How do you hold the horn?

Warbird · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2002 3:10 pm Post subject:

I have seen many people hold the trumpet many different ways. Now, we all know the picture perfect was to hold the horn with the thumb between the first and second valve and with the pinky above the ring and all, but what habbits have you seem people have and why does it affect your sound?

In Christ,
Joseph N. Pack

Chicagoman · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2002 4:14 pm Post subject:

Hey Joe,
I just hold the horn in the most comfortable way for me at the time. I have average size hands, so I usually use my ring finger for the 3rd slide. My right hand thumb rests ON the first valve casing, and not BETWEEN the first and second casing. I do this because my fingers are a little short and I need a little more room on the top. I hit the valves hard with my finger tips. I usually keep my pinky up on top of the hook. This gives me maximum speed so I can whir through pieces like the Carnival of Venice, and Grand Russian Fantasia, etc. I kind of angle the horn a little to the right, like a lot of players do, to keep my left wrist relaxed. I have weak wrists I think, and they tend to cramp if they are put at a weird angle.

The way you hold a horn shouldn't make a difference in the sound quality. Especially since you must hold smaller/bigger horns differently to be comfortable. However, excess tension in the body due to a inefficient setup may cause some response problems. I just try to stay as relaxed and open as I can, and things just happen.

Just my 2 cents,

Chicagoman
_________________
'Don't learn to play right, learn to sound good.'
~Arnold Jacobs

NCTrumpet · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Jan 2002 Posts: 113

Joe,

MY right 'pinky' doesn't rest on the finger hook or anything else. I think it's a bad habit. I have young students who come up to me and show me their finger hook which has just fallen off their horn. I say, "Great, now put it in your case and forget about it for a while." (a little tongue-in-cheek) I sure that the finger hook was designed for page turns and certain mute situations. And for band leaders who have to conduct the band with their left hand. But certainly NOT to aid in holding up the horn. (I'm sure you don't do that, either) Have fun!

JC!

Lex Grantham · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2002 8:27 am Post subject:

I feel that one of the BEST reasons for NOT putting the little finger of the right hand into the ring on top the leadpipe is that tying down the little finger can also cause the fingers that press the valves to be somewhat limited for being able to work more quickly.

Sincerely,

Lex Grantham

SHS_Trumpet · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2002 10:04 am Post subject:

I like to put my left pinky inbetween the third valve slide's tubes. Its wierd but it "feels so good."
_________________
Andrew Fowler
MYNWA
www.AndrewFowler.com
"90% of trumpet music is below high C"

Warbird · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2002 6:01 am Post subject:

Thanx for all of this. It also seems to me that if you had to stretch your hand to put your pinky in the ring than there is a possibility to be pushing the piston down sideways, scraping the sides of your valve casing. It seems that whenever I work with a middle school player that has been playing for a while and plays that that, you can hear his valves scrapping. I dunno, but it seems logical to me...

In Christ,
Joseph N. Pack