Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 4:35 pm Post subject: ALL trumpet players want to play high!
My trumpet teacher and I are having a debate. I say ALL trumpet players want to play high notes. The teacher doesn't agree. but I think we are not communicating. He is thinking that includes in music. I know not all players want to be Faddis or Maynard etc. but in private they practice and try to play high notes because that is what we do. Do you agree or disagree?
Joined: 11 Mar 2002 Posts: 2201 Location: Little Elm, TX
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 5:01 pm Post subject:
There are a rare few who can play high but choose not to because they don't see the need to. Many more who say trumpet players don't all want to play high say it because they can't play high. The majority of us eat and sleep high notes--either as practitioners or wanna-be's. _________________ Bryan Fields
----------------
1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces
Personally, I don't dwell on playing high notes. To me, the trumpet is simply a tool for expressing interesting musical ideas in an improvised jazz context.
This topic reminded me of the following YouTube video featuring Arturo Sandoval, who can pretty much play as high as anyone. In this session, he plays a wonderful solo while confining himself almost entirely to the middle register:
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9193 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 6:24 pm Post subject:
Man, those are some monstrous 'sidemen".
Regarding high notes, I never personally wanted any more than needed for improvisation. I DO want the range wide enough to improvise but I leave the McArthur Park wannabees to themselves. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 3118 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:11 am Post subject:
Shaft is right, it’s a logical problem. As soon as you find one trumpet player who doesn’t want to play high the statement is wrong. At the same time: what does your statement mean? Because I tend to agree for some part of the general idea but then there is more:
(Almost) all trumpetplayers want:
to play fast
a big car
to have a perfect tone
to have a dog
to have a perfect attack
to date all the nice girls
to be better than other trumpet players (you can read this as: to feel happy)
to have a voluntary diaphragm
So again, what are you trying to say?
Last edited by delano on Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:17 am; edited 1 time in total
Funny coincidence that I was thinking of getting a t-shirt that expresses just that concept.
But I gotta agree with Shaft: always and never are too often used in trumpet discussions and seldomly lead to anything productive, as they're seldomly true. Also, I cannot speak for all trumpet players since I'm only familiar with a very small selection of them. So I'll limit my opinion to myself: high notes are just 1 of the many aspects of playing, and somewhat more important for trumpet players than other instrumentalists because:
a) trumpets are generally the highest pitched brass instrument group (barring piccolos) and have the easiest time playing high, so if anyone's gonna extend the range upwards, it'll have to be trumpets (unlike other brass instruments we cannot pass it on to the next section pitched above us if it gets too high)
b) brass instruments are the only instrument group that require time and effort to learn to play the full range of the instruments, so unlike any other instrument, working on 'high notes' is part of learning the instrument
But the usual caveats apply: if you cannot play them well better not play them, it's not suitable for any music, don't play it strictly for ego, etc.
Furthermore, if where I'm not would be the top of my range ever, I'd be ok with that. But that's also because I have the range that I need to perform in the venues that I play. Doesn't mean I'm not working on solidifying my skills and trying to see whether I can get beyond what I can do now though.
So the answer is: it depends. _________________ 1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mpc
Regarding high notes, I never personally wanted any more than needed for improvisation. I DO want the range wide enough to improvise but I leave the McArthur Park wannabees to themselves.
But what range do you need to improvise?
Pops, Dizzy, Chet, Tom Harrel, Fats Navarro, etc, would say different answers, all correct.
For me, having the ability to move easily from low F# to high C is enough.
Having a solid high G will get you most lead jobs.
Double C on up would be a luxury item, which is not much use without a really solid range up to high G.
Contrary to what is often said, the trumpet players I've met with a strong high register usually have a beautiful tone throughout the range.
I think it's because it's really hard to reach those notes without good fundamentals.
I think it is natural for a trumpet player who wants to improve to pay attention to his range _________________ Notice!!! Amateur musician without formal studies
Trumpet: Yamaha 8310Z
Mouthpiece: the great Yamaha11b4
Sax tenor: Yamaha YTS 23
Mouthpiece: Otto link tone edge
Joined: 20 Apr 2016 Posts: 1063 Location: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:30 am Post subject:
Of course I want to play high and I did a lot when I was a younger player, but at 86, playing anything above a high F is asking for an injury. Also, the fewer high notes I play above a Bb over the staff, the better I play on and below the staff-- especially below. However, I am called on to play a lot of G's and A's above the staff so I include a series of scales that go up to High C in my daily morning practice session and throw in a D and and E every now and then.
George _________________ GeorgeB
1960s King Super 20 Silversonic
2016 Manchester Brass Custom
1938-39 Olds Recording
1942 Buescher 400 Bb trumpet
1952 Selmer Paris 21 B
1999 Conn Vintage One B flat trumpet
2020 Getzen 490 Bb
1962 Conn Victor 5A cornet
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3380 Location: Endwell NY USA
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:12 am Post subject: Re: ALL trumpet players want to play high!
Trumpetstud wrote:
... I say ALL trumpet players want to play high notes. ...
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I think it's more the case the players want to have the ability (and be known) to play high notes - so they are capable and selected (and enjoy it) to play them.
Few people want the reputation of 'being pretty good - but ...' _________________ 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'.
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1059 Location: Salisbury, MD
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:19 am Post subject:
I'll be honest that I don't really like to play high notes. I do and I practice to be able to play them because, without the ability, I would have to pass on gigs that require them.
The show I'm currently playing goes up to a high F#. To feel comfortable with that, I want to be practicing up to Bb/B range.
I do not focus on high range in my practice when it is not needed. When I know have something coming up that requires it, I shed high range. Otherwise, I rarely practice above high C. _________________ Pat Shaner
Play Wedge Mouthpieces by Dr. Dave exclusively.
Experiment with LOTS of horn makes and models.
It's very common to want to play high well, I don't think anyone should focus on it to the exclusion of playing accurately and musically or neglecting other aspects of playing. I can think of examples of those who apparently don't share my views. _________________ Getzen Eterna Severinsen
King Silver Flair
Besson 1000
Bundy
Chinese C
Getzen Eterna Bb/A piccolo
Chinese Rotary Bb/A piccolo
Joined: 30 Oct 2012 Posts: 1839 Location: Austin/New York City
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: ALL trumpet players want to play high!
Trumpetstud wrote:
My trumpet teacher and I are having a debate. I say ALL trumpet players want to play high notes. The teacher doesn't agree. but I think we are not communicating. He is thinking that includes in music. I know not all players want to be Faddis or Maynard etc. but in private they practice and try to play high notes because that is what we do. Do you agree or disagree?
Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 1108 Location: Sacramento, Ca
Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2022 9:23 pm Post subject:
You two may be arguing past each other.
I have no desire to be a high note player, but I recognize that a properly developed upper register means the lower and middle registers are working, and that's where the money is found. I believe it was Vacchiano who stated, "98% of trumpet music is below High C." or something to that effect. If I can play a solid, full-sounding G above High C, then I have no reason to worry about the notes below.
So sure, I'd like to be able to play high notes. _________________ -Tom Hall-
"A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence."
-Bruce Lee
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3380 Location: Endwell NY USA
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:02 am Post subject: Re: ALL trumpet players want to play high!
Mike Sailors wrote:
He's right. You're wrong.
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The critical item is asserting that ALL players want to play high.
There are (likely) some players who don't - so that is not ALL. _________________ 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'.
No, I actually don't...while I will say that once in a while it can sound pretty sweet, if overdone gets annoying!
I much rather prefer a pleasant sound, up to F or G above high C is plenty
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9193 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:00 am Post subject:
self-deleted _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
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