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Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Lobot on 3/21/2023, 6:12 pm

Our lead horn player plays sharp most of the time, especially in the upper register. I’ve tried most of the normal solutions (tuning slides, hand postion, “don’t pinch”, etc.). It’s frustrating because she is a good player, but it’s throwing the section out of tune. She plays on a nice Conn 8D. Any suggestions? What about mouthpieces?

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Brass Player on 4/5/2023, 1:21 pm, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Being sharp in only the high range could be a good indicator of an incorrect approach to performing in the upper range. Many times, you will notice the sharp pitch also goes hand in hand with a thin, tense tone quality.

Are you using any type of range study as part of your daily routine? We perform Chicowitz flow studies daily in our ensemble classes to address this very issue, and it works wonders when approached correctly.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Horn Player on 3/24/2023, 8:02 am, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Conn 8D ALWAYS play sharp, try to find a different instrument. I do not recommend them. They have a very dark rich sound but it's HARD to get them in tune.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Clumpton on 3/24/2023, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

See? That's what I've been saying!!!

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Thunder on 3/23/2023, 10:26 am, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

One thing that has not yet been mentioned - some horn players will use more pressure on the top lip than the bottom, causing sharpness. This is the *last* thing to check, after making sure the horn itself is set to the proper length, the hand is in the correct position, the teeth are separated, the tongue is in the correct position, and the angle/posture is correct.

I've fought this myself, it's a hard habit to break.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by two more on 3/22/2023, 12:41 pm, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Check the angle of the lead pipe against her face to make sure the air flows straight into the mpc/leadpipe.
Try off the leg to keep the bell away from the torso

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Mr. Dude on 3/22/2023, 12:27 pm, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

I fixed this problem was some great high school kids by having them stand up when we tuned. As they got taller and older they still leaned the bell on their leg, which also meant bad posture and band hands (I saw you already addressed the hand). I showed them the tuner when they tuned, they saw the difference and they immediately changed the way they held the horn.

Not sure if it’s the solution you need, but it’s one that worked for me.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Sandlapper on 3/22/2023, 12:25 pm, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Horn requires a very open vowel shape, even in the upper register. She might benefit from getting her back teeth apart and her tongue down. Think AW instead of AAH.

This is exacerbated by F Mellophone, which needs to be played with more of a trumpet approach to vowel shape (more compact).

That's the challenge of going back and forth between the two. It's not only a mouthpiece difference.

Once the kids are aware, they're typically able to make the necessary adjustments.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Clumpton on 3/22/2023, 11:24 am, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Oh it's a Conn 8D? LOL

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Buzzy boi on 3/22/2023, 10:24 am, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Have your student buzz the pitch--it will reveal issues.

Now, buzzing isn't exactly analogous to playing, but it will tell you if the embouchure is too tight, aperture too small, tongue too high, throat constricted, etc etc. And it will give your student the opportunity to match pitch by buzzing--helps with active listening.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Trumpeter on 3/22/2023, 8:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

I disagree.

Buzzing is wholly analogous to playing. If a brass player can't buzz it, they can't play it. Period.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by No on 3/22/2023, 9:53 pm, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Nope….go pick up a tuba mouthpiece and buzz some pedal tones my guy.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Jeremy on 3/23/2023, 10:56 am, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

We buzz pedal tones on tuba.

Hold it with three fingers on the top, thumb on the bottom of the shank. Then partially cover the shank opening with your pinkie finger to create a little resistance.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Trumpeter on 3/23/2023, 7:50 am, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Half-cover the shank and tell me it's not possible, my guy.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by try on 3/22/2023, 8:43 am, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

"pull your chin down" "drop your jaw"
But other than that, I would make sure the individual slides have all been tuned, not just the main tuning slides. But yeah, sounds like she is pinching in her upper register.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Obvious on 3/21/2023, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

If they're sharp on everything, their horn is out of tune. Fix it.

Or have them try a different horn.

Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!

Posted by Julio on 3/21/2023, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Help! lead horn player always plays sharp!"

Hook her up to a tuner/clip. Most likely her tongue is too high inside her mouth. My kids did this until this year-lowering their tongue position pretty much solved the problem. Tip towards the top of the bottom teeth and flat in the back.

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