couple of my notes: the A right below middle C and the Eb below that.
I can play the A just fine on its own, but I'm playing a piece in concert band right now (The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed, 2nd Bassoon) and the main melody is pretty much centered around A, and when I try to play it there, it cracks and my tone is terrible (not to mention it occasionally jumps the octave - rather startling and unpleasant when I'm not expecting it). Short of flicking the note every time I tongue it (which I can only do at about half tempo), I've not found a way to get around this.
My problem with the Eb is that I can't play it in tune. It usually plays so sharp it's almost identical to my E natural. I've sat down with a tuner and I am able to drop my jaw to get it in tune, but as soon the pitch locks in, it starts to bleat like a sheep.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Ra

You must flick or hold the A key open for this note whenever possible - that is the only way to ensure a clean attack. Likewise with the C key for Bb, B & C. Get your left thumb dancing!

E flat - sounds like are you using just 1st & 3rd fingers LH. Try adding RH2 and/or the B flat key (RH thumb). This is an essential 'normal' fingering on most bassoons.

Good luck.

Exactly what I would have replied, contra!

Thanks for your replies. Turns out it was a reed issue. My reed was too closed at the ends, I adjusted it with a pair of pliers and it made a world of difference. I really must learn to make my own reeds, the ones I buy are never quite right.

making your own reeds, in my opinion, is definitely worth the effort. It takes a while to get a good one, but you gain so much more understanding of the way the reed works in trying to do so.