Trombone Lesson: How to Get a Great Sound on the Trombone
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Getting a great sound on the trombone is the most important skill to have as a trombonist. In this video, I cover three main topics that can help you achieve a great trombone sound. First we look at how breathing and blowing affect your sound. I then discuss how to "stay out of your own way" mentally and physically when trying to achieve your best sound. Lastly, I talk about the role resonance plays in helping us master a more clear and open tone. Don’t forget, the best way to accomplish any goal on your instrument is always to..... practice, practice, practice!
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If people knew how much this info is worth, you would have millions of views. This video is basically debunking myths after myths in the most relaxed way possible and looking at things in a way that only a few percentage of brass players actually know. I really don't understand how you don't have many more views.
Thanks so much for those words! I know the views will come over time. For now, I’m more concerned with getting the word out there. Feel free to share the info with your colleagues. I wish some of these topics were open for discussion when I was younger.
Don’t give it up. You are pleasantly challenging and encouraging many new players not to throw in the towel!! Soon that horn will have a rich golden sound that you/ they created and great satisfaction in your/their perseverance in teaching and encouraging accomplishment!!! It’s out there for anybody who’s willing to grasp and work for!!
I truly appreciate you for taking out the time to teach about the trombone. I used to be the # 1 trombonist in high school over 37 years ago. Although I have two trombones in my home. One my cousin purchased for me to help me get through a difficult time and one I purchased from Amazon.
I don’t remember the notes or how to read the music anymore.
I’ve had two stroke in 1987 & 1988. I want so badly to learn how to play again.
If you are physically able to play you can always retrain yourself. Even if it’s just putting some air through the horn and getting a tone is a start. Our love for music will never leave us.
Forget everything else, this channel has the best name I've ever heard.
Thank you!🙏🏾
This is an excellent video about one of the most basic and undertaught aspects of brass playing.I especially like when you said there is no thing as'muscle memory'.
That's why I'm here, I feel this information should be common knowledge in the brass community.
Hey Dion: 'glad I found your channel. I am 67 years of age, and started playing trombone a year ago. Sort of. Actually, I played trombone for 30 years, spent 25 years battling health and other life challenges, and a year ago I decided to relearn trombone playing if I could. Well. in one year of plaing, I have definitely made progress, but, of course I have a few more years of daily practice to go before I will want even close family to hear me. Amyway, thanks for doing this.
My pleasure, I'm glad you've been enjoying the videos!
I tried the buzzing vs vibrating thing. Just to test it out, and my tone went from bright to warm almost instantly!
That’s great! It’s amazing what happens when we let the instrument do what it’s suppose to do. Resonate away!
Thanks for this video! I am in 6th grade and I am playing the trombone in band. Sometimes I have trouble getting notes but this video will help me a lot!
I’ll glad this video was helpful. Enjoy the process of learning music via the trombone. I started at your age.
Ella!!! Never ever give up!! Play every day...do not risk losing that “musical muscle”in your lips!! Trust me on that one!!! I was offered a job with an orchestra after graduation and like an IDIOT I refused. I often wonder which way my life would’ve gone had I accepted that precious offer !! May God bless you and guide you. !!!
Stay with it Ella!! Soon you’ll hit those notes in that very special way and wonder.....!WOW!! Was that me?? Hey that sounded great!!! I KID YOU NOT!!!
Never give up!!! Enjoy each practice like it was your best one so far!! Soon you will enjoy the beautiful sounds your trombone makes for you!! I promise!! I didn’t get any encouragement from my parents...I could hear them laughing at me down stairs. One day they asked me where I got the St. Louis Blues record. I assumed they were poking fun at me again. My dad yelled at me and said “Answer your Mother!!” I told them I didn’t have any records .... I was playing my trombone!!!!” My heart was broken but not my spirit!!
Ella congratulations!!!! Never quit. Remember that frustration is a good thing....it makes you face that battle and WIN!! That feeling of satisfaction when you reach even your small goals is indescribable!! It makes you want to MASTER that instrument!! I’m sure you will do just that. Keep in mind that a lot of us are praying for the success and happiness of new musicians.
As a trombone player myself who really wants to be great, this video is very helpful. I'm currently one of the best trombone players in my high school as a sophomore, and your tips will help me keep improving! Thanks!
I'm happy to help. Keep up the good work and stay on the grind.
I hope this guy realizes what a valuable teacher/musician he really is! He has so much to offer young future musicians who will bring back that great band/orchestra enthusiasm!! I have great admiration for this dedicated, talented musician. I’m 76 and know the difference between talent and “wannabe”!
Thank you for those kind words. I’m extremely dedicated to my students regardless of age. It’s an honor to be the director of a great youth jazz program in New Jersey. The future of music means a lot to me!
Hey! I'm knew to the Trombone and I'm in 7th grade I have a playing test coming up so this will help me a ton! Thank you!
Good luck on your playing test. I’m glad the information was helpful.
great video man, as a baritone player this is still really useful and easily explained. been having a lot of problems but this is helping me a LOT. deserves more views for sure
When you got to the part about the difference between buzzing your lips and letting them vibrate, that improved my tone 100 times! Nothing has had such a drastic impact on improving my tone than that message right there!
That’s awesome. When we let the tube resonate we can get amazing results!
I have played the trombone for 5 years in elementary. The pandemic hit and i stopped for 2 years (school property :P) I joined back last year once the pandemic stopped but... I'm severely rusty. and that whole year we only get 4 hours of practice a week. And those 4 hours are all on Saturday only. My eyes are all blurry from too much screen time and i feel to weak to play like I used to.) And this year is likely my final year, and im trying to audition back into the orchestra (it kinda fell off during the pandemic, no one wants to join the club anymore). I wanna spend this last year doing my best. The school plans to rebuild the name of its orchestra by letting us play to invite more members (inspiring the youth and some stuff), and I hope I succeed. Thanks for the guide sir.
I'm honestly so nervous and that mental roadblock tip could have helped me.
I just want to say that this was very helpful - I have played for 50 years now, had a reasonably active and successful career, practiced many hours and given much thought to the process of playing the trombone... Your mention that we naturally fill the lungs when breathing was a good reminder that this generally takes care of itself/no strain necessary..... but what really helped me was your suggestion that I/we/brass players should simply think about RELEASING the air...as a young student, anxious to improve and often misinterpreting the advice that I "...fill and support from the diaphragm.." actually just assured that I made this really natural process one filled with muscle tension... this was very helpful and I thank you...!! Old dogs CAN learn new tricks it would seem...
We never stop learning, it’s part of the the beauty of music for me. The horn is already full of air that just needs to be activated. How much air is required depends on the note we are trying to play. Most times, what’s required is far less then we think.
Dion, first: thank you. I'm a trumpet player and have recently begun to learn how to play flugabone (because valves) and even more recently the trombone. I find the trombone easier to play than the flugabone, but still I felt like I was running out of air too fast yet felt my lips were too tight. I couldn't figure out why my mouth muscles were quivering while making a sound on the bone. So I searched YT for beginner trombone lessons and I landed on your lesson here. The active breath section, specifically the illustration on the mouthpiece visualizer to show the conceptual and practical difference between buzzing the lips and letting the lips vibrate just helped me figure out what was going on wrong. Wow! So simple, yet so elusive to me. Again, thank you so much for sharing this information and doing it freely. It isn't enough to buzz softly (which helped a little in using less air), but "letting" vibration happen makes much more sense and feels easier on air use. You're a genius!
I'm glad these concepts resonate with you. Brass playing can become really complex if we allow it to. My concepts stem from making things as easy as possible.
Such a treasure this video is!! There was no such thing when I played many years ago. Makes me want to start over and play again at the age of 76!! My old Holton was ‘born’ in the early 20s.
The horn won’t bite ya, well sometimes it does🥴. Let some air flow through your instrument😉!
@@TheChopsShop lol...I just realized my Holton is over 100 yrs old!! Lol. I think I’ll ask my daughter to ship it to me and see what I can or cannot accomplish 🤗👍😂 I think the poor ol slide might need som oil!!!😂
I always follow your steps MR Chops
I hope my steps help you create your own. Thanks for checking out the video!
Yes sir
You are welcome
Dude. Awesome vid. Thank you for making it.
It’s my pleasure, I’m glad you found the information useful. Many more to come!
Can’t wait, and I have some catching up to do too.
Wanted to sound better. This helped thx man
Awesome, I’m glad the information was helpful!
excellent video and very accurate! I liked the idea of saying "letting your lips vibrate" instead of "buzzing your lips"
I’m glad the information resonated with you!
I think the way I try to make sounds that are really good on trombone is just my brain like or my brain not like, fix reason it's not efficient but I've been using this system for the last I think 4 years and it's been working pretty well
👍 Thanks
No problem! 🙏🏾
Hi, nice video I have a question : How you get a clean the sound without a airy tone? Thanks and greetings from Panama.
Thanks for checking out the video! Air in your tone can happen for a few reasons. The aperture could be too wide, the note is speaking but the full energy of the airstream is not being directed to the tone. Another issue could be the lips are to tight. If you keep pushing the air through the lips even after they are vibrating, you can get air in your sound. To get a clean tone you just need to let the metal vibrate. Think beyond what the lips are doing and focus on how the air is resonating the metal.
@@TheChopsShop Thanks
I've had a problem with edge even to 8th grade now. So, I'm hoping this should help
Yes, I hope this information is helpful to your playing!
@@TheChopsShop I've done it for about two days now. Embochure really changes everything
I keep cracking on notes, and if it makes sense, it *almost* sounds like the spit valve needs emptied, but more airy.
Does this happen when you play at all volumes? Try starting the note as soft as you can play. Use long tones to figure out what your dynamic range is. Once you find where the best sound is, stop. Take note of the feeling your body has when the note felt good. Try to pick up where you left off when you play the next note.
i like this idea of tuning into the body and what feels right, lots of wisdom in that i think
My sound is better after using these techniques, but when I start tonguing, it gets sloppy and sounds very slurred.
I’m glad this video helped you improve your sound. When it comes to articulation the game becomes what role does your tongue play in creating the sound your going for. Practice saying the syllable you want to use without the instrument. Observe what role the tongue plays in the sound and then try to match it on the horn. Let your tongue become secondary when articulating. What the articulation sounds like at the bell of the horn is what’s most important.
Maybe this video will be helpful to you as well.
czcams.com/video/D73o7p-8Dhs/video.html
Played trombone for 5 year in the early 00's. Play guitar in a band now and there's some songs they want me to play on trombone along with our sax player. Picked it up today and was surprised at how much I remember - but my sound, especially in the lower registers, are god-awful. Thanks for the tips! I'm gonna go rest my lips now.....
I hope the suggestions help you in the long run. Remember to let the horn resonate when you release the air. A trick to getting a good sound is not overblowing.
I hope the suggestions help you in the long run. Remember to let the horn resonate when you release the air. A trick to getting a good sound is not overblowing.
Hi! Thank you for your vids! I picked up the trombone again after 10 years and you helped me get my game on.
Could you do a video on how to clean our trombone properly?
Thanks,
Mark.
Here is a great video on how to clean your horn properly.
czcams.com/video/uEQJ1GYi4wI/video.html
As somebody in a really casual band (high school class), I'm new to trombone and wondering if getting a pure sound just comes with experience. I have a mediocre range (I think) and can hit the notes ok, but it sounds weird and I can almost feel my lips getting in the way. Does this improve naturally or do I have to try hard to "fix" it?
You don’t have to try hard to fix it, that usually gets in the way as well. What trombonists sound do you like? Gain a concept of a great trombone sound. Try to imitate what you hear, just like learning a language. Allow the metal to vibrate instead of using your lips to create the sound. Everyone has a job to do including the trombone.
when i play Eb and lower notes, air always leaks out the sides of my mouthpiece, so whenever i start a note, there’s this “pfffft” sound for about a half second.
it’s really noticeable, so do you have any suggestions on fixing that?
It sounds like the air could be getting backed up inside of you as you go into the lower register. Try pulling the mouthpiece slightly away from your lips. Release the airstream as you're bringing the horn to your lips. Figure out what it takes to start the note at a soft volume.Build the notes from soft too loud not loud too soft. Don't overblow, just allow air to be released into the horn. Hopefully this helps you out!
Hey Sir!! My family just bought me a trombone for Father’s Day (I’ve never played an instrument 😂) my favorite trombone player is Fred Wesley. How would I achieve that sound?
There is only one person that will sound like Fred Wesley and that’s Fred Wesley. With that being said, he has a great sound to be inspired by. Practice daily and take some private lessons if possible. It will really help get you moving in the right direction. Welcome to the trombone family!
I have a test tomorrow if the trombone sounds and I suck
Take it one airstream at a time. Get through your test and learn from the experience. Every time you play it's an opportunity to learn.
My son said okay when he heard you play
🙏🏾 much appreciated!
I started playing trombone at the end of 2020 and my band teacher keeps saying to put faster air in it and that my playing tone sounds nasally. But I don't know how.
Faster air can hep you but without proper context it can be difficult to apply. When we move the air faster, our aperture’s start to close because of the speed. That could result in a nasally sound. In stead of faster think of a bigger, and more consistent air column that matches the size of the tubbing in your leadpipe.
I have been trying to improve my tone in high registers and have been told to “use more air” but that doesn’t seem to be helping me. Are there any other ways or tips that you have?
The quantity of air you use is not what helps you play in the upper register. The shape of your aperture, the speed of your airstream and your lips vibrating all play a part in getting a good sound when playing high notes. Don't play too loud and practice a lot of long tones in the upper register. Only increase the volume and range once you can play the note comfortably.
Hi. I'm a freshman and I'm in marching band. Do you have some tips so I can sound better, just like the other trombone players. You know. Better tune and louder with so technique. Do you some tips for so I can be like the other trombone players. Thanks.
Well the first tip I would give you is worry about your own playing first. Use other player as inspiration but get better so you can be the best version of yourself. Practice a little bit of everything each day, long tones, lip flexibilities, articulation exercises etc. Most importantly, enjoy playing the horn. Music is one of the greatest gifts life has to offer!
I'm learning trombone in jazz and I've been playing trombone for about 6 1/2 years, but I'm used to marching band trombone, so when I try to project myself more and play louder it gets a lot of that really brassy sound, any tips for playing loud with the tone quality of normal playing?
That’s a great question. The easiest way to combat playing too loud is listening within your section. Make sure you can hear every part within the section. Expand that concept of listening to the entire band. Make sure you can hear every players part. It’s hard to play too loud when you force yourself to listen.
Personally I believe it’s all in breathing control when it’s normal practice time!!Grab a note and hold it while you experiment with your breathing projection during all practice sessions. Get out of your normal “ projection comfort zone” push against those boundaries you have unknowingly set yourself up for. Music as well as sports require pushing forward!! Get out of that comfort zone and push forward!!🤗✝️💟DONT be fearful of it...it’s called progressing to your next level.
Take one note slow and easy and build on it while controlling your lip muscles keep on building while controlling your breathing!!
All I could suggest from personal experience is to work on being consistent with your personal sound quality. Nobody is going to challenge us....we challenge ourselves and CONQUER!!
That’s a good approach!
My sound sounds so buzzy and my teacher’s and yours are so smooth and I’m so confused how to fix that.
Keep working on your long tones. During that practice time, try not to buzz your lips, just let them vibrate. Allow the horn to resonate without your lips getting in the way of the airstream.
@@TheChopsShop thank you so much
Please how can I improve on slurring
If you’re talking about lip slurs, here’s a video I made on that topic!
czcams.com/video/7mPgh3K7r7g/video.html
When I warm up my lips get wet so I wipe them but then sometimes it's starts making a growling sound or when I take a breath
I like to keep my mouthpiece and lips pretty dry when I play. I’m not sure what you mean by growling sound. Are you growling with your tongue/voice or is the horn rattling?
@@TheChopsShoplike occasionally if I breath in then play, the sound will sound like I'm imitating a plane my lips
Ah ok, it sounds like you are describing double buzzing. One of the ways this can occur is by overblowing. On the notes that are giving you trouble, try playing as soft as possible and then crescendo to as loud as you can play. Take note of what volume and when the double buzz starts. Dial your volume back a step and practice long tones at that volume. Hopefully that exercise will help you clear things up!
I have this Fuzzy sound how can I fix this?
There are a few things that can lead to a fuzzy sound. In my experience, I’ve noticed this can happen when there is an over emphasis on trying to buzz your lips. Our lips have to vibrate when we play but we don’t have to buzz them. Try shifting your thought process to letting this action happen instead of creating it and see if that helps.
I like this concept. Great way of thinking.
I loved this video but I am confused about vibrating and buzzing your lips. Can anyone elaborate?
Sure I’ll elaborate on the concept. When we play a tone, our lips must vibrate in order for the sound to be produced. Often times in brass playing we are told to “buzz” our lips in order to create this vibration. When we intentionally “buzz” our lips, our focus can easily become “what do I have to do to create a buzz sound from my lips?” That thought process can lead us to do things with our embouchure that make the airstream less efficient.
If you shift your focus to your embouchure functioning as a funnel to support the airstream, you may achieve more freedom in your airflow because your lips are now out of the way of the airstream. The vibration of the lips now becomes secondary to the release of the airstream. Allow the lips to vibrate because of the release of the air not because you put your lips in they way of the airstream. I hope this helps!
@@TheChopsShop Thank you this makes a lot more sense now!
No problem.
Ok so I have an issue. Every time I try, the notes always come out as a buzz, instead of a solid note. I decided to try just buzzing my lips, and I learned I have trouble keeping my lips tight. Is there a way I could fix this, or is it just repetition?
I’m gonna steer you towards this video because it may answer a lot of your questions.
To Buzz or Not To Buzz? Which is More Efficient?
czcams.com/video/T812WgHAPwg/video.html
@@TheChopsShop thank u for the response and I’ll take a look as soon as my head isn’t foggy from being up so late😅
i think my arthritis is gone
Great!
How do i relax my diaphragm without just breathing in this makes no sense
The recycling of air happens automatically 20,000 times a day. All throughout your day you don’t think about actively breathing in. The process is very similar when we play. If you let all of the air out of your body, what happens? The end of that process is your breath.
its probably me but when i buzz my lips it sounds like a fart.
That’s true for all of us!
@@TheChopsShop like i mean when i play anything it all sounds like the same note and my brother says it sounds like a fart so thats what im trying to say
Oh, you’re probably just buzzing your lips without letting the horn resonate with a note.
@@TheChopsShop do i let them vibrate
A month ago I pointed out how ignorant you are when lung physiology is concerned. Why do you not correct your false statements, or withdraw this video?
I missed your comment before but if you feel that strongly about whatever I may have said in this video…make your own video on the topic. Otherwise, the thumb is a powerful tool. Use it and keep scrolling.