Luckily the degree of pitchalterati

Luckily the degree of pitch
alteration available to the player through regulating air support and embouchure is comparatively great, and players
often use individual fingerings to ‘humour’ certain notes. A new bassoon requires ‘playing in’ and thus players are
hesitant to change their instruments. The problem of playing softly is sometimes assisted by the use of a mute; this
can take the form either of a piece of cloth stuffed in the bell (e.g. as demanded by Ligeti) or of a short sleeve-like
metal cylinder (see Mute). Many players (especially in the USA) take great pains to seal every trace of porosity in
pads and body to facilitate response.