An improved wind instrument incorporating several innovative design features that collectively enhance the sound and playability of a wind instrument including a footjoint section in which low B is normally closed and is opened only when low C is sounded. Additional improvements include the tone of the instrument in the third octave, especially high G#, high F# high B and high C and the introduction of a low B key that does not have to be pressed for notes in the third octave. Finally, a wind instrument with a tapered bore in the body combined with a tapered bore in the headjoint to improve the intonation match between octaves even more than is possible with a tapered headjoint alone.