1. Appearance: The "big pipe" is usually the largest bass brass instrument in the orchestra, and the "small pipe" is the treble instrument in the orchestra.
2. Range: Bassoon is mainly used for bass harmony or rhythm, and rarely used for solo. Often called the "Prime Minister" of the band. The timbre of the small tube is rich, bright, sharp and full of brilliance. It can not only play the trumpet, but also play a beautiful melody. Known as the "prince" in the band.
3. Playing mode: Bassoon is a kind of transposed instrument, played in B key, and the included angle between the mouthpiece and the axis of the instrument is usually 45 degrees. The small tube is usually played with a piston, and the pitch can be changed freely.
4. Tone: The tone of bassoon is deep and dignified. The tubule has bright timbre, strong penetration and vitality.
To sum up, "big pipe" and "small pipe" mainly refer to two different musical instruments in the band, which are obviously different in appearance, range, playing mode and timbre.