Trumpet players?

[jazzy grille]

I am looking to start playing the trumpet.

Any pointers on where to begin? I have no idea how the thing even works.. But, I am looking to learn something new.

[mb17180116]

I played trumpet for about 10 years or so, its how i learned to read music. Be advised that there are different sizes of mouthpieces and most start out with a 5C, but you may want a couple of different sizes to see which one fits. Also make sure to have valve grease on hand at all times, and learn the instrument inside and out because you should clean it each time its played. Make sure you learn all about your slide and all that good stuff. Im basically rambling off everything my teacher told me, youll figure it out pretty quickly. Also, just a tip, the intonation is set on a trumpet by all those small slidey pieces you see sticking out.

[Marcus Johnson]

Trumpet's like double bass... you need a teacher, just to keep from hurting yourself.

It was my instrument from grade school all the way through my majoring in it in college. Somewhere in there, I figured out that I was actually a bassist.... probably just from the sheer number of gigs I could do on the latter But trumpet's a great instrument.

[BassChuck]

oh......

Originally Posted by mb17180116

I played trumpet for about 10 years or so, its how i learned to read music. Be advised that there are different sizes of mouthpieces and most start out with a 5C, but you may want a couple of different sizes to see which one fits.

Bach 7C is the most common. 5C will work just fine. There are many, many different sizes, but as a beginner, its best to keep to the basic size until you have a reason to change. The difference in sizes is very small. Best to get basic technique in tone production together before you get into mouthpiece size.

Also make sure to have valve grease on hand at all times,

Oil. Valve oil. Any kind of grease on the valves will really mess them up. Grease is used for the slides.

.....and learn the instrument inside and out because you should clean it each time its played.

If you are playing about 2 hours a day you'll need to clean it about once every 2 weeks.

Also, just a tip, the intonation is set on a trumpet by all those small slidey pieces you see sticking out.

The intonation is set by the main tuning slide. If you trumpet has a first valve slide and 3rd valve slide that move (some beginning horns don't) they are used for a few notes that are naturally out of tune. This is not something that is important for beginners, but as your ability to product a good and steady tone improves, you'll learn how to do this.

Its very very important to get a good teacher for the start. Playing a trumpet is all about tone production... and that has to do with embrouchure (how your form your lips and how the mouthpiece is held to them). A good teacher will give you a start that will help you from developing bad habits. Brass playing is a physical thing..... you must practice this every day. Its a lot like body building for your lips.

Good luck.

[soong]

Listen to Miles, take it from there! haha

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by jazzy grille

I am looking to start playing the trumpet.

Any pointers on where to begin? I have no idea how the thing even works.. But, I am looking to learn something new.

scales and arpeggios are the bread and butter of good horn players.......development of good ambusher (not sure on the spelling) means lots of whole note practice......if you think you are going too slow,slow down.......

Embouchure, yes, the most ridiculously spelled word in the world.


Good place to start is with your tone quality. Get a great sound on everything from low F# to about C in the staff, then start building your technique. Don't miss a day of practice either. You miss a day of playing bass, you miss a day of playing bass. You miss a day of playing trumpet, you might as well have missed a year. Endurance wise, it's amazing even the bassists I've met who don't get how demanding the trumpet is.

[jazzy grille]

Should just grab a beginner trumpet and a beginner book? I taught myself to read music, play bass and guitar. If it's something that I am into (music) I really catch on quick.

On another note: I used to smoke.. I think my lungs are not too bad I run about mile on the treadmill 3 times a week. Do you think that will have any effect on my stamina?

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by jazzy grille

Should just grab a beginner trumpet and a beginner book? I taught myself to read music, play bass and guitar. If it's something that I am into (music) I really catch on quick.

On another note: I used to smoke.. I think my lungs are not too bad I run about mile on the treadmill 3 times a week. Do you think that will have any effect on my stamina?

ive said it before but here goes.......entry level stuff can only be sold to students......at a loss usually......buy a decent used horn that a real player would use and even if you quit you wont be stuck......i think i have a book here that i found in a bin at the salvation army for 25 cents....300 dollars canadian .....check out the used book joints......my particular fave is the charlie parker book in b flat but you wont find it used......miles smoked and did heroin so dont sweat it

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

Brass playing is a physical thing..... you must practice this every day. Its a lot like body building for your lips.

+1

Brass is "use it or lose it". And I say this as someone who learned the hard way. I've probably spent more time losing it than actually using it. I wish someone had told my why I needed to practice on my horn every day back before I switched to bass.

Originally Posted by jazzy grille

On another note: I used to smoke.. I think my lungs are not too bad I run about mile on the treadmill 3 times a week. Do you think that will have any effect on my stamina?

I don't think so. Even if smoking reduces your lung capacity (does it?), smaller lungs are no more a problem than small hands are for a bassist. You don't want to use a lot of air anyway, as you'll blow your chops. You want the air to move really fast instead. Think Bernoulli.