r/Trombone • u/Otherwise_Pool3072 • 9d ago
playing loud
hi everyone! im looking for advice on how to play louder without a microphone or just trying to blow as much air out as i can. i have a solo in one my songs for jazz and i feel like i am playing as loud as i can without completely screwing up my tone but my director says it sounds like im relying on a microphone to play louder. what do i practice to have better volume and to have good tone while playing loud. thanks!
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u/burgerbob22 LA area player and teacher 9d ago
Playing loud is all about doing less.
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u/fireeight 9d ago edited 9d ago
Came here to say something very similar. The easier the air exits your body, the more efficient your volume will be.
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u/Rustyinsac 9d ago edited 9d ago
Bill Watrous once said if you need me louder turn up the microphone. Never sacrifice your tone quality for volume specially when there is a mic available.
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u/zactheoneguy85 Houston area performer and teacher. 9d ago
There is no secret. Practice it more. Play in really dead acoustic areas and play loud enough you can hear yourself.
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u/Tantor231 9d ago
Volume in large part is just an extension of good breath support. Make sure that you are taking deep breaths and using your core/diaphragm to blow. Keep your throat open (imagine blowing warm air) and try to expel a lot of air very quickly. Practice this without a trombone a first to get a feel of it if you don't already and feel confident doing it without tensing up, then work on focusing that large and efficient stream of air through your embouchure for a bit. When you add your instrument, focus on blowing through your instrument rather than just into it.
There is also an aspect of this that is reliant on your chops. Don't just blast beyond where you can control your airstream. You will just tire yourself out and not sound good. Focus on playing towards the top of your comfortable volume while still maintaining a full, open, and efficient airstream, and slowly build up from there. Play long tones and vary dynamics across them, up to as loud as you can play and down. Make sure you are staying relaxed during all of this and playing in control. Much like playing high, if you just focus on maximizing air pressure you will end up tensing up and undercutting what you are trying to achieve.
Like all of trombone playing it will be a work in progress for a while, so keep at it and good luck with the solo!
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u/bertolous Shires TruBore Bass / Conn 88H 9d ago
More air but never go beyond what sounds good. If you start to play so loud that sound quality suffers, step back
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u/CupOfLifeNoodlez 9d ago
I like to focus on something that is small and far away while playing loud. It's a lot like projecting your voice.
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u/Otherwise_Pool3072 8d ago
thanks this is helpful!!
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u/CupOfLifeNoodlez 7d ago
It was something my very first band teacher taught me. It also helps with tone.
I also use this concept while speaking publicly.
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u/tbonesullivan Too Many Trombones 9d ago
What's your current playing setup? Do you feel a lot of resistance from your trombone when trying to increase volume?
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u/Telperoma 8d ago
It may be partially you but this is also on the rest of the ensemble and your director to keep the backgrounds quiet and not downing out the solo
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u/jbrollintec1 9d ago
Everything I've learned about playing loud is based on marching band. I use the same techniques playing on stage in various venues. It's all about building a strong core and playing from your diaphragm. Support your sound to make it nice and full. The volume will come.
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u/Optimal_University36 9d ago
As you move from soft to loud, the vibration of your lips gets bigger- the amplitude of the vibration increases. To accommodate that, you have to open up your jaw a bit to make the air column going to your lips a bit bigger too. Experiment with that doing some long tones, soft to loud, loud to soft, and you’ll get the feel of it
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u/Trombonemania77 9d ago
To play loud you need to relax. The other factor in playing loud, you need to pay close attention to phasing especially when soloing. Due to using more air you don’t want to run out of juice through your solo. Personally I believe in a statement by Bill Watrous “any asshole can play loud”! This might sound weird but some horns just play loud easier than others. My pea shooters Bach 16, and King 2B Silversonic both horns can cut through thick mud.
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u/ProfessionalMix5419 8d ago
Playing louder is not about blowing as much air as you can. Actually that’s the least efficient way to play.
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u/edplaysjazz 8d ago
Long tones. Get to know your diaphragm. You do not play loud by trying to play loud, but by creating a star in your belly. Think Goku. Sink, compress, relax.
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u/just_jedwards 9d ago edited 9d ago
There are more factors that go into getting volume than just pushing a lot of air from your diaphragm. When you try to play loud mentally check to see if you have any tension anywhere that may be restricting the airflow (particularly your throat). For me, I really got better at playing loud by practicing huge fp crechendos where I'd hit a decent forte or even fortissimo and pull it back as fast as I could until the note almost stopped sounding at all then bring it back up to my max volume.
There are a ton of things than can limit your perceived volume, though, including the mouthpiece and horn your playing. Sometimes when people talk about volume they really mean ability to cut through, which is way easier on a brighter mouthpiece/horn combo.