What is the fingering for a low A-flat on bassoon?

Question:I can't seem to find it anywhere...I always thought low B-flat was the lowest but I was assigned a piece with a low A-flat in it and well I'm lost.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I can't seem to find it anywhere...I always thought low B-flat was the lowest but I was assigned a piece with a low A-flat in it and well I'm lost.

I've never seen a piece that contains anything below an A, and even that requires a little bit of creativity to play. For a low A, you can modify the bell of your bassoon by either sticking an english horn bell or a paper towel tube in the end. You then play the low B-flat fingering, and it should sound an A (some adjustment may be necessary to get it in tune). The downside to this is that it makes the lower notes go out of tune significantly, and the low B-flat is now impossible to play.

Theoretically, an A-flat would be possible if you lengthened the bell enough, but it would probably be too much hassle for just one note. I would either take the note up an octave or play different note in the chord.

Just out of curiosity, what is this piece?

Here's a couple how to charts

http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/bassoon/basn...
click on the note for a chart
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~bhammel/main/...
this is a .pdf
http://www.foxproducts.com/pdfs/LetsPlay...