- The bassoon is an instrument capable of freely controlling the pitch of nearly every note, and it bears the greatest responsibility for matching intonation in an ensemble
- As intonation control practice, perform long tones pushing pitch to its upper and lower limits, and by learning to stop at any point along the way, you become able to target any desired pitch
- The approach to matching intonation differs by ensemble type: in concert band settings, low instruments tend to drift sharp, so the bassoon needs to anchor the low end by staying flat
- In orchestral settings, it is important to clearly project your own sense of pitch, correcting notes that tend to go sharp or flat individually, and presenting a consistent melodic line
- When intonation won't align, adjust the balance of volume and the intensity of tonal character, and play with a sense of inhabiting your fellow performer's sound, which naturally brings the pitch into alignment
Many bassoonists have experienced being told that their intonation is poor. The bassoon is an instrument capable of freely controlling the pitch of nearly every note, and players are expected to leverage this flexibility to match the intonation of those around them. This article provides a detailed guide to understanding the causes of poor intonation and translating concepts into practical solutions.
Bassoon Intonation Control: The Responsibility That Comes with Flexibility
In bassoon playing, the ability to freely control the pitch of nearly every note comes with significant responsibility. In ensemble and orchestral settings, players are expected to keep an eye on the tuner while adjusting to accommodate others when their pitch is off, and it is understood that the bassoon should take on this role because it is the best equipped to do so. This flexibility is achieved through the direction of the air stream, abdominal pressure, and the reed.
Intonation Practice Method: Long Tones Pushing Pitch to Its Limits
As a practice method for mastering intonation control, I recommend long tones that push pitch to its upper and lower limits. It is best not to do this when many people are around, but by doing this rather uncomfortable-sounding exercise and learning to stop at any point along the way, you can target that pitch and gain intonation control. By varying the pitch using the direction of the air stream, abdominal pressure, and the reed, and by stopping midway, resetting, and playing again, you can internalize the sensation in your body.
Adapting Intonation by Ensemble Type: Differences Between Concert Band and Orchestra
An important point is that the approach to matching intonation on the bassoon varies depending on the type of ensemble. In concert band settings, low instruments tend to drift sharp, so the bassoon needs to anchor the low end by staying flat. On the other hand, in orchestral settings, it is important to clearly project your own sense of pitch, and to present a consistent sense of pitch throughout the melodic line.
Causes and Solutions
This section provides a detailed explanation of the causes of poor intonation in bassoon playing and how to address them. We introduce specific approaches to solving problems such as certain notes consistently going sharp or flat and being unable to correct intonation even when you try to adjust.
Problem 1: Certain Notes Consistently Going Sharp or Flat
The problem of certain notes going sharp or certain notes going flat should be addressed by correcting these tendencies as much as possible, so that you can present your ideal sense of melodic pitch consistently from beginning to end. Solution: Correct the tendency for specific notes to go sharp or flat and present a consistent sense of pitch throughout the melodic line. In orchestral settings especially, it is important to clearly project your own sense of pitch.
Problem 2: Unable to Match Pitch Even When Trying to Adjust
There are times when you notice your pitch is off and try raising or lowering it, but for some reason it just won't align. In such cases, it is important to adjust the balance of volume and the intensity of tonal character. Trying too hard to consciously control your own pitch can actually make it harder to match. Solution: By playing with a sense of inhabiting your fellow performer's sound, the balance of volume and the intensity of tonal character naturally adjusts itself. Try having the entire section focus on one person as the anchor or everyone collectively inhabiting that person's sound. You may be surprised at how well this works, so give it a try.
- 1. Long tone exercises pushing pitch to its limits: Perform long tones pushing pitch to its upper and lower limits, and by learning to stop at any point along the way, you can target that pitch and gain intonation control.
- 2. Adapt to the ensemble type: In concert band settings, low instruments tend to drift sharp, so the bassoon needs to anchor the low end by staying flat. In orchestral settings, it is important to clearly project your own sense of pitch.
- 3. Correct specific notes: Correct the tendency for specific notes to go sharp or flat and present a consistent sense of pitch throughout the melodic line.
- 4. When intonation won't align: Adjust the balance of volume and the intensity of tonal character, and play with a sense of inhabiting your fellow performer's sound, which naturally brings the pitch into alignment.
In bassoon playing, intonation control leverages the instrument's ability to freely control the pitch of nearly every note, making it the instrument that bears the greatest responsibility for matching intonation in an ensemble. By practicing long tones that push pitch to its upper and lower limits, you develop the ability to stop at any point and target that pitch for intonation control. The approach to matching intonation differs by ensemble type: in concert band settings, low instruments tend to drift sharp, so the bassoon needs to anchor the low end by staying flat, while in orchestral settings, it is important to clearly project your own sense of pitch. When intonation won't align, adjust the balance of volume and the intensity of tonal character, and play with a sense of inhabiting your fellow performer's sound, which naturally brings the pitch into alignment. By putting these methods into practice, your bassoon intonation control will improve dramatically, enabling you to fulfill the vital role of supporting the entire ensemble's intonation.
