How to stay in tune

AkshayB · Regular Member Joined: 03 Jan 2019 Posts: 16

I was just wondering if there was a certain way I can change how in tune I am just from my embouchure rather than with my tuning slides. I sit with a tuner every day and just play ascending notes. I found it hard to stay in tune higher I went up so I was just wondering if there was any way I could change my embouchure to stay in tune. For example, maybe I could do ______ with my embouchure to go more flat.

I would really appreciate it if you would help!

kehaulani · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 7:59 am Post subject:

You just need to work an your fundamentals and then mild range-building exercises.

You also need to work on aural recognition. Do ear training, Use a downloadable drome and practice against it.

Make sure you're using good air support. Work on it if you don't have it.

Sounds to me a good teacher would come in handy.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
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Adams F-1 Flghn

cheiden · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:52 am Post subject:

A method like that of James Stamp, properly applied will get you navigating the registers with a consistent pitch center.
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"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Richard III · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:02 am Post subject:

Note bending and find the resonant center of each note.
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Richard

King 1130 Flugabone
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mike ansberry · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:13 am Post subject:

Lots of good advice here.

I spent many years listening carefully while I played and basically thinking am I sharp? Am I flat?

In the early 90's I was playing a brass quintet church gig and I was "in the zone". The group intonation was locked in. I wondered what I was doing different. The answer was that I wasn't worrying about my intonation. I was singing my part in my brain while I was playing it.

For decades teachers had said "sing your part". Huh? It was an epiphany. I started teaching this in my middle school bands. Lots of actual singing and then playing. Work on audiation. It really made a difference.
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Music is a fire in your belly, fighting to get out. You'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt.

MrSarin · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 11:46 am Post subject:

I love Richard III response, it’s not about playing with a tuner. It’s about one of two things. Solist playing find the most resonant area or with a group is about matching the group and find their common tuning tendacys.

TrumpetMD · Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:35 pm Post subject:

Interesting thread, with a lot of good replies.

I try to record parts of my practice sessions. I'll alternate playing for a few minutes, and then listening back to the recording. This has helped me to critique several aspects of my playing, including intonation. (As an aside, this approach also helps you "rest as much as you play". ) I use a Zoom H1N recorder, but I think a cell phone would work, too.

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.

bhornFree · Regular Member Joined: 13 May 2019 Posts: 27

Pauvog11 · Regular Member Joined: 19 Jul 2019 Posts: 13

Lots of fundamental work. Build embochure strength and flexibility. Play long tones with a tuner, and figure out your tendencies.

You can change pitch with embochure manipulation, slide manipulation, tongue arch manipulation, and etc. Playing long tones, with drone pitches (maybe mixed with some mp buzzing) can help build ear training which will inform intonation adjustments.

I love the idea mentioned above of recording practice sessions.

Rod Haney · Heavyweight Member Joined: 22 Aug 2015 Posts: 937

I think it my be as simple as eat training, some real nice programs 2apps for that

CJceltics33 · Veteran Member Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475

Practice articulation. Breath attacks and Poo attacks

Practice intervals. The Arban is great for that

Record yourself

Use your slides

Listen to great players

It will come

Al Innella · Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 6:10 am Post subject:

Ear training is a must. If you have access to a piano,play an interval ,then sing the interval. If you can't hear and sing the interval in tune,you can't play it in tune. I remember my first time in a recording studio ,I put on the headphones and recorded the first track,it was badly out of tune. I covered both ears with the headphones and couldn't hear myself. When I only covered one ear on the retake, it was now in tune.

What I'm saying is you have to hear the interval in tune to be able to play it in tune.

Hope this helps,

Al

deleted_user_680e93b · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

blbaumgarn · Heavyweight Member Joined: 26 Jul 2017 Posts: 705

Lots of good advice. Training your ear to hear "in tune" is very critical. Hearing yourself and also hearing everyone around you is everything. The more I got opportunities to play in small groups the more I could practice playing in tune with a small group and also myself. Listen to recordings of great brass groups. Get some of the major symphony brass groups. They plays so well in tune that is kind of hurts the ear because of its purity. Do exercises that help build consistent air support and you won't waver. It's one of those things that as you learn playing in tune solo and in group better there will be lights coming on. Good Luck
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"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality,
there is one that lives to lay waste to woodwinds and strings, leaving them lie blue and lifeless along a swath of destruction that is a
trumpeter's fury-then there is the dark side!" Irving Bush

cheiden · Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:04 am Post subject:

Nothing beats playing unisons and duets with another player who has impeccable intonation.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Trubicar · New Member Joined: 10 Jan 2018 Posts: 7 Location: Slovenia

I also had a problems with my pitch the day I started to think about it, becouse of my woodwind schoolmates talking constantly about intonation. And ended those problems when I stopped thinking about intonation and just trusting my inner voice. The brasschats interview with James Pandolfi could be very helpful for you.

When your sound is in a center (you find the resonance with your trumpet) you will be certainly in tune. And don’t forget that tuner is tamperarrely tuned not naturally. So throw it away😀