Music historians generally consider the dulcian to be the forerunner of the modern bassoon, as the two instruments share many characteristics: a double reed fitted to a metal crook, obliquely drilled tone holes and a conical bore that doubles back on itself.
Musikhistorikkere betragter generelt dulcianen som forløberen for den moderne fagot, eftersom de to instrumenter har mange karakteristika til fælles: et dobbelt rørblad tilpasset en metalkrog, skævt borede tonehuller og en konisk udboring, der fordobler den selv.