To trumpeters who have taken up F horn

[blanchard]

When taking brass class for my mus ed degree, I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the horn and felt more comfortable on it than I did on the trumpet. The high cost for a decent double kept me away from pursuing anything, plus I was only a year away from my senior recital on trumpet before moving on to my credential.

Fast forward to today, I was able to acquire a Reynolds Contempora double, and have started to work on intonation and scales. Does anyone have any tips on making a smooth transition? I have started to play scales on both sides as well as make decisions as to which notes to play on which side. When I'm on the Bb side, I think of it as transposing up a 5th (when reading written parts in F), but is that a good idea? I've been thinking of taking some lessons over the Summer from a local pro who started out on trumpet in high school, but any advice from others who have done the same would be helpful.

Also, any opinions on mouthpieces to try (I know this can ignite a fire, but I'll listen to any opinions). I play on a 3C trumpet mouthpiece, and so far have found the low range on the horn to be terrible on smaller mouthpieces like the Holton MC, and was considering a GR C rim or Laskey 75.
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"Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want... Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about. "

[blanchard]

I forgot to mention that my main goal with this is to have fun filling in missing spots in local community bands. Whenever I'd offer to play trumpet in someone's band, I get that "Oh, sure, I guess we could add another trumpet to the band. But, when said I could also play euphonium, their eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning, and I notice that they all seem to need horns even more than low brass.
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"Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want... Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about. "

[kehaulani]

[blanchard]

Thanks Kejualani. Be humble if you want, but you're the exact type of person I want to hear from.

[stumac]

About 20 years ago in a fit of mental aberation I bought a Selmer Paris french horn, my trumpet was a Selmer B700. I had 2 years worth of lessons from a retired horn player, a graduate of the Royal College of Music in the 50's. He taught me on the Bb side only.

Currently playing trumpet in an amateur big band and horn in a comunity symphony orchestra. As long as I keep equal times practicing both I can change over with no problems.

The Selmer had a big MP with a similar rim size to my trumpet mp with a unique taper.

Now playing an Alexander 102 ST with a Halstead Paxman Chidel 24 mp, makes over the stave harder work but great tone in the mid and low range.

Regards, Stuart.

[Crazy Finn]

The Bb side of the horn is for high notes, not low notes - or I am I crazy?
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LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Olds Ambassador Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet

[geezer]

I have always loved the tone of French Horn, but it is the only instrument I found impossible to play. The notes seemed impossibly close together, and the instrument was painful to hold.
Is a Mellophone any easier to play? (I hope my question isn't off-topic for this thread. If it is, I will delete it.)

Geezer
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1974 Holton ST302

[ADziuk]

I've recently started playing horn as well as part of my job teaching brass.

It is always interesting to see when a brass player picks up another instrument.

My high range on trumpet is quite competent, but i'm not a double C lead screamer. However on horn my range and accuracy is a bit on the freakish side. I think it's more mental than anything, I'm not impeded by years of preconceived notions about what is "hard" on horn.
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"Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength."

[Geophyzz]

I doubled on horn while in college. these are my thoughts and what worked for me, others might have different idea

I would spend alot of time also working on the low regerster of the horn. like bass clef low. i found that you have to use a different mouthpiece placement (different than what you would for trumpet normally much more top lip than bottom) for lower notes if you use this placement in all registers I find that i makes you sound more like a horn and less like a trumpet player playing horn.

as far as what to play the book by Kopporsh (sp) is really good for learning the technical parts of playing and you can also play anything lyrcal that you played on trumpet. the above poster about Farkus' book is a good one. theres alot of information

the best thing i can tell you is DO NOT play horn like you are playing trumpet.

forgive the grammar. typing on a phone

[cheiden]

[blanchard]

[blanchard]

[Craig Swartz]

I go back and forth all the time, also to trombone, tuba, euphonium, etc. Priority #1: Listen to the sound. Learn to make the horn sound like a horn, not a trumpet. Hint-in that regard this will also require experimentation with the right hand shape and placement in the bell as well. Also spend some time tuning both sides of the instrument and each individual rotor slide. Except in balls to the wall orchestral playing you will likely be blending and matching clarinets and saxophones at least as much as the rest of the brass family so contemplate how to do that properly. Finally, warm, moist wind for the most part, don't be concerned with DHC. Good luck.

[blanchard]

OK I'm going to ask my new question here since I posted this same thread in Horn Society and 3 weeks later, there are only 35 views and no responses. If anyone knows of a better horn forum, let me know. I mean, the internet has been around for decades now.

Anyway, I should have been wearing my glasses when I looked at the Reynolds mouthpiece that came with it. It's a 6D and not a 6C as I had thought. After buying a Giardinelli C8 and playing on it for a while, I keep going back to the 6D, which research shows Reynolds describing as a thin rim with a deep cup. I'm guessing it's not a very large backbore, and I believe it's still a 7.5mm inside diameter. Since Reynolds is no more, does anybody know another mouthpiece that would play like it? So far, I think I'm looking for a Schilke 31C2 or a Yamaha 32D4 but I'm not sure.
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"Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want... Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about. "

[dershem]

I play Horn just a little - mostly playing Rob McConnell parts and Kenton charts in my big band, and picking up occasional doubles in pit orchestras where they can't afford or fit a horn player.

The hard parts are:

1) Hearing the horn. The partials are so close together that it is really easy to play the wrong note.

2) Playing in tune. The horn is difficult to play with a decent sound and in tune. Practice is a must.

I have a King double and use a Marcinkiewicz 7 mouthpiece, which seems to work.

[blanchard]

Thanks. I'm not having much trouble finding pitches, although my lip slurs are missing the target more often than I'd like, so I'll be practicing those.

Is your King a Kruspe wrap or something else? I'm learning that the type of design makes a big impact on which mouthpieces sound good on a horn, and it seems like players of Kruspe type horns feel a tighter backbore work best.

I'm only interested in finding a substitute for the 6D because it's old and looks like the shank is slightly dented, or has been repaired. Still, if I keep liking it, I will keep playing it. I get a nice fat tone down below low C and yet I can reach a nice range of dynamics with the high C as well.
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"Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want... Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about. "

[kehaulani]

Blanchard, I can't find anything about a Reynolds 6D, but if it were me, I'd give Schilke a call and ask them.

Your mpc sounds like what was once characterised as an "east coast" mpc, e.g. thin rim, deeper mpc. as contrasted with a MOR mpc like the ever popular Farkas mpc, which is shallower and with a more cushioned rim.

If you're dedicated to finding a replica of your Reynolds, I'd just call a few of the mpc makers and ask them for their suggestions. They won't all know but you might get lucky.
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You can't blow it if you haven't lived it.

"Even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis, I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis."
Chet Baker

Schilke B7
Martin Committee (1956)
Connstellation 38B (1959)
Hans Hoyer G10 French Horn

[Welsh_Hornplayer]

Hi there, I'm not particularly experienced (on my 2nd year of seriouus playing) but as a French horn player I can offer some advice.

[Welsh_Hornplayer]

[blanchard]