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CJceltics33 Veteran Member
Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:26 pm Post subject: Playing pretty vocal part? |
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Long story short, there’s a metally vocal solo at the end of a song that’s beautiful and I am trying to play it on trumpet. I know the notes but I just can’t play it very pretty. Probably a weird question but...any tips on this to make it sound as gorgeous as the vocal part? |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2310 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Play lyrically every day! If you haven't been, then you must start. And do it softer than you think...
Flow Studies - constant sound, smooth and calm.
Arban's, Concone, Snedecor, Olt, Charlier lyrical studies
Slur everything, sing it, play it (stop using your tongue so much) play softly, listen to a singer and imitate... _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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Don Herman rev2 'Chicago School' Forum Moderator
Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 8951 Location: Monument, CO
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:19 am Post subject: |
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Make your mental sound match the vocal and play to that. "Sing" using the horn. Think and phrase like a singer as you play. _________________ "After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2611 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 6:51 am Post subject: |
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Flugelhorn. Curry FL-D. The combination yields a vocal quality that is fantastic. _________________ Richard
Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet |
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deleted_user_680e93b New Member
Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0
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Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:47 am Post subject: Re: Playing pretty vocal part? |
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CJceltics33 wrote: | Long story short, there’s a metally vocal solo at the end of a song that’s beautiful and I am trying to play it on trumpet. I know the notes but I just can’t play it very pretty. Probably a weird question but...any tips on this to make it sound as gorgeous as the vocal part? |
Listen to Botti for ideas on vocal representation, He pretty much has this technique down i would say. Good Luck !
tom |
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Andy Del Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 2660 Location: sunny Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Playing pretty vocal part? |
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CJceltics33 wrote: | Long story short, there’s a metally vocal solo at the end of a song that’s beautiful and I am trying to play it on trumpet. I know the notes but I just can’t play it very pretty. Probably a weird question but...any tips on this to make it sound as gorgeous as the vocal part? |
This reads a lot like a case of paralysis through analysis. A lyrical phrase needs to be thought of in a musical manner, not a mental one, lest the emotional side be left out. If we think of something as a bunch of notes, it will sound like that.
Our school just had a wonderful masterclass with two visiting trumpeters who kept on with this exact thought.
To play music, we need to have a clear and concrete concept of how the music sings. No idea, no music. Then, and only then, can we look at the mechanical side of the instrument: breathing, air flow, etc.
So maybe the path forwards looks like this:
Be able to sing the phrase musically
Articulate the rhythm musically - typically this wold be more legato then not
Work on being able to slur the phrase - try on one pitch using alternate fingerings
Actually slur the phrase in a single breath, no tongue
Then play it as written, keeping the legato, vocal style in mind all the time.
Hope that helps a bit...
cheers
Andy _________________ so many horns, so few good notes... |
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dstdenis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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First, try to relax and play it with ease. If you're fighting the instrument at all, that'll get in the way of the sound and listeners will sense that you're struggling. If there are technical issues getting in the way, work on fixing those so you will sound like playing this solo is easy and natural for you.
Second, think of playing expressive phrases with a well-centered sound. Read McGill's book Sound in Motion for a great tutorial on phrasing. _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
Piccolo Stomvi |
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Robert P Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2579
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Playing pretty vocal part? |
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CJceltics33 wrote: | Long story short, there’s a metally vocal solo at the end of a song that’s beautiful and I am trying to play it on trumpet. I know the notes but I just can’t play it very pretty. Probably a weird question but...any tips on this to make it sound as gorgeous as the vocal part? |
What's the song?
As always the more command you have of the instrument the better of course. We have no way of knowing what level you play at. If you're still struggling with the basics of playing, of course you're not going to be able to play anything pretty.
Further, "pretty" is somewhat subjective. Some people think Harry James played pretty, some thought his playing was schmaltzy.
You need to be able to objectively self-evaluate.
Can you put up video of yourself playing a ballad of some sort? Or even the melody you're talking about? _________________ Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C
Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Flugel |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 8965 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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Dare I say it? If you want to play lyrically and vocally . . why not listen a lot to fine vocalists? Listen to songs in the same genre and listen a lot.
BTW, Sound in Motion might be over your head - don't know - but the book is excellent.
p.s. what is metally? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Getzen Capri Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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gchun01 Veteran Member
Joined: 29 Mar 2013 Posts: 270
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Learn the lyrics to the song. Actually sing the song, in your mind and with your voice. Breathe like a singer. |
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CJceltics33 Veteran Member
Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks very much! With a few hours of practice and listening to the song over and over again, I got it decent! I imagined it as a super pretty soft part, but it was sung more aggressively than I thought. So trying to match the style of the vocalist is what did it. Thanks again |
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