Hey I have been playing trombone since 7th grade and this is my third year playing as a freshman. If there is any trombone "masters" or just really good trombone players i would like to know how to really increase my range. My highest note now is the high Eb which is 2 ledger lines above the normal staff. I can play Eb, but its not as clear as all the other lower notes. It sounds like i really am struggling to play it especially when i play the low C then make a BIG jump to that high Eb. If anyone would give me some tips i would appreciate that. Thanks.

Don`t use a lot of pressure on the mouthpiece and use lots of air. I try to use as little pressure as possible. A warm up tactic I use is to play a low B flat, then an F, B, D, F; all in first position. Then I move to third position and play a low E flat, then an A flat, C, E flat; all in third position. Work on key of E and F scales, then once you feel confident try to play a G and higher.

it took me quite a while to increase my range on trombone, but now i can play as high as high C (an octave above middle C). again, the most important part is to not use too much pressure. also, you need to make sure the corners of your mouth are really tight. to help you get up there, you can roll your lips in a bit. make sure you are not changing your embachure though. ask a lesson teacher for some ideas on excercises that will work well for you. one that i use quite often goes like this: start on a regular old B flat (higher) and play 8 short notes with a few seconds time in between. when you feel comfortable with this, move on to C... then D flat, then D and so on... eventually you will be able to play fairly high. combine this with scales and other excercises. remember, DO NOT USE TOO MUCH PRESSURE. good luck and have fun! happy trombone playing! ~Michelle

Thanks guys. I been practicing over my fall break and now i can go up to a high F an octave higher than the F on the Bass Cleff staff. Im hoping to reach G but right now it seems impossible. Anyway ill keep on practicing and i have hopes to be in the freshmen Wind Enseble!

THe wind ensemble is pretty challenging but at my level of playing my teacher says im pretty good. Next month i will get my audition piece for the wind ensamble. But, im afraid it will be too difficult since the music is a level 4 or 5 im not sue, but its hard.

range is my mastery... altho im only a junior in Hight school, but i can hit the high notes like thay are nothing the way i learned how to get up there, and some people may say other wise but, just keep it in first and play as high as you can go and keep trying. it may sound like crap and people in the house will hate you :-) but that5s the only way i know how. lip slurs help and trying to go 2 or 3 octave scales are good ways to get your mouth set to play in the upper register but when go to play a high note kinda put your mouth lower on the mouth piece... if you don`t under stand now just keep playing and in time range will come as a side affect of practicing

Make sure your mouthpiece is centred, first of all.(I had that problem.)Make the hole for buzzing smaller, and faster.

the most important thing when playing trombone period is to use BREATH SUPPORT. Also very important is whether or not your able to buzz what your trying to play... Always repeat this to yourself, "If you can`t buzz it, you can`t play it." Make sure you get really good at buzzing first. Using a piano while you buzz is very good practice. From what your describing, you seem to be using all "lip" and no breath or air. You have to remember that this is a wind instrument, not a lip or mouth instrument. You will know you are using the right breath source/wind source when your ab`s tighten when you blow. if you get dizzy from buzzing/playing that means your using your chest, which makes for bad tone and bad range. Also, you lower and raise your jaw depending on whether your going lower, or higher respectively.

Also very important, you ahve to make your "high" notes sound the same as any other "low" note, otherwise it sounds very bad, so whats the point?

To warm up, play a very soft bflat (beginning of the scale on the staff) and make it sound warm/mellow/dark and in tune. Then increase pressure until its forte while keeping it warm/mellow/dark. Then play the whole scale in that manner. make sure you can buzz this in tune also. Buzzing is the key to everything, the horn is just an amplifier. When your warmed up, then try to reach (not HIT) higher notes. i myself can reach high bflat and a little further, but thats good considering my main instrument is a bassoon.

Good luck!

My range is (I`ve been told) extreme. I can hit double pedal, all the way to the b-flat 2 octaves above the b-flat on top of the staff (Some days higher). Truly the key is low pressure. I use my air more than anything. AND, NEVER PUFF YOUR CHEEKS! Keep the corners of you mouth in, kind of like you`re smiling but don`t push them up (If that makes any sense). ALso, another "trick" I`ve devleoped for myself is to vibrate my top lip off of my bototm teeth and my bottom lip at the same time. Very adavanced though, so stick to the basics at first.

I`ve decided to step out of character, and let you all in on the secret of the high register. There is none. Yeah, you heard me. Don`t listen to anything these creeps tell you about playing high notes. While we are on the subjects of creeps, I happen to know a very creepy trombonist. It`s amazing how bad some people play. On the other hand, its amazing how well people, such as myself, can utilize the trombone as a machine of music for absolute perfection in playing.

Until next time,
Mr. Greene

Hey! First off never ever change your embouchure. Do not roll in your lip! High notes are my passion- I can play higher than literature calls for. There are several ways to approach range building. But every single one of them has the same basic idea. To play high notes you need to build a very strong foundation. Some exercises you might consider.
1. Start on an F in sixth position (this is f second line down from the top). Slowly (I mean it!) move the slide upwards glissing to a B flat. Then take the B flat in fifth position and slowly move the slide up to first position. And continue on with it. Everything stays the same! Don`t you dare move your lips tighten anything or change anything. When you hit a spot in doing this that you have some troubles take it even slower. It is okay to play around in the spot right before the troubled spot. You are just using your equipment to force you to move higher. Now that you can hit those notes you need to solidify them. Play lip slurs in that octave. Arban`s Famous method has a wonderful study that can be expanded upon. REMEMBER IF YOU GET TIRED, STOP! REST! THEN COME BACK TO IT LATER!! Range does not happen over night.
2. Slow arpeggio will also help. Start low and move up, this larger shift then chromatic or whole tone scales will help strengthen your chops.
3. Use long tones in the higher register-but only for short bursts. It will tire you out more.
There are some things that need to be concentrated on when playing. First you need tons of air for both high notes and low notes. It is in air speed that matters. You want to close your aperture (opening in the lip that the air goes through) just a little without thinking of it. By closing this aperture and focusing on a steady jet of air you can hit the high notes. DO NOT CHANGE A THINGS! Everything needs to be relaxed as possible. Just you need to work out your lips just as you have to work out your arms with lifting.

Try playing Bolero 9 hours a day.

I`ve been playing for about 3 years now and i can hit a D above 2 octaves above the normal staff D. It helps alot if you kinda fat. keeps you grounded to hit the high notes

Adrian,
You now have moved into the ranks of my favorite people, which would include Joseph Alessi, Blair Bollinger, and the likes. Too bad I`m not fat, but I can still hit the Bb above high Bb. Sometimes I even go up an octave above that even. Life is fun.

Until next time,
Mr. Greene

I dunno. I guess im kinda fat. Lots of progression from the last time i added to this topic. I can hit the high Gb G and the problem note I have is A. Man, Mr. Greene you are right. There are really no secrets or anything. Just lots of time and practicing. Till next time.