Great question. No, the jaw and lips should stay in the same position. Don't shift around the embouchure just to get lower or higher. Better to just buzz steadily at first, and better still to do just a little bit of buzzing and then go straight to the horn. :-)
0. Probably most important is to have the ideal sound in your inner ear. Listen to trumpet players you like. Strive for that sound. Once you have that ideal sound in your head:
1. Lots of air movement
2. Large oral cavity (the inside of your mouth and throat)
3. Do lots of long tones. Just play a not for a full breath, a couple times, then move on to another. Keep it low to middle range and just immerse yourself in the sound.
Hi, I've been playing for about 8 months, and learned a lot on my own in quite a short of time and my playing has been turning out pretty good! However lately my front teeth have started to hurt while playing, which kinda removes the fun. I guess I'm pressing the trumpet too hard on my lips, since my lips are red after a while. So i'm just wondering if you have any ideas on what I might do to improve.
You're totally right about the "less pressure" approach. That's the best place to start.
Here are a few more ideas/things to try:
1. Focus more on air. Take in more of it, learn to control the speed of it (faster is usually better), and work on constant flow out/in (especially when blowing/playing).
2. See how little pressure it takes to get a good sound/good seal on the 'piece.
3. Do more buzzing (this may or may not help. some disagreement there. try it and see)
Hey! is it possible that i never buzzed before or is it just that i am buzzing a little differently when i have a mouthpiece and when i dont? Because i've been playing for some 7 years now and i can't buzz without a mouthpiece. I can play the trumpet itself pretty well tho. Any comment?
Thanks for the questions. yeah, what's actually vibrating is the air column in the trumpet and it's the lips that start this vibration. It's a little different buzzing w/o the mouthpiece b/c you have to create what's called the "corners" yourself w/ lip muscle.
When you put a mouthpiece on your lips, those "corners" are created for you. There is a little debate whether buzzing w/o the mouthpiece is helpful, but I've found it to be w/ my own students. If you're not able to get a buzz but can play, I wouldn't worry about it. Might be interesting to try to buzz w/o the 'piece and see if it helps or not. Let me know!
thank you for that answer. I actually practiced buzzing without the mouthpiece all yersterday when i was just sitting around waiting for stuff. So I can actually get the buzz now from a medium pitch to a really low one. The high range isn't there yet but i will keep practicing.
I was still noticing that i create the buzz without the mouthpiece a little different from when i use the mouthpiece or the trumpet. is that normal?
i can't seem to play any different range .. it kinda stays around like 2 sounds .. my lips won't tighten or loosen that much .. is there another way ?
Getting higher or lower is more about air speed than lip strength/tightness. For the higher notes, use faster air, and more of an "eee" shape to the inside of your mouth. If you say "Ah" and "Eee", notice what your tongue is doing. The higher position of the tongue will help you play higher.
try rolling your lips in slightly. I can buzz pretty high because I've been doing it for 30 years, so it might take you a while to get more range. Just keep at it! If you can get a lesson with a trumpet player, this will help a lot. Good luck....
damm this was good..im a begginer on trumpet..i was on the altoaxo but in my skool band they switch me to trumpet and my band teacher told me to practice but he did not help me dat much...i like this one
my band director calls it a siren Jason Steele from texas u might hav heard of him he has won best high skool band director of the year in texas 3 times hes also my cousin :D he plays trumpet too like me
Buzzing is important but the word tightening the corners is old and treacherous because it can make you strain. The trumpet takes much less effort than you might think. Be careful and always think it's easier than you are making it out to be.
My 'piece is in the center vertically, a little bit off to the right horizontally. My horn tends to point slightly down and to the left. Tone quality is more important than centered placement. The perfect placement is the one that sounds best.
GRACIAS MAN:: am tring to start lern, not easy 38 year old but not imposible... feel like a child, sorry by ma english you know spanish speaker.. felices pascuas
Great question. No, the jaw and lips should stay in the same position. Don't shift around the embouchure just to get lower or higher. Better to just buzz steadily at first, and better still to do just a little bit of buzzing and then go straight to the horn. :-)
jharnum 6 months ago
@jharnum. Hi, just a question. When you go high notes, are you supposed to feel your lower lips moving up, and down on lower notes? Thanks!
tffamx 6 months ago
How do i improve my tone >? Any suqqestions ?
LashaeFBaybee 7 months ago
@LashaeFBaybee
yes, several:
0. Probably most important is to have the ideal sound in your inner ear. Listen to trumpet players you like. Strive for that sound. Once you have that ideal sound in your head:
1. Lots of air movement
2. Large oral cavity (the inside of your mouth and throat)
3. Do lots of long tones. Just play a not for a full breath, a couple times, then move on to another. Keep it low to middle range and just immerse yourself in the sound.
4. Persistence. Keep at it.
Good luck!
jharnum 7 months ago
you tech realy good I am from chicago
jst441 10 months ago
@jst441
thanks! Chicago has some great trumpet players! Orbert Davis is playing a tribute to Miles on the 14th.....
jharnum 10 months ago
Thanks for all the videos man !!!
I got a trumpet a few days ago and I've been checking your videos before going to a real teacher, it really helped !!!
MrFrikazzoid 1 year ago
@MrFrikazzoid
Sweet! Have a great time. (btw, I am also a real teacher... ;-)
jharnum 1 year ago
Wow the first part about tightening your upper lips really helped me. Thank, now I can go High to Low :D
KevinoQuito 1 year ago
wow
i could never get the buzz i tried this and i got it
now i can do both buzz and hi to lo
RegiFilms 1 year ago
@RegiFilms
Yay!
jharnum 1 year ago
@RegiFilms
Yay!
jharnum 1 year ago
Jonathan, you are the greatest teacher after Arban. My good playing of today is doubt to you. Thanks a trillion.
angelchamate 1 year ago
@angelchamate
awesome compliment. Thanks for that! Made my day....
jharnum 1 year ago
Hi, I've been playing for about 8 months, and learned a lot on my own in quite a short of time and my playing has been turning out pretty good! However lately my front teeth have started to hurt while playing, which kinda removes the fun. I guess I'm pressing the trumpet too hard on my lips, since my lips are red after a while. So i'm just wondering if you have any ideas on what I might do to improve.
Tomerikferdinand 1 year ago
@Tomerikferdinand
You're totally right about the "less pressure" approach. That's the best place to start.
Here are a few more ideas/things to try:
1. Focus more on air. Take in more of it, learn to control the speed of it (faster is usually better), and work on constant flow out/in (especially when blowing/playing).
2. See how little pressure it takes to get a good sound/good seal on the 'piece.
3. Do more buzzing (this may or may not help. some disagreement there. try it and see)
Good Luck!
jharnum 1 year ago
wow monette mouthpiece? what kind?
wasabiman17 1 year ago
@wasabiman17
I have 2, both of them a size B2, but one is the Prana version, which blows VERY freely. Tough on endurance but great sound.
jharnum 1 year ago
Hey! is it possible that i never buzzed before or is it just that i am buzzing a little differently when i have a mouthpiece and when i dont? Because i've been playing for some 7 years now and i can't buzz without a mouthpiece. I can play the trumpet itself pretty well tho. Any comment?
OneFabs 2 years ago
Thanks for the questions. yeah, what's actually vibrating is the air column in the trumpet and it's the lips that start this vibration. It's a little different buzzing w/o the mouthpiece b/c you have to create what's called the "corners" yourself w/ lip muscle.
jharnum 2 years ago
When you put a mouthpiece on your lips, those "corners" are created for you. There is a little debate whether buzzing w/o the mouthpiece is helpful, but I've found it to be w/ my own students. If you're not able to get a buzz but can play, I wouldn't worry about it. Might be interesting to try to buzz w/o the 'piece and see if it helps or not. Let me know!
jharnum 2 years ago
thank you for that answer. I actually practiced buzzing without the mouthpiece all yersterday when i was just sitting around waiting for stuff. So I can actually get the buzz now from a medium pitch to a really low one. The high range isn't there yet but i will keep practicing.
I was still noticing that i create the buzz without the mouthpiece a little different from when i use the mouthpiece or the trumpet. is that normal?
OneFabs 2 years ago
i can't seem to play any different range .. it kinda stays around like 2 sounds .. my lips won't tighten or loosen that much .. is there another way ?
randomn3sz 2 years ago
Getting higher or lower is more about air speed than lip strength/tightness. For the higher notes, use faster air, and more of an "eee" shape to the inside of your mouth. If you say "Ah" and "Eee", notice what your tongue is doing. The higher position of the tongue will help you play higher.
jharnum 2 years ago
I can't nearly as close as you did and the corners of my lips wont go any tighter
raydalmonster 2 years ago
try rolling your lips in slightly. I can buzz pretty high because I've been doing it for 30 years, so it might take you a while to get more range. Just keep at it! If you can get a lesson with a trumpet player, this will help a lot. Good luck....
jharnum 2 years ago
damm this was good..im a begginer on trumpet..i was on the altoaxo but in my skool band they switch me to trumpet and my band teacher told me to practice but he did not help me dat much...i like this one
DNP122192 2 years ago
my band director calls it a siren Jason Steele from texas u might hav heard of him he has won best high skool band director of the year in texas 3 times hes also my cousin :D he plays trumpet too like me
mattmoooo 2 years ago
Haven't heard of Mr. Steele, but that's a great name for a trumpet player! It's nice to know there are great teachers out there. Thanks for the info.
jharnum 2 years ago
i just bought a trumpet. no matter how hard i blow on it, it wont make a sound... haha what i'm i doing wrong? is there a special technique?
bobbyYO100 2 years ago
i figure out that u dont have to blow hard, you have to blow longer and have lung capacity.
tighten the corners of your mouth, and keep a small spot in the center open, to blow air out. Buzz your lips.
yi238 2 years ago
try buzzing instead of blowing and uh do u hav a mouthpiece lol this user jharnum has great info on buzzing
mattmoooo 2 years ago
Buzzing is important but the word tightening the corners is old and treacherous because it can make you strain. The trumpet takes much less effort than you might think. Be careful and always think it's easier than you are making it out to be.
Redkingboy 2 years ago
And does your lower lip curl in as you buzz, or are both lips supposed to be about even?
iamthegreatest1 2 years ago
What is your mouthpiece placement?
iamthegreatest1 2 years ago
My 'piece is in the center vertically, a little bit off to the right horizontally. My horn tends to point slightly down and to the left. Tone quality is more important than centered placement. The perfect placement is the one that sounds best.
jharnum 2 years ago
GRACIAS MAN:: am tring to start lern, not easy 38 year old but not imposible... feel like a child, sorry by ma english you know spanish speaker.. felices pascuas
IYAIMA00 2 years ago
Very good, the first really helpful tutorial-series!
burolampenkap 3 years ago