I`m just starting on the bassoon and since I already play the flute i`m used to treble clef. I`m really slow at reading the notes. I know the rhymes; George Buys Doughnuts From Asda, and , All Cows Eat Grass. But I really want to find a way to remember them quickly. Also- Are synthetic reeds worth buying, do they last longer, i know they don`t need soaking. tnx xxx

wow, i never knew synthetic reeds don`t need soaking... maybe i should go buy some. they will no doubt produce a crappier sound though.

umm, for bass clef, just practice a lot... you`ll get the hang of it. i started bassoon in september and within a few weeks of starting, i got the hang of the bass clef. it`s weird ebcause i`m more of a clarinet player but i`m better at reading bass clef than treble clef now. lol.

btw, i don`t find that the rhymes help at all. you`ll end up counting the lines while saying the rhyme in my opinion. i just associate the name of the note and it`s fingering with it`s spot on the staff. simple as that. then all you have to do is get used to it.

Thnx that really helped.

wow, i never knew synthetic reeds don`t need soaking... maybe i should go buy some. they will no doubt produce a crappier sound though.

they are amazingly crappy. The tone they make resembles that of a Honda Civic with a welded on muffler. It has this whinny high pitched buzz that frankly sounds like crap. so if you dont really care that people will start laughing at you then they are fine for beginers

^LOL. but i guessit`d be okay for me, the sound can`t get any worse with my plastic bassoon. =/

the notes come out but it doesn`t sound like a bassoon.. haha.

Yes, I`d just have to say give it some time. First time I ever picked upa Bassoon, I didn`t know how to count rythems, didn`t know Treble OR Bass Clef, and coulden`t play any instrument, period. Now I rock at the Bassoon.

You`ll be fine.

Just remember that if you move the note on the bass cleff up from line to line or from space (up two) then its the same as the trebel cleff. So if you take the middle lind of the bass (D) and move it up to the next line then its like D on the trebel

thats how i remember it

Thanks everyone. I think i`ll stick to normal reeds!! I love the bassoon so much!

I`ve been playing for five weeks now. My tutor says I`ve got my bottom hand position all wrong. I now know what is right but it is really uncomfortable. Can you get cushioned hand rests to make it better?

It would be better if you basically just sucked it up and let caluses develop. I`ve been playing the bassoon for 17 years, and yes the bottom hand position is uncomfortable at first, but as you continue playing, and you keep hammering the bottom hand position, you will get used to it.

I had an advantage, because I played the Cello first, and your fingers get mighty sore for the first few months of playing. But, as a Cellist, you can`t just say "I`m not going to touch the strings because it hurts"; the same is true with the bassoon. The right hand position is right for a reason. So, stick to it, suck up the pain and let the caluses grow. You`ll be glad you did if you ever become a professional musician.

Good luck. But if you practice often, you won`t need it!

Post Script: Synthetic reeds are TERRIBLE. Avoid them. Even as a beginner, they are terrible. You should be able to listen on a proper reed for the right, rich tone you want. And let me tell you now that the greatest master on the best instrument ever made by mortals could not make a synthetic reed sound really good. Do yourself a favor, use normal reeds.

As for base cleff. Keep at it. You get used to it.

you guys are scaring me here. i`m starting to learn bassoon in a few days and i have to learn bass clef since i`ve played clarinet all my life. worst part is i have to have it somewhat mastered before september. i hope i can do this.

I heard there are good plastic reeds, made by fox.

I am not a Bassoon player but I noticed a few people talking about bass clef. I play piano and it took me a while to learn it as I played flute, clarnet and alto sax. Don`t worry about making mistakes because you will be able to play it without any problem sooner than you think

just wait till you have to learn tenor clef