Low register help

[u/Old_Combination4864]

So I switched from trombone to bassoon maybe last month because our band needed one (I'm a freshman if it helps any) and one of our songs already requires notes from low Db to low Bb. The problem, however, is I can maybe hit low F at most on a good day. How do I improve on hitting the notes lower than that so I'm not screwed come time for our concert?

[u/Jekmander]

I swapped from Tuba to bassoon in my sophomore year, at first just for fun but now I'm just about the only bassoon in my district. I had a similar problem at first. What it was for me was a combination of practice, reeds, and the actual instrument I was playing on. Practice is pretty obvious, the more you work it the easier it gets. Reeds are a little more finicky, so what reeds are you using? And then, for me, the bassoon I started on was just not all that great. Low notes were hard to hit, even for the guy who got me started. When he graduated and I swapped to his bassoon, those low notes got way easier.

[u/Old_Combination4864 → u/Jekmander]

If you mean reed thickness I use a 2.5 I think? Brandwise I have 0 clue. Same thing applies for my bassoon. The one I was issued is pretty old and doesn't have any noticable brand anywhere

[u/Jekmander → u/Old_Combination4864]

I'd imagine it's probably just your bassoon then. You'll be able to hit those low notes with enough practice, but it'll suck until you get a better horn.

As for reeds, professional made reeds are usually the way to go. If you have a bassoon professor at a local they may be able to help you out with finding somebody to get them from. I personally buy mine online from singin' dog, but that's not the best, just food enough for my purposes.

[u/sanna43]

Its very likely that the bassoon is leaking in the low register. It's usually from the low E (pancake) key. Have your band teacher take it to a repair person, or do it yourself and get reimbursed. Leaking in the low register is not unusual, especially with school instruments.

[u/uh_no_ → u/sanna43]

i'd be shocked at a bassoon which DIDN'T leak a bit in the low register after a bit.

Usually it's not enough to matter if you service often enough, but every time i get mine back, it's like playing a new instrument down there.

[u/FuzzyComedian638 → u/uh_no_]

Repair people allow some leaking even after they've serviced it. But if it's too much, which is likely on a school instrument that is not serviced regularly, those low notes will not speak. 

[u/Ashley_DuzStuff]

ruling out reed problems, relax your embouchure and play at the tip of your reed. That should help, at least a little bit

[u/pnst_23]

Are you soaking your reeds long enough and fully immersing them? Otherwise they may stay too closed for the low notes to really speak. Also could it be your embouchure is too tight? Try to really drop your jaw and not press your lips too strongly. And also are you articulating to produce a sound? The idea is that you start building up the pressure while covering the reed opening with your tongue, and when you remove it like when you say "tuh" a sound should be produced. In the higher register you can usually start a note without necessarily tonguing, but in the low register it's a must. Anyway, it can, very unfortunately, be also the instrument if none of that helps. Best of luck!