The effects of the density, thickness and hardness values of the cane on the performance in bassoon reed making

Bassoon is a woodwind instrument made of maple. It consists of four pieces and is played with a double reed attached to the bocal. The sound of the bassoon occurs when the air sent to the instrument vibrates the reed. Bassoon reed is produced from the cane, which is a member of the wheatgrass family. The cane plant is processed into bassoon reed with the use of machines and tools and hand workmanship. This plant is directly affected by the climatic conditions and soil characteristics of the region where it is located. These effects determine the structural properties of the cane and direct the bassoon reed making process. The density and hardness values, which are among the structural features of the cane plant, hold significant importance in reed making. Being able to determine the effects of these values on performance is decisive in shaping the cane selection and construction process for reed makers. In reed making, the cane can be gouged in different thicknesses according to the preferences of the reed makers. For this reason, the process of making bassoon reed must proceed systematically and based on data. In this research, the density, thickness and hardness values of the cane were determined and its effects on the performance of the bassoon were revealed. In this study, a mixed research method was used in which data was obtained by qualitative and quantitative methods.