Bassoon

The Bassoon is a double reed instrument. It is played similar to the oboe, but with a lower and reedier tone. It plays in the bass clef, with most of it's notes below Middle C. The range of a bassoon is approximately 3 octaves, ranging from B flat (2 octaves below Middle C) to C (1 octave above Middle C). It is approximately 4' 6" in length.

The contrabassoon, or bass bassoon is even larger and plays lower in pitch, being roughly an octave below its brother and is a transposing instrument. (See Oboe family.)

The bassoon, also known as "fagotto" in Italian, is the second largest woodwind instrument. It is far rarer than a flute or clarinet, as few people play it. In an orchestra, it plays a similar part to the trombone, the euphonium or the cello.

Some famous pieces containing prominent bassoon parts include: "Peter and the Wolf", by Sergei Prokofiev and "Bassoon Concerto in B Flat", by Mozart.

Some notable bassoonists include William Waterhouse and Artur Weisberg.