How to Swab Your Bassoon

Close up of bassoon with a silk black bassoon swab in front of it

Why should you swab your bassoon?

Swabbing your bassoon should be done every time after you play to keep the pads and wood dry. You will need two swabs - one for the body and one for the bocal. Hodge makes silk swabs designed for both of these purposes.

The Process

Two images side by side. On the left, the bocal is being removed. On the right, someone is blowing through the cork end of the bocal.

1. Start by removing the bocal and blowing fast air through it to remove some of the moisture.

Two images side by side. On the left, the string from the bocal swab is being inserted into the cork end of the vocal. On the right side, the swab is being pulled through the bocal.

2. Insert the metal end of your bocal swab into the large end and pull it through. There is usually a lot of build-up in the bocal, so it’s important to swab it regularly.

Three images side by side. On the left, a finger is pointing to the larger hole in the top of the boot joint. In the middle, the end of the swab is being inserted into the larger hole. On the right, the swab is coming through the large hole and in through the small hole.

3. Take the boot joint and drop the weighted end of your swab into the larger hole. Then shake it to get the string into the other side, tip it upside down, and pull the weighted end through the smaller hole. Repeat this a few times to remove all of the moisture.

As most of the moisture sits in the side with the small hole, inserting the cloth into the larger hole will prevent pulling moisture through the side that wasn’t wet to begin with.

The top of the boot joint is being wiped with a green, silk swab.

4. Use your swab to wipe out any moisture sitting in the joints as well.

Two images side by side. On the left, the maroon silk swab is being dropped into the large opening of the wing joint. On the right, the swab is being pulled out the other end.

5. Take your wing joint and drop the weighted end of the swab down the larger tube opening. Then, simply pull it out the other end and repeat a couple of times.

Parts of bassoon being put back into case.

Now your bassoon is free from moisture and ready to be put back in the case!