Fingerings Bassoonists Actually Use
Every bassoonist should be equipped with a good fingering chart. Most fingering charts are old, out of date, or completely wrong altogether. Learn the best bassoon fingerings for tricky notes, special fingering techniques, and fingerings to avoid.
The bassoon has a complex system of over 20 keys and reviewing fingerings visually is a great way to reinforce them and encourage students to seek out information and correct fingerings on their own.
Many response and intonation issues I see with young students arise from using uncommon alternative fingerings found in old band books or from self-taught students who have had to guess fingerings without access to a good fingering chart.
Fingerings should be selected for the best intonation, response, and utility. If a fingering doesn’t work well with the notes around it or if it can’t be played consistently in tune, it should be reconsidered.
🤞🏼 Special Fingerings
Here are a few notes with fingerings that often cause confusion.
Low G-flat/F-sharp (2)
I teach the right thumb fingering to beginners. It is usually more comfortable for them. NOTE: that the right pinky should not be pushing the pinky F key while playing the thumb fingering. The right pinky and right thumb fingerings are interchangeable. The pinky fingering can come in handy when preceded or followed another thumb key note.
Middle E-flat (3)
This is the fingering every bassoonist should learn for E-flat from day one. We only use the short left-hand version for fast technical passages. There are some slight variations on this fingering, but the longer version is definitely preferred.
Half-Hole A-flat (3)
Use a very small half hole in the left first finger to avoid cracks. Teach the right pinky A-flat. The right thumb version is rarely used except in advanced technical passages where the pinky is required for a preceding or following note.
D-flat Above Bass Clef (4)
While more “challenging”, this is a great fingering for high D-flat. It has much better intonation and stability than the left hand only version. Here's a video about choosing between the fingerings.
Do we really need the resonance key? Do we really need to flick?
The answer to both of these is yes! And you should teach them from the start rather than have students learn an easier version and have to unlearn that habit later on.
The resonance key (left-hand pinky) is used primarily on Half Hole G (not F-sharp or A-flat) to bring the pitch down and focus the sound of an otherwise obnoxious note. Using this key regularly helps young students strengthen their little fingers since it's one of the harder keys to reach.
Flicking is done by tapping and releasing octave keys to assist with changes in register. Check out this post for more information and handouts about flicking.
🌟 Key Concepts
Start with a good fingering chart. Get the fingering chart I created and used with my students.
Use the resonance key on half-hole G every time, from day one.
Teach flicking on A, B-flat, B, and C when they first learn the notes. Practice octave leaps.
Different half holes for different notes. A-flat is barely open, G is medium, and F-sharp is very open. If the note cracks, the half hole is probably off.
The best fingering is one that plays in tune with a resonant tone and works well with the notes around it.
Other Fingering Issues to Watch Out For
Middle E-flat: Avoid the left-hand only versions of E-flat and never use the made up fingering that is D with the C-sharp key added. It has a harsh tone and poor intonation.
High F (Above Bass Clef): A lot of students try to create F by playing high E-flat and lifting the right-hand ring finger. It sounds kind of like F, but it's extremely out of tune and the tone is terrible. Make sure they use the correct fingering listed in the fingering chart.
High F-sharp (Above Bass Clef): Students often forget this fingering or try to play it like a High G but with the right-hand second finger added. There are lots of great fingerings for this note, but that isn’t one of them. Refer to a fingering chart for better options that will have good intonation and response.
Middle D-flat: Make sure they are squeezing the whisper key, C# key, AND the low D key. Students often forget to hold down the Low D key and the note is unstable. For High D-flat (above the staff) you will not use the Low D key if using the (better) long D-flat fingering.
Looking for a great book to teach fundamentals and scales with your bassoonists? Check out the #BassoonGoals Scales & Arpeggios Book featuring exercises for ALL levels including scales, arpeggios, and fundamentals in every key and range.
