Best mouthpiece for someone who uses too much pressure?

[jmenz15]

Hello everyone! I've been playing trumpet for about 16 years now, throughout my public schooling, college, and young adult life. I've always been a fairly casual player, and never seriously considered playing professionally. I just love making music, and don't plan to stop any time soon. I play in a few community groups in my area, along with the occasional paid gig, and that's more than enough for me.

I've always been told that I use too much pressure when I play. I often find myself getting tired very quickly, and no matter how long I play for, whether 10 minutes or 3 hours, I always get the dreaded pressure ring on my upper lip. But because I'm not a professional musician, I've never wanted to commit to the grueling task of reshaping my embouchure or unlearning years of bad habits. If I were pursuing this as a profession, I would certainly make this commitment, but alas, I am not.

Which brings me to the question: is there a specific mouthpiece that you would recommend for someone like me who uses too much pressure? Or maybe any specific techniques or tricks? I know many would consider this a crutch, and I don't disagree, but as a casual yet passionate player, I just want to get as much enjoyment as possible out of playing the trumpet, and isn't that what we're all here for in the end?

Any and all help is appreciated! Thanks all!

[jhatpro]

Some players think mouthpieces with wider than normal rims are a solution to excess pressure but I recommend you focus on reducing the pressure rather than compensating for it.

Try relaxing the way you grip the horn. Ben Hogan’s famous advice about how to grip a golf club comes to mind. (“Grip it the way you would a baby bird,� he said.)
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Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[PW-Factor]

I think the Wedge could benefit you. The sides slope away from your chops, so you are forced to engage your embouchure more. Maybe that can help? I also felt like the pressure I used with the Wedge was more noticeable in the feeling on my lips. Might be a good training tool.
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[LSOfanboy]

[JVL]

hello
solve this problem with a teacher.
For mpcs, the most comfortable rim i found, even the narrow ones, are the Marcinkiewicz (semi-round ones)

best

[Turkle]

Here's a tip for you that doesn't require a mouthpiece change:

If you're like me - my top lip is the one that vibrates when I play - I solved a significant amount of my pressure problems years ago by "anchoring" my mouthpiece on my lower lip a bit (not too much!!).

In my experience, my lower lip can take a pretty serious beating with no ill effects, while my top lip needs to remain free to vibrate with no pressure. So by making sure any pressure happens on the lower lip rather than the top lip, I dramatically increased my endurance and got a much better sound as well.

Since I have an overbite, I generally have to make sure my lower jaw is a bit forward as well when I play, something I take care of in my warmup. That makes it easier for me to "anchor" on my lower lip without pointing the horn at the floor!

Hope this might be helpful to you. Ultimately, you reduce pressure with proper air support, posture, and technique. But in the meantime, you might do yourself a world of good by "anchoring" on your bottom lip and leaving your poor top lip alone to vibrate.

One last piece of advice - I've read on this forum that some players vibrate with their bottom lip, so they "anchor" on their top lip. That is bananas to me but whatever works for you! So just be advised that for some players it's opposite!

Good luck!
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[cheiden]

For me, the best I can do is to find a reasonable inner diameter and a reasonable bite. If either of those things are suboptimal then I'll resort to actions that kill my endurance. For me, too wide a rim or too soft a bit forces me to expend too much effort to keep my lips anchored. Obviously, too much bite can dig in too much and cause other problems.
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Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

[hose]

My experience even with a slightly wider rim is it allowed me to apply more pressure without noticing it. It works temporarily with the upper register, but fatigue from closing off the blood supply from the additional pressure sets in sooner and eventually worsens endurance. The next day and after I can feel it in my teeth that I had pressed too hard. Don't want the feeling of altering my "bite" at my age.
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Dave Wisner

Picketts
Yamaha 6335RC
Yamaha 8335RS
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Kanstul cornet

[Vin DiBona]

Hate to say this but there really is no such mouthpiece. Proper use of air taught by a qualified teacher and a mouthpiece that is reasonably comfortable and not of extreme diameters or depths should help, but the real key is the proper teaching and practice time.
Too comfortable of a mouthpiece often results in way too much left arm for "range". Too rounded or too narrow will have the same result.
Practicing softly will also help with controlling pressure and of course scales also are wonderful for learning not to press as you ascend.

R. Tomasek

[plp]

What worked for me was a smaller diameter, deeper cup, and getting away from Bach mouthpieces. That inner rim is what caused both the dreaded ring of death and loss of endurance.

I like both Stork and Warburtons, but the brand is nowhere near as important as finding the right diameter, cup depth and backbore.

Breaking in a new mouthpiece for me is all about low range chromatics played as softly as possible. When I can get all the notes to speak at ppp, know the seal is where it needs to be and the air is flowing correctly.

The common wisdom has always been go for a shallower cup for upper range, my experience was just the opposite. My upper register got much fuller and easier to achieve when I went from the Warburton M cup to the D cup.

YMMV.
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Since all other motives—fame, money, power, even honor—are thrown out the window the moment I pick up that instrument..... I play because I love doing it, even when the results are disappointing. In short, I do it to do it.” Wayne Booth

[John Mohan]

There is no need for you to change mouthpieces and there is CERTAINLY no need for you to try to change your embouchure in order to deal with issues pertaining to using too much pressure (if indeed you even are really using too much pressure).

If I had a dime for each person that used to tell me I used too much pressure when I was an up and coming player, I'd be rich. I invite you to read my story and then if you want my help, please feel free to contact me.

https://www.purtle.com/how-i-became-a-student-of-claude-gordon-by-john-mohan

Note that Jeff's website appears to be temporarily down, so in the meantime the above can be seen here: https://web.archive.org/web/20160407152553/https://www.purtle.com/how-i-became-a-student-of-claude-gordon-by-john-mohan

A proper daily routine practiced correctly will automatically eliminate any existing problems with using too much pressure.

Or, if you really want to try to rely on a mouthpiece to help you limit the pressure you use:





Best wishes,

John Mohan
Skype Lessons Available - Click on the e-mail button below if interested
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[kevin_soda]

[TKSop]

[John Mohan]

[TKSop]

[jhatpro]

That monstrosity reminds me of stories of how Louis Armstrong used to rough up his mouthpieces with a file so he could “get a better grip.� The result left scars that can be seen in some photos.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.� Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[deanoaks]

I believe Eric Aubier likes to use a flatter rimmed mouthpiece to help alleviate pressure (I personally use a flat rim mouthpiece to make switching between nat and modern trumpet easier, it's worth experimenting).
However, the cheaper options could include lip bends, changing the way you hold your horn, or practicing left-handed for a while. All of these, over time, will help you develop better habits (with diligent practice).

[Crazy Finn]

You can:

- spend lots of time looking for a mouthpiece to help with playing with pressure and failing. (because there really isn't one)

- spend the same amount of time working on playing with less pressure. This works with any mouthpiece or horn, amazingly.
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[TKSop]

On topic...

What's "too much pressure"?

IIRC there's an itg article somewhere about pressure where monitoring showed pros use about the same as mortals - maybe it's just that all those practice hours lead to more tolerance for it?

If you're sure there's too much pressure going on, is it mostly the stereotypical "octave key" pull into the lips with the pinky hook?
You can reduce this a fair bit by eliminating that hook - tape your pinky to your ring finger when practicing for a while.

Ultimately, the best remedies are the standard ones - good breathing, regular practice and lessons will solve most playing ills.


It may not be relevant (isn't particularly common) but a minor allergy to silver willl also leave a similar red ring.

[LSOfanboy]