There is a 15c but its really extreme. You might try practicing in the high register and resting often (before your lip gets tired). This will build up endurance.
There was a video I saw recently and can't find now that recommended and demonstrated a technique of playing the first 3 of an arpeggio starting on low E (concert pitch), playing each twice and going up in semi tones to as high as is comfortable then resting. I've used that as part of most daily practices for the past 6 weeks or so with some great success. Previously I could comfortably reach a concert super C. I can now play a concert super F and squeeze a super Bb. Tks for your tips here.
@wildspark96 When you practice the solo, stop and rest before you actually get tired. Come back and continue where you left off. Stop and do the same thing again if you need to. Do this for a few days and you'll notice that you can go further each time. .
thank you very much - I'm studying orchestral composition and was wondering how the trombone can handle my inability to orchestrate properly. I have a pretty long section in which trombones plays in the range from F3 and B3: I hope no player will ever hate me for this! Looks like you're pretty comfortable in that range. Thanks for your explanation! :)
Narrowing the aperture (the opening through which the air goes) and supporting it with the embouchure muscles is a good approach. Some players direct the air stream upwards a bit.
I'm an advocate of large mouthpiece for range and endurance. Of course, using a wider and deeper cup for the first time can be off putting, but with patience and practice, it reaps benefits. I also play in a band that features some ska amongst a fusion of other styles. I can manage top C's and D's within a 2 hour performance and have recently reached super Bb in practice time. I use a Dennis Wick 4ay which is about the largest to fit a standing medium bore trombone.
this. yes, and always make sure you practice at the bottom end of the register as well. Maynard Ferguson always warmed up with lower notes; even a sky scraper starts at the bottom.
ive played for a year and a half and i can hit C-D on top of that A .....listen to this man on video and also dont forget to use plenty of air(sometimes thats the main problem....remember to do lots of arpeggios and try to do chromatic scales(mostly) and normal scales that end on the peak of your register...do that for has much minutes you can everyday...dont forget to rest and dont push it to hard....also do not change the embouchure you use for your normal register notes...this how i did it XD
Playing bass trombone should not inhibit your high register. The sound and the endurance factors may change but the high register can be preserved and extended. Kendor publ. co. recently released a book that I did with Dave Steinmeyer (who has the highest notes I've ever heard) which gives approaches to extending high and low registers. Its called "Beyond Boundaries.
Thank you for making these videos, you're very knowledgeable and do an exceptional job explaining, but also just make me want to pick up and start playing the trombone. You're an amazing trombone player. I've watched a lot of trombone vids that youtube has to offer, and you are my favorite video maker.
@alanraph I'm using a 12C size mouthpiece, and yes you are correct, I feel that I have to blow harder and squeeze my lips harder just to get the notes to even squeak out. I have another mouthpiece which is size 51D, but that mouthpiece seems to be better for the lower notes. I tried playing the high Eb at a short soft sound, and I was able to hit it once for a brief second. My lips gave out right away after hitting that not, and I believe that I have an endurance issue (Continued)
They make plastic strips for the braces which you put on when you play. Also, you might concentrate on using the air stream more and ease up a bit on the pressure when you play high notes.
try filling up your gut before your chest...my professor always said that breathing was should be a two stage process. then when you breath out always have your abs tensed to control the air pressure better. it's easier to show, but this should help a bit.
Thanks for this lesson. I was off my horn for 6 months due to Bell's palsy and I'm trying to recover. At one point, I did teach private lessons and I thought I'd never play again. But I'm going to incorporate your technique. I can play for 10mins now...up to Bflat 3 and down to E2......for now. :)
@alanraph It took me about 6 months to be able to hit the high F above the staff, and the G's and A's are starting to get a little easier to hit. I'm not sure on the higher notes on if I have to change my embouchure technique or what. Although It may be something I will discover in the future. Thanks for the help. I can probably play scales to help me hit the higher notes.
@tomatokiller30 Try working from the "C" (in 1st position) rather than the B natural. It might be easier to develop not having to deal with the slide placement. .Hopefully you have a teacher to guide you.
@chucknorrisminecraft An F Attachment is worth the extra $200. There is a substantial difference between the two bore sizes. Roughly equivalent to medium vs. large.
@SupraStarrr You might try playing the note(s) very soft and very short to begin with. As you develop the ability to pick them off consistently (5 out of 6 perhaps) then you can go for more sound. Don't knock yourself out, Stop short of actually getting tired... and rest. Go for specific notes...one at a time... don't just mess around up there.
@KawaiiSari Try setting your embouchure for the high note before you start the phrase that contains it. Open your aperture a bit and give it some more air. This should give the note some body.
I'm looking into getting a new trombone mouthpiece. I have a very high range, but I'm looking for a mouthpiece that will support endurance and range. Right now, I play in a Ska band, I'm limited to only a little more than an hour of playing, and then my range goes away. I've been playing since 4th grade, and as a sophomore in college, I'm just looking to step up my game. I currently am using a 12C, and I'm looking for something with a nice bright sound and allow me to keep playing longer. Thanks
@alanraph i do have a teacher, but no matter how much we work on it we never seem to get anywhere. and I have the same problem with the C. Sometimes it feels like i can't use the necessary air support because my aperture gets forced opened by the air and it's just that the muscles aren't strong enough. have you ever heard of a problem like that?
You should breathe the way that you breathe when you were a baby, the natural, "stomach-breathing" method. A lot of people suck in their belly all the time to look as though they are fit and conceal how overweight they are, and therefore they can't naturally breathe when playing a wind instrument, so you may want to try and refrain from that if you aren't doing so already.
Hello Mr. Raph, I've been a fan of you since I first started playing and your videos have helped me improve a lot! Unfortunately, my tone isn't very good. Would you happen to have any advice for tone?
@HUFAN4EVERHU Its hard to advise you without hearing and seeing you.. however, a very common cause of difficulty in playing high notes is that the aperture (the lip opening) is usually too large. As you go higher the aperture should get smaller. Go for the note with a smaller sound to begin with.
That is incredible to be able to hit a Double High Bb. I'm learning how to play a song that has really high notes in it. The song's highest note is a high Eb, which is the high Eb above the Bb that you play as the low note in this video. The highest note I can hit is a high D, and it hurts my throat sometimes to squeeze my lips together hard just to be able to get the note to come out, so its a once in a blue moon note. How do I practice to get higher notes without getting my throat in pain?
@alanraph thank you very much for the advice. I also tend to play 2 notes octaves apart at the same time when playing in 4th and 5th position, G's and F#'s usually? Any idea why this is? thanks
My Solo On Ensemble Is Tommarow And Im Having Trouble On High C. I Use Alot Of Air But When I Do It Just Goes Flat. The Wierd Thing Is That Im Able To Reach Very Low Notes But Not High Notes. Im Evan Having Trouble On High B flat. Please I Need Help!
@lmaneke64 It seems like you might be working too hard and perhaps playing too loud. Try using the air stream more and go for short soft notes at first.
This is a bit random, but you do love King horns, don't you? Because you have a King tenor and a King bass that I've seen in videos. Which one is this? I didn't know King had an open wrap tenor that they made....
so, when i get up to the Bb above tuning Bb, i'm working for those notes. when i go for the B natural and above that, i get a farty-ish noise. however, the pitch is there, just covered up by the bad air noise. how do i fix this? Thank you for answering!!
I go over the top with wanting to play high. xD Once or twice I've hit a triple high B flat. Eight lines above the staff. It's basically a screamer. xP
I recently got braces last year and my range has dropped drasticlly. I switched to bass and developed low notes but as for my high notes I can barely play my high A's above the staff. Im taking a solo to state competition and would really like your advice on what to do for my high register. Thank you.
I have a questions, I play French Horn and my director is having my play trombone for the bottom band and I am struggling with playing a G at the top of the staff, how can I play higher than that? I know it's weak that I cant play that high but I am a French Horn player I'm used to a SMALL mouth piece and they are totally different as you know, coudl oyu give me any tips
How on earth are you playing so high? I'm using a yamaha 48 mouthpiece and I can go nowhere near as high as you. I can play up to a high B flat at the moment, and after about 5 minutes of playing, I can play up to an A flat. Is it my mouthpiece or is it simply practice? (I only want to be able to achieve a short high D flat consistently, and a long high Bb consistently, for my grade 8 with Trinity.) Thanks.
I have a question for Mr. Raph. I recently switched to Bass Trombone Performance as my major as a Freshman in College, but I still want to develop and maintain higher range. My highest note is the E-flat a couple notes below the F you played in the video. Are there certain exercises I can use to extend my range to the F?
@tomatokiller30 Its hard to get a handle on your problem without hearing and watching you play. They just released a book I wrote with Wycliffe Gordon ("Sing it First "- Kendor publ.) which has a section on high notes. Perhaps your teacher might find it helpful. ... Also you might try working on your tone quality for the notes up to the high Bb.
