I am just learning the trumpet, and am practicing the scale. I can't hit the B note (the one on the third line of the treble cleff). Is this a common problem for a beginner? I borrowed a trumpet from a friend of mine and it had been sitting for quite a while. Is there more likely something wrong with the trumpet or something wrong with me? I tried to make sure that the second valve is lined up properly by taking off part of the instrument to see that the holes in valve match up right...and they seem to. Any sugestions for a true beginner?

Thanks in advance.

Take much air, and keep trying! We all started somewhere!

Just keep trying. Although one suggestion, don't press the mouthpiece too hard against your lips, especially when you are playing the high notes. In my band class, there is one trumpeter that always put too much pressure on the mouthpiece, and he couldn't even get to the A.

So, use lots of air, and not much pressure.

One question, when did you first start playing trumpet?