Hot answers tagged trumpet
13
I'm not really a brass player, though I used to be a band director and have some idea about brass acoustics.
The issue with multiple-valve combinations being too sharp is that the valve system is a compromise. Pretend for a moment that you have a straight trumpet with no valves (so, pretty much a bugle). Of course, you can play pitches in the harmonic ...
7
Bending notes on a brass instrument without the aid of valves is done by changing the tension, and therefore buzz frequency, of the lips. Quite simply, it's easier to bend notes downward because it's easier to release tension than to create it.
Also, as you go up in the harmonic series, the partials get closer together, so on any given note you'll be able ...
6
Speaking as a brass doubler (trombone is my primary; I play all other brass instruments with varying proficiencies), the main difference between the embouchures for trumpet and trombone has to do with the tone concept.
The trombone itself (and current pedagogy and instrument manufacturing) allows for a very open and dark tone concept, and the fact that ...
6
The best definitions in my opinion (and after some considerable research) are:
A trumpet has a mouthpiece and bell that are located at opposite ends of the instrument.
A trombone is defined by a bell section that is located to the rear of the instrument, with a mouthpiece located near the center of gravity and grip location.
Thus, the trumpet will be ...
5
All of the brass teachers I know (including myself) teach the jaw method.
I find it preferable to the other two methods because:
Diaphragmatic vibrato is going to disturb your support and airstream.
Moving the fingers back and forth is just smushing the mouthpiece against your face, which runs the risk of fatiguing your embouchure earlier or letting air ...
5
The only "convention" as such that exists, is that lots of manufacturers happen to use Bach's sizing numbers (where a smaller number = larger diameter and the letter refers to the shape of the cup), if only because Bach is so ubiquitous in the brass world.
Here is a rather extensive chart:
http://www.allbrassradio.com/tmptmpccharts.htm
Both Schilke and ...
5
Here's some philosophy on lip slurs. I haven't played this book in particular, but as a brass specialist I can talk about lip flexibility in general; it's the same thing.
The ultimate goal of this is to have a clean transition between any two notes in different partials. This is the same whether you are trilling between two partials in a high register very ...
5
Conical vs. cylindrical bore instruments should not be a concern. The bell sections of all brass instruments are conical and the valve sections of all brass instruments are cylindrical--the differences between them are more subtle and occur elsewhere in the instrument.
You really just need to try the mute on your cornet. Even within the same family of ...
4
I suppose with a cornet you'll have the ability to add something extra in for texture, so something like finding the main melody line in the song, whether it be with guitar or vocals have the trumpet follow this line to emphasise the line and it could offer a massive difference to the sound and feel of the song depending, you should try looking at reel big ...
4
There are a few different factors at work here, and they hold true for all brass instruments:
All of the different partials you can buzz for any one fingering combination fall into the harmonic series, which behaves according to the laws of physics. Equal temperament has very little to do with the laws of physics, and more to do with practicality. As a ...
4
As Matthew indicated in his comment, once the wavelength of the sound gets smaller than the diameter of the tubing, the trumpet will no longer behave like a column of air. This means that, at these wavelengths, the trumpet will not support the resonance modes that make up its behaviour at normal frequencies. I.e. not sound like a trumpet (to the extent ...
4
Think of a bugle in C. Bugles have no valves, and the notes you can produce on them are only the following:
C - G - C - E - G - Bb - C - D - E - ...
These match the overtone series of C.
On the trumpet, however, you have valves, which enable you to play additional notes. Press the second valve and the length of tubing increases in the amount needed to ...
3
The simple answer from a historical perspective is that valves on brass instruments were an addition to simple coiled horns like the bugle and hunting horn. It's kind of counterintuitive to add something in order to take away something; why not add something that adds something? Add the valve, and add its pipe; with the valve not depressed, the instrument is ...
3
The best warm-up for extending range is likely going to be a series of gently-climbing scales that reach a semitone or two above your highest intended high note.
Disclaimer: I speak strictly from vocal experience. I couldn't buy an embouchure with my life savings.
Edit: These warm-ups look promising. It took a while for the PDF to load, so I will ...
3
The brass players I know and play with all seem to double on some other brass instrument. While it may take some time to adapt, I think it benefits to be able to know the different instruments.
Think of it this way if you drive a car: In your own car you get to know the clutch and know when to shift gears, then when you drive another car you suddenly get ...
3
The first answer above by NReilingh covers the physical appearance of the instruments but there is also an acoustic difference.
A Slide trumpet has a large bore of .460-.470" and is played using a trumpet mouthpiece. It also has a long tapered lead-pipe inside the upper tube just like any other trumpet.
A Soprano trombone has a more trombone like smaller ...
2
I play tuba, and this implies there as well. The case is that the low tones that uses 13 and 123 are not really ideal fingerings for those tones. The reason you feel like the lowest F# (123) is sounding right, is that it is easier to adjust the tone with your lips in the lower register, so it is not the fingering that is correct, it is your adjustment with ...
2
It's likely that the valves are worn and the lubrication you are using is too thin. Just like STP for car motors using thicker oil (like rotor oil) will help the problem. When the piston can no longer drag on the way up it will return smoothly to the proper "up" position. Do not consider this a "fix". The only lasting repair is to have the casing and pistons ...
2
I am currently trying to double high and low brass. My trumpet playing isn't great yet, but T-bone is unaffected. Not problem. I've been playing T-bone for years and marched the previous season. My band no longer marches T-bone, sad, but I though why not learn high brass. So I'm learning mellophone and trumpet. It is exactly like piano and organ or piano and ...
2
Bobby Shew names a mute made in Sweden (how ironic, given your name) in the following words:
There is a company in Sweden that makes the Dizzy Gillespie model
mutes which, when you can find them, are worth purchasing although
very expensive. The cup in this set is made of a white plastic and
separates into two pieces, one of which looks like a ...
1
Like the other answer, it's a matter of starting off slowly and building up speed when you practice. The technique I find most helpful for double-tonguing is to double-tongue scales in a variety of ways:
four beats (tu-ku tu-ku) per note
two beats (tu-ku) per note
one beat (tu or ku!) per note
I've also found the exercises in Arban's Cornet Method really ...
1
Like you, Samuel, I've gotten away from my double-tonguing but found some excellent suggestions on this website:
http://www.trumpetmaster.com/vb/f131/learning-how-double-tongue-64418.html
It seems that building speed slowly, using the mouthpiece only, and using tu-ku (heavying up on the ku's until clear) are the highlights of the advice offered on this ...
1
There are some good examples. Have a look at Less Than Jake's song, Gainesville Rock City:
You need to arrange the songs so it works, but rock music can definitely cope with ...
1
Yes, it's definitely feasible. In fact, if you get some good beginner resources to start with, and practice enough, it's even easy. It's probably worth your while having at least a few lesson with a tutor after you've been playing a month or two, to make sure you're not forming any bad habits.
As for resources, get something that starts of very basic, with ...
1
The notation for bending a note is a straight line connecting two notes or going off a note. A curved line, such as shown above, indicates a slur or legato (or phrase mark). Also, considering this is the first exercise of the book, it wouldn't make sense to have a note-bending exercise. This seems more of a warm-up.
See this question for examples of what ...
1
On the site the Schilke loyalist, they explan a problem that Schilkes from the 1970's have with values. I have one from the 1960's and have no problem. They supposedly solved the problem around 1982 or so. It has to do with the metal they built them with only from 1970 to about 1982 or so. Get an older or newer (after 1982) Schilke, you will likely have no ...
1
I usually warm up with about ten minutes of scales, arpeggios, diminished sevenths and so on - they should be fairly gentle and start off very easy. If you want a slightly quicker version, you could try crabwise scales (go up the scale in C, come down in C#, go up again in D and so on).
You could also play a simple piece (or one you know really well but ...
1
Trumpet playing causes pain in right cheek, constant problem. I'm looking for a way to prevent this?
It sounds like there is something with your technique that is not ideal. First of all, try to identify if you do something different on each side, since it's only the one side that's a problem. Then try to play "symmetrical" so the tension is equal on both sides.
If you don't discover any difference, you should contact a trumpet teacher who can help you ...
1
Trumpet playing causes pain in right cheek, constant problem. I'm looking for a way to prevent this?
There are several causes which could lead to this effect. A common one being Embouchure Overuse Syndrome. (Think of a athlete that only plays occasionally without correct training the muscles stiffen up through stress.)
There are also many genetic issues (shapes etc) that can cause this.
There are also habits that can cause it.
If trumpet playing is done ...
1
The mouthpiece is likely silver plated; silver polish will work well on that, as would the aluminum foil trick. (Since it's silver plated as opposed to solid silver, perhaps try that trick first.)
I think the aluminum foil trick: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/tarnish.html will likely be the least damaging, but I'm not an expert in metallurgy.
The ...
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