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The bassoon's weight is a byproduct of the materials it is made from. A good average value would be around 3.5Kg (around 7.5 pounds.) However, a thin-walled french bassoon made of a light wood with a minimum of keys will weigh much less than this, while a German bassoon made of dense wood and decked out with keys to go from low BBb into the stratosphere (thank you, Mr. Stravinsky) will weigh more.

However, the weight of the bassoon itself is almost immaterial. The normal and preferred way of holding the bassoon while playing is to use a belt or similar long strip of material with a hook on the end, which fits into a hole or ring at the base of the bassoon. The player sits on the belt, adjusting the bassoon's position until the reed sits right at mouth-level. Then, the bassoon is nearly entirely supported by the belt, and the player's hands are free to finger the instrument.

None-the-less, the bassoon can also be suspended from a neck-strap, like saxophones, using a loop which is often supplied on the metal band at the top of the boot joint (the lowest part of the bassoon), from which it is very nearly balanced. This is often used when the player is standing or (if brave) marching with the instrument. Then, the left hand contributes a little to the support of the bassoon.

Quite often, the case for the bassoon, complete with a small glass to hold water (to soak the reed) and a gaggle of tools for making and adjusting reeds, weighs more than the whole bassoon!

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13y ago

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