The Yellow Board

The Yellow Board
[ The Yellow Board ]

Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Buck Mel on 3/11/2023, 11:01 am

I need a step by step procedure on how to tune a Conn 8D French Horn.

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Adam P on 4/16/2023, 11:41 am, in reply to "Tuning Conn 8D"

Check out this pdf of a RMEA clinic I attended a few years ago. It has a slide devoted specifically to the 8D horn.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cGle4FU3BRnmJMXflwDLsx9B1kg_ggXq/view?usp=sharing

Also, I have my horn stduents "cup" therir right hand a little when they get to C in the staff and above. Those notes tend to be sharp even when played properly (not pinched). I've had this play tested by private teachers and they agree with this approach.

Hope this helps.

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Adam P on 4/16/2023, 11:30 am, in reply to "Tuning Conn 8D"

Check out the pdf linked below from a TMEA clinic I attended a few years ago. Lots of great information here and there is a page devoted specifically to some best practices on the Conn 8D horn.

I will also add that I teach my horn students to use a little more "cup" to their right hand when they get to C in the staff and above. Those notes tend to be sharp, even when not pinched. I know this isn't correct hand position but even when I've had this horn [play tested by private teachers and college students, those notes are sharp, so I figure having my students compensate for it's "inadequacies".

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cGle4FU3BRnmJMXflwDLsx9B1kg_ggXq/view?usp=sharing

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Clumpton on 3/13/2023, 4:16 pm, in reply to "Tuning Conn 8D"

Step 1: throw in trash
Step 2: buy something else. Literally anything else.

That’s what worked for me. Bought a set of them and immediately decided the next set will be tried and true Holton 179s.

Never again.

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Step 3 on 3/20/2023, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Tuning Conn 8D"

Step 3: Ignore this "advice" because it is not helpful at all. Just because one person could not learn to tune a horn, does not mean it is garbage, and I doubt you are able to get rid of your inventory and switch anyway.

More importantly, are you asking about tuning individual slides, or just general everyday tuning?
I also recommend the link listed below because it shows you which slide is for what part of the horn. As far as individual tuning slides, you can tune trigger B, Bb, A, Ab or E5, Eb, D, Db (in my opinion depending on the level of the player and what range they are playing in).
Also F#, going down for the F side of the horn.
Dont forget the hand position makes a big difference!

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Clumpton on 3/20/2023, 7:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Tuning Conn 8D"

Trust me…the new Conn horns are garbage. They used to be great, I know. I would not recommend anyone getting new 8Ds but just like this guy, we are stuck with them. The first batch was so bad I had to box them all up and exchange them. The second batch were marginally better but almost immediately had problems with linkage, fit and allowances of slides (we have one where the slides just fall out), bad solders, etc. So if the original poster is having too many difficulties with these horns, at the very least you can send them back and ask for replacements.

AND…I know how to tune instruments. And I know hand placement matters. None of this helped.

Oh and the icing on the cake is that one of the NEW ones showed up totally damaged. I knew it was going to be a problem when I opened the box and the case looked like it had been kicked in.

Just trying to help others not make the same mistake, and rest assured I will never order another Conn horn for my program.

Peace.

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Froghorn on 3/13/2023, 1:15 pm, in reply to "Tuning Conn 8D"

Karen Houghton and Janet Nye did a great horn tuning clinic at TMEA. You can probably get the clinic handout notes on the TMEA website.

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Try this article on 3/11/2023, 11:35 pm, in reply to "Tuning Conn 8D"

Try this article

https://colindorman.com/tuning-the-french-horn/#main-f-tuning

Re: Tuning Conn 8D

Posted by Phil on 3/13/2023, 5:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Tuning Conn 8D"

The Philip Farkas Book "The Art Of The Horn" is full of easy to read and understand information on playing the horn. It also has step by step instructions on tuning the horn. I highly recommend it be available in any band hall.

« Back to index

[ The Yellow Board ]