The Musical Instrument Desk Reference by Michael Pagliaro

Author:Michael Pagliaro [Pagliaro, Michael J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Published: 2012-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Figure 8.6. Trumpet valves 2 and 3 tones.

Figure 8.7. Trumpet valves 1 and 3 tones.

Figure 8.8. Trumpet valves 1, 2, and 3.

Review

The valves on any brass instrument can be used individually or in combination, lowering an open tone to produce all the other tones that exist below the open tones. The pattern is as follows:

Valve 1 = whole step or a second

Valve 2 = half step or minor second

Valve 3 = step and a half or minor third

Valves 1 and 2 = step and a half or a minor third

Valves 2 and 3 = two whole steps or a major third

Valves 1 and 3 = two and a half steps or a perfect fourth

Valves 1, 2, and 3 = three whole steps or a diminished fourth

To determine the fingering without a fingering chart for any valve instrument, locate the open tones and apply the above principles.

Brass Sound Production

To produce a tone on a brass instrument, buzz moistened lips into a cup-shaped mouthpiece with the upper lip producing the primary buzz. Depending on the lip formation of the player, the lower lip generally buzzes to a lesser degree. The lower lip also provides support, acts as a stabilizer for the vibration of the lips, and controls the size of the opening through which the air passes into the mouthpiece.

Experts agree that placement of the mouthpiece on the lips is unique to each embouchure and must ultimately be determined by the player. To start, it is recommended that the mouthpiece be placed in the center of the lips with equal amounts of the upper and lower lip in contact with the mouthpiece cup. It is then a matter of adjusting the mouthpiece placement up or down until the position that produces the best sound for that individual is determined.

The pitches produced can be changed by increasing or decreasing the intensity of the buzz. This is accomplished by raising or lowering the corners of the mouth. Pulling the corners of the mouth down will raise the pitch, raising the corners of the mouth will lower the pitch.

Tuning All Brass Instruments

Because all brass instruments have inherent intonation problems, it is almost impossible to achieve tuning perfection.

Tuning a brass instrument is achieved by moving slides in or out. The main tuning slide is used to tune the instrument’s basic pitch. Additional slides are used to tune the notes related to the use of each valve. Extending a slide will lower the pitch. Drawing a slide in will raise the pitch.

Certain brass instruments such as the euphonium and BB tuba are structured with an auxiliary set of tubing that is used to compensate for the natural rise in pitch inherent in the low register of these instruments. By depressing a fourth valve, additional tubing is opened to lower the pitch for that particular note. This mechanism does not affect the other registers on the instrument.

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