Best
Bassoon Cleaning Kit
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Overall: Perfect for Students
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Best Feature: Includes A Pull-Through Swab, A Silver Polishing, Cloths, Cork Grease, And Dusting Brush
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TedScore™: 8/10
Best
Reed Case
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Overall: Perfect for Students & Pros
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Best Feature: Slim Profile, Room For 5 Reeds
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TedScore™: 10/10
Best
Bassoon Cork Grease
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Overall: Lubricating Corks
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Best Feature: No Harsh Chemicals Or Petroleum Products
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TedScore™: 9/10
So you’ve been handed a bassoon! How exciting! But I’m sure you are wondering what on earth to do with all of those keys and tubes and whatnot. What is the best bassoon cleaner to keep your instrument in ship-shape?
It can be overwhelming to deal with such a complicated instrument for the first time, we understand. But don’t worry, you can do it!
Understanding the Parts of Bassoon
Let’s start things off with a little bit of bassoon anatomy. When you open the case, you’re faced with a lot of different parts (they’re all important.) Luckily, it’s nearly impossible to put it together incorrectly – the pieces won’t fit together otherwise.
Bell
The bell is the top of the bassoon, and it’s the easiest to recognize. Your bell will either have one or two key bridges that you will need to line up with the…
Bass Joint
Also referred to as the long joint, because on most bassoons it’s the longest piece. (Some will have a slightly longer bell and the bass joint will be shorter to make up for the problem with that.) The keys on this section will allow you to play the low notes.
Boot Joint
This is the heaviest part of your bassoon, and it has the most keys on it. It has two holes on one side, and that’s because it’s actually one tube, folded in half. If this fold wasn’t there, the bassoon would be nearly 9 feet long, and you definitely wouldn’t be able to reach all of the keys.
Tenor Joint
This is also called the wing joint, owing to its odd shape. It’s made to nestle against the bass joint so that the pieces don’t wiggle around as you are playing.
Bocal
The bocal, or crook, is the small, curved metal piece. Take care with this piece because it is easy to bend – only handle it from the most curved end, where the cork or string is pulled in, because the metal is thicker there and more sturdy.
Reed
The reed is what connects you to the instrument. It vibrates against itself as you blow through it in order to create the sound.
Bassoon Cleaning Instructions
Regular Cleaning Care
As you play, water will accumulate inside your instrument. This is because the air coming out of you is warmer than the instrument itself, so condensation builds up – think of a glass of something cold on a hot day – the outside of the glass will “sweat,” because the outside is hotter than the inside. With a wind instrument, the same effect happens, just inside out.
This moisture needs to be dried after each playing session. If not, the pads of the keys will become sticky, mold will grow in the instrument (ew) and the wood will begin to rot. But! Because of the design of the instrument, the water only builds up in three joints: the bocal, the wing joint, and the boot joint. The bass joint and the bell do not need to be dried.
Swabbing the Bores
To dry the inside of the bassoon, the bore, use a silk swab with a string and a chain on it. Silk on swabs is thin enough to go through the narrow wing joint without bunching up, and it dries quickly.
Take your bassoon apart and put the pieces safely in the case. Start with the boot joint. Turn it over so that the holes are facing down, and let gravity help you drain the water. If you’ve been playing for a few hours, there will be some drips that fall out. Next, blow in to the open tone holes where your first and second fingers go to clear any water.
Make sure that your swab is not tangled or bunched up or knotted – getting the swab stuck in the bassoon is not fun and usually does damage and requires a trip to the repair shop!
Now take the chain from one end of the swab and slowly feed it in to the wider hole in the boot joint. We need it to turn the corner and come out the other end, so once enough of the chain and string have gone in, rotate the boot joint with a little shake and turn it over so that the chain falls out the other hole. This takes some practice, but you’ll get the hang of it. Pull the chain gently so that the string and the swab go through and come back out. Put the boot joint in the case.
Now take the wing joint and blow in to the tone holes where your left hand fingers go to clear any water. Check your swab again and make sure it isn’t tangled, twisted, or knotted. Turn the joint upside down so that the wider hole is facing you – the bassoon’s bore is cone-shaped, and it gets gradually wider from the bocal to the bell. Feed the chain through the hole until it comes out the other side. Pull gently through the wing joint.
Next, put your left hand on the joint as though you were playing it. Cover the holes with fingers 1, 2, and 3. Put your right index finger over the narrow end of the joint, where the bocal would go, and put your mouth on the wide end to create a seal. Blow in to the joint. Then tap the flick keys with your left thumb to blow any water that might be trapped there out. Put the wing joint in the case.
Finally, the bocal. Put your mouth around the wider end and turn it so the narrow end is pointing down. Blow forcefully to clear any water from the bocal. Put it in the case. Now you’re done!
Tenons
Your tenons (the places where the bassoon pieces fit in to each other) usually don’t get dirty, but you can wipe any moisture off of them with a soft cloth or with your swab. They will be covered with either cork, or string. If they are cork, wipe a small amount of cork grease on them.
If they are string, DO NOT USE CORK GREASE.
If you have trouble getting the instrument apart or together and you have string, you need to remove some string so that the pieces fit together better.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Bassoon
You can wipe your bassoon with a soft cloth to get rid of any dust or dirt. You can use a polishing cloth on the keys, but make sure not to touch the pads with it. If you notice dust or dirt from underneath the keys in places you can’t reach, use a fluffy soft brush like a makeup brush to dust them.
Periodic Care
Every few months, your bassoon will need some maintenance to keep everything in working order.
Lubricating the Keys
Your bassoon has two types of screws: pivot screws and rod screws.
Pivot screws are the larger type of screws that stick out from the ends of the hinges, and they need to be lubricated with grease (regular key oil will drip out pretty quickly) – the key needs to be removed in order to do this, so if you aren’t comfortable with this particular puzzle, leave it for your repair tech to remove.
Rod screws are smaller and are flush with the surface of the hinges. Add a small amount of key oil to the rods – you’ll see a small gap where two pieces meet and you can place a drop of oil there. Move the key to help the oil coat the surface of the metal.
Oiling the Body
Occasionally the body of your bassoon will benefit from being oiled. This should be done by a professional repair person, as all the keys need to be removed. The oil keeps the wood moisturized, and this can help keep the instrument more stable when the weather changes.
Light mineral oil or sweet almond oil are great choices for this job. Be careful to remove excess oil if you attempt to do this yourself.
Bocals
Clean your bocal once a month by soaking it in warm clean water with a drop of dish soap for 10-15 minutes. Then run warm water from the tap through the bocal brush, from the wide end, to rinse out the soap. This should clear any gunk that may have built up inside.
If you have a bocal brush, you can scrub the inside after soaking and washing the bocal. Make sure to rinse well.
Cleaning the Plating
The plating can be well cleaned and polished with a jeweler’s polishing cloth. Be careful not to get any of the dust from the cloth on the pads.
Annual Care
The recommended major checkup is once a year. This is when you (or rather, your bassoon!) should visit a repair technician to be oiled and lubricated fully, and checked for leaks.
Servicing Your Bassoon to a Repair Technician
The repair technician will remove the keys and inspect all the pads and tone holes for wear, and the body of the bassoon for any rot or damage. They will ensure the pads are all seated properly and that there are no leaks, and that the bassoon is in good playing order.
Other Maintenance Tips That Must Not Be Forgotten
If you live in a dusty area, or if you have pets, vacuum your case periodically. Dust and fluff from your case will get inside your instrument. Wash your swab once a month – you can do this when you wash your bocal – just soak it in warm water with a small amount of soap, and rinse well. Air it out to dry completely.
Make sure that your reeds are dry when next time you put them away – blow through them backwards to get rid of excess moisture.
Useful Accessories for Cleaning Bassoons
Cork Grease
Cork grease helps lubricate the tenons and keep the cork from crumbling. ONLY USE CORK GREASE ON CORK. Some bassoons have string tenons, and cork grease will turn those in to a sticky mess!
DESIGNED FOR: Lubricating corks
FEATURES: No harsh chemicals or petroleum products
Rico-D'Addario All Natural Cork Grease
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Made from all-natural ingredients
- More expensive than the average, but your instrument is worth it.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Cleaning Kit
DESIGNED FOR: Students
FEATURES: Includes a pull-through swab, a silver polishing, cloths, cork grease, and dusting brush
Superslick Bassoon Care Kit
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Everything you'll need to get started
- A few unnecessary items
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Bassoon Case
Your bassoon deserves the best protection.
DESIGNED FOR: Pros, serious amateurs
FEATURES: An airtight seal and polyurethane foam protects the instrument from weather changes, comfortable handles and memory foam backrest
Bam L'etoile High-tech Bassoon Case
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Top of the line, beautiful case
- Expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Reed CAse
DESIGNED FOR: Students, pros
FEATURES: Slim profile, room for 5 reeds
Protec Bassoon Reed Case (holds 5 reeds)
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable and protective
- None
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Bassoon Harness
DESIGNED FOR: Students, pros
FEATURES: Harness design takes the weight off of your neck, options for men and women
BG Bassoon Harness
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Options for men and women
- Can encourage hunched shoulders
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Bassoon Cleaner
Summary
Cleaning a bassoon can be intimidating at first, but it’s very important to keep the instrument in good condition. After playing, use a pull-through swab to dry the inside of the wing and boot joints. Blow water out of the reed and the bocal, and wipe any dust or finger smudges away with a soft cloth.
Monthly, wash your pull-through swab and bocal in warm water.
Periodic maintenance includes cleaning by a professional to remove dirt and dust from beneath the key mechanism.
Keep on top cleaning and maintaining your instrument. A cleaned Bassoon is a happy Bassoon!
reading about all this bassoon maintenance makes me feel like it’s less of an instrument and more of a high-maintenance pet. next you’ll be telling me it needs to be walked twice a day and fed organic reeds. 😂
This list of accessories is such a gem! I’m thinking about making the switch from clarinet to bassoon, and knowing what I might need ahead of time is super helpful. Cork grease and a cleaning kit are familiar, but I had no idea about a bassoon harness! Does anyone have recommendations for a beginner-friendly one?
hey everyone, just started with the bassoon and i’m a bit confused about the oiling the body part. how often should it really be done? i get that it’s under periodic care but like, is there a specific sign that says hey it’s oiling time? totally new to this and wanna make sure i’m doing everything right lol
ReggieM, adding to what BariSaxJake said, always make sure to use a proper oil meant for woodwinds. Incorrect oil can damage the wood. Treat your bassoon well, and it will give back with beautiful sounds.
Hi ReggieM, generally, oiling the body of your bassoon should be done annually, but it really depends on your climate and the wood condition. If you see the wood looking a bit dry, it’s a good indicator. Always best to consult with a professional if unsure.