How to Improve Tone Quality on a Brass Instrument
Warm up properly., Start with a breathing exercise., Go down to 3 and 2 in the same pattern., Buzz (play) on your mouthpiece while it`s not in the instrument. , Start playing long tones, at a slow tempo, like 80 or 120., Perform a tongue exercise...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Warm up properly.
This helps more than anything. -
Step 2: Start with a breathing exercise.
One that is strong enough to impact your abs is the best.
The exercise should include: some inhale 4 counts hold for 4 out for
4.
At 80 or 120 bpm (beats per minute). , At one, do an inhale of one count and exhale for one count, for a good 40 counts.
This will hurt a little. ,, Long tones means a single note for 8 counts at a solid mouth force, no blasting or wimpy playing. , (You can make your own warm-up for this.) This is good for fingers and slides too. , This is called "lip slurs".
The staff of notes above is best played by flutes
- not trumpets! Start your practice of lip slurs on 2nd line G and slur smoothly down to open low C and back up to the G you started with.
Continue chromatically after the open tones to these fingerings
- (0), 2, 1, 12, 23, 13,
123.
Use these daily like push ups.
Once you can play these back and forth and slow to fast, start on higher notes; 3rd space C, top space E etc, , Not only will this improve the tone quality, but it will also enable you to play a note for a longer period of time. -
Step 3: Go down to 3 and 2 in the same pattern.
-
Step 4: Buzz (play) on your mouthpiece while it`s not in the instrument.
-
Step 5: Start playing long tones
-
Step 6: at a slow tempo
-
Step 7: like 80 or 120.
-
Step 8: Perform a tongue exercise
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Step 9: at 130 or so a single octave scale is good.
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Step 10: Without tonguing
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Step 11: change partials.
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Step 12: When you play
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Step 13: use a lot of air.
Detailed Guide
This helps more than anything.
One that is strong enough to impact your abs is the best.
The exercise should include: some inhale 4 counts hold for 4 out for
4.
At 80 or 120 bpm (beats per minute). , At one, do an inhale of one count and exhale for one count, for a good 40 counts.
This will hurt a little. ,, Long tones means a single note for 8 counts at a solid mouth force, no blasting or wimpy playing. , (You can make your own warm-up for this.) This is good for fingers and slides too. , This is called "lip slurs".
The staff of notes above is best played by flutes
- not trumpets! Start your practice of lip slurs on 2nd line G and slur smoothly down to open low C and back up to the G you started with.
Continue chromatically after the open tones to these fingerings
- (0), 2, 1, 12, 23, 13,
123.
Use these daily like push ups.
Once you can play these back and forth and slow to fast, start on higher notes; 3rd space C, top space E etc, , Not only will this improve the tone quality, but it will also enable you to play a note for a longer period of time.
About the Author
Michael Ruiz
Experienced content creator specializing in lifestyle guides and tutorials.
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