Off-Center Buzz

cliffardo · Regular Member Joined: 27 May 2023 Posts: 30

I know buzzing is a contentious topic, though greats such as Clark Terry and Wynton Marsalis both state that without buzzing there is no playing trumpet.

When I free-buzz, I feel that the buzz happens in two places on either side of the centre of my lips. When I apply the trumpet to my mouth, there is no sound other than air at this setting.

At present I can only play a D in the staff with regularity at best and then maybe an E. I am a returning player, but when I last played seriously, I only could go to a G on the top of the staff, so I am really looking for long term range solutions.

And please, do not tell me to play trombone or low brass. That's what a teacher said 20 years ago, but I have noticed plenty of people with my size lips that can play trumpet.

JayKosta · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 4:09 am Post subject:

Don't worry about what happens NOW during free buzzing - it is mostly a 'muscle exercise' to develop strength and control, NOT to replicate actual playing. What you do need now is to learn good basic technique, and then later improve your ability to do the technique and gain strength and control.
Don't 'get good' at doing it the wrong way!

Watch this video (it is short and demonstrates good basic use of mouthpiece and blowing) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTb2gEaTU4

If you are interested in reading about 'what the embouchure should be doing', my article is here -
http://users.hancock.net/jkosta/Embouchure_Basic_Concepts.htm
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

abontrumpet · Heavyweight Member Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 1769

Like the JayKosta mentioned, don't worry about free buzzing. If you're really keen on getting under the hood, get a visualizer which at least isolates the buzzing area as a mouthpiece would. https://www.pickettblackburn.com/accessories-c-105/asper-trumpet-mouthpiece-visualizer-p-2383.html

Unsolicited advice:
This post, combined with your post about "technique" makes me think you're going for the pure analytical approach to playing. That's fine, but it practically necessitates the use of a teacher for navigation. Regardless of your approach, there should be SOME "play and see how it goes" self-discovery parts of your beginning moments playing. Get a few lessons now, with a great teacher, to send you down the right path. It's clear you have struggled in the past and a great teacher can sometimes save years of frustration

kehaulani · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 6:18 am Post subject:

I had a friend in h.s. and college who was probably one of the state's top five players and he played off to one side. It worked and playing off-center allowed an embouchure that was centered with his buzz.

FWIW, he became a player in he USAF Academy Band which was a Premier band at that time.

The only caveat if you try it, is not to give up too soon. Your embouchure muscles will, at first, not be balanced for this off-center embouchure, so give it time to adjust.
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Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2595