Trumpet players?

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous [BG]' started by jazzy grille, Jun 29, 2008.

  1. jazzy grille

    jazzy grille - Arrogant Bastard

    Aug 15, 2006
    Sarasota, Florida
    I am looking to start playing the trumpet.

    Any pointers on where to begin? I have no idea how the thing even works.. :oops: But, I am looking to learn something new.
     
  2. 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.
     
  3. Marcus Johnson

    Marcus Johnson

    Nov 28, 2001
    Maui
    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 :D But trumpet's a great instrument.
     
  4. BassChuck

    BassChuck Supporting Member

    Nov 15, 2005
    Cincinnati
    oh......

    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.


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


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

    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.
     
  5. soong

    soong

    May 10, 2007
    Sydney
    Listen to Miles, take it from there! haha
     
  6. 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.......
     
  7. Tired_Thumb

    Tired_Thumb Guest

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


    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.
     
  8. jazzy grille

    jazzy grille - Arrogant Bastard

    Aug 15, 2006
    Sarasota, Florida
    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?
     
  9. 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
     
  10. +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. :atoz: I wish someone had told my why I needed to practice on my horn every day back before I switched to bass.

    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.