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RASBERRY218
(7 points)
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Ok, so I just got a new bassoon and i'm really excited about it! I've learned how to put it together and all that stuff. I can play the notes, it's just that after a while my left wrist starts to hurt bad and I have to stop playing. Is this normal, or am I holding the bassoon wrong or something?
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Drew
(237 points)
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What are you using for a strap? A neck strap or a seat strap? If you are using a seat strap the weight will be supported well but there will be a little weight on your left hand. Try keeping the bassoon more upright, rather than at a 45 degree angle. This will help.
Also, if you are using a seat strap and also have a neck strap that came with the bassoon, you can hook the neck strap around the back of your chair on the right side and hook the hook through the ring in the boot joint. This will take weight off your left hand.
Also, of course, in time your left arm will get more used to supporting the bassoon, but you should not have wrist pain, even at first.
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RASBERRY218
(7 points)
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Oh! I'm pretty sure my bassoon came with one, it's a strap with a hook on it, but I didn't know how to use it so I left it alone. I still don't know how to use it, but I guess i need to. Thanks.
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Mark_UK
(21 points)
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It's important to get this sorted as otherwise you could start getting joint problems. Everybody's body is different so you need to work out what is right for you. If you want to play standing, you could think about whether you need to use a balance hanger (I use a leather one - the Kim Walker type) which takes the weight off your hand. However, this leaves you taking the whole weight of the bassoon on your neck through the strap (bad idea!), so you could try using a harness instead which puts it onto your shoulders.
Also, whether you're standing or sitting, look at the position of your left wrist: if, like me, you have long arms, you could be playing with the wrist bent back, which isn't good - it should be straight. I need to use a straight crook which puts the instrument a bit further away from me, to get a better playing position.
Don't think of it as just a wrist problem. A bassoon is a big, heavy instrument and your whole posture (arms, hands, shoulders, spine, neck, head...) needs to be as relaxed and stress-free as possible. There's really no substitute for advice from someone with experience who can look at you and see what you're doing. Do you have a teacher? The best thing would be to get advice from an experienced bassoonist. Good luck!
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Drew
(237 points)
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Raspberry, are you saying you don't know whether the strap that came with your bassoon is a seat strap or a neck strap?
If it is just a straight piece of leather or other kind of strap material with a hook on the end, it is a seat strap. You hook the hook into the hole in the very bottom of your bassoon and put the rest of the strap across the seat and sit on it. Your own weight keeps the strap in place and makes the bassoon very light to hold.
If it is a strap like you might see saxaphone players using, a sort of upside-down U-shape, with a hook tying the two ends together, it is a neck strap. Put it around your neck and hook the hook through the hole at the top of the bottom section of the bassoon.
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Mark_UK
(21 points)
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Rasberry - I've just seen Drew's post. Do you mean you haven't been using any support? No strap? If so I'm not surprised your wrist's hurting!!! Start using it now!!!!!
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RASBERRY218
(7 points)
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Yea, I've used it and my wrist hurts no more! It's so much easier to practice now, thanks! 
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