Adjustable hand rest attachment for a musical instrument, wherein the hand rest post is constructed to provide multiple adjustments of the position of the hand rest on which the hand or hands of the musical performer rest when playing a musical instrument, such as a bassoon or contrabassoon. The adjustable hand rest attachment incorporates an articulated hand rest post to allow for varying angles of adjustment. The adjustable positioning of the hand rest achievable through adjustment of the articulated and adjustable hand rest post, reduces discomfort for the player and reduces injury with overuse. The adjustments of the hand rest and the hand rest post may then be secured into a fixed position. A bassoon is equipped with a key mechanism that is constructed using a tube that consists of a tenor joint, a boot (also known as a double) joint, a long joint, and a bell joint. A bassoon weighs approximately 8 pounds and is over 4 feet in length so that support of the instrument by the hands while playing without undue discomfort or fatigue is a significant concern. A contrabassoon is equipped with a key mechanism and is constructed using a tube of approximately double the length of the bassoon.