What is "Chops"?

Starlend · New Member Joined: 20 Mar 2017 Posts: 10

Friends, please explain me what is "CHOPS"! I see this word "Chops" on different trumpet school, videos and materials. But I dont understand it! It's lips, opportunity or maybe range, or ambouchure? Also I saw note in notes "for high chops". How should I understand it? I asked my English teacher but he dont know how translate musicial terms.

Thank you very much.
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Shilke X3 - Bob Reeves 42M - Denis Wick 5E - Schilke 10B4

Tpt_Guy · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 1:29 pm Post subject:

It's a slang term (slang=nonstandard or colloquial language).

There are three definitions that I see used:

1) a wind player's embouchure

Example: "I have to do exercises to strengthen my chops."

2) a wind player's ability to to use the embouchure to a certain effect

Example: "Joe has great high chops."

3) a player's ability to play in a certain genre or to play in general

Examples: "I don't have great jazz chops." "To be a successful all-around player you need to develop good chops."

Anyone else see it used differently?

This gives me a thought. Might it be a good idea to have a glossary section on the forum for reference? May be a great resource.
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-Tom Hall-

"A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence."
-Bruce Lee

TrumpetMD · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:01 pm Post subject:

Good response from Tpt_Guy. I would add that #3 that applies to non-wind instruments. For example, "That piano player's got great jazz chops."

Mike
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Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns.

tptptp · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2018 2:24 pm Post subject:

Certainly regarding trumpet playing it's as y'all have noted, but I've also seen it used in a non-musical sense. "Acting chops", for example. It's become a general slang term for "ability".
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Craig Mitchell

Starlend · New Member Joined: 20 Mar 2017 Posts: 10

Thank you all very much! For example, maybe do you know this video "Wayne Bergeron Playing Lead Trumpet". The first chapter called Chops, what does he mean?
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Shilke X3 - Bob Reeves 42M - Denis Wick 5E - Schilke 10B4