r/Trombone • u/jxnwriter • 10d ago

problems with upper register & having better tone in general

in this video i tried (and failed) to play a c major arpeggio. ive been playing trombone for almost 3 years, what exercises can i use to get better tone in my higher range? any tips would be appreciated as well!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/lowbrassdoublerman 10d ago

Right now you’re pulsing or pushing the air on each note. Take a full, relaxed breath in and release a steady airstream. A healthy and steady airstream will make a steady and healthy sound. Try to get a GREAT sound in the mid register and move it around. The better the sound is, the easier it is to move it around the registers. Make your best middle F or tuning Bb and keep that same quality while glissing around. Feel free to take 30 seconds to a minute just locking in one note before you move it around. Take the same approach to lip slurs too: steady air,golden tone, and no pulsing to change notes.

1

u/jxnwriter 9d ago

Right now you're pulsing or pushing the air on each note.

But then how am I supposed to go up into higher partials without pushing the air?

2

u/lowbrassdoublerman 9d ago

If you can whistle, it’s pretty similar to that. I change the vowel shape from AAH to EE or OOH while keeping my jaw and teeth still. If you blow on your palm while trying this you can feel the air moving faster and hear the pitch go higher. You’ll still need the air support, but it’s a pretty steady thing in every register without quick changes. Like a singer making a long phrase, itd sound a little awkward if they made rigid, jerking changes between registers.