So...I was practicing the other day and this happened:

www.geocities.com/joeyhanks13/superf.mp3

Let me know what you think.

You people amaze me...I'm a second year player, and If I've been playing a hard piece (for me) I can sqeak out the g on top of the staff...I think the lowest I can go is the f below the staff.

Like I posted a little earlier, I'm a French horn player who was absolutely STUCK with a staff top G as my highest clear & sustainable note for THREE YEARS, even after sseriously practicing my buns off for two years in college as a French horn major. I believe I would still be stuck there if it weren't for a trumpet teacher from Garland, Texas named Jeff Smiley. His approach to embouchure development changed my musical life. I can now play the full range of the horn that is required for professionals (4 octaves). And I don't mean a tiny squeaking occasional little popped out note. I mean really sustained notes, 8 - 9 seconds, with a nice clear tone. I mean playing up & down scales from double pedal "C" to high "C" without breaking to catch my breath! I always believed I could do this, but when no French horn teacher I ever had was able to help me to achieve what I wanted to do, I got really discouraged & nearly gave up. When I found Jeff Smiley's website about the "Balanced Embouchure," I knew I had found something that would help. What has surprized me is just how FAST it helped me. I only started on his program in July of this year. Feel free to email me at VallerieWells@msn.com. I have no commercial interest in the Balanced Embouchure development program, I just want to help other horn players who may be stuck like I was. For more infomation about Balanced Embouchure, just search the web. It's a program designed for trumpets, but it also works for French horn.

For an upcomming audition piece I'm playing the Allegro Movement of Mozart's Horn Concerto, which requires a high B flat. That's the highest I've hit on horn with good tone, though on melophone I can sometimes hit the high C.

I'm able to squeak out the high Bb. (above the staff) To do A, I have to use alot of pressure (which isn't good and leaves a ring on my lips). G is nice and strong. This is my second year playing, so that's why I don't have too much range. Lowest is probably low f.

Hey everyone,
I'm new. I was just looking for somewhere to ask some questions and I think this will work. I've been playing horn for almost 4 months. Firstly, on the other posts, I can play a solid C above the staff and can squeak out the notes up to a Eb, but I'm wondering about those fingerings. No one has been able to tell me that I've asked so far. I would assume that that high up, C, D, E, F, and G would all be open, and that the notes in between would be 2. That high up, you can probably play most of those notes open, but I was wondering if any of you know fingerings that make these notes in tune. I am playing all on the Bb side of my horn this high. Also, one horn player suggested moving to the Bb side for the Ab in the middle of the staff and higher. What do you suggest? Would you move the point that you switch to the Bb side for different songs for a different sound quality?
Thanks!
Brad

Traditionally double horn players switch to the Bb side at Ab in the middle of the staff. The reason for this is that the harmonics get so close on F horn that accuracy becomes more difficult. However, there are occasional advantages to using F horn & Bb flat horn in different places. For example if I'm playing fast 16th note passages that include a third space C#, I often swith to fingers 1,2 on F horn to avoid having to play fingers 2,3. 2/3 is so awkward. My private instructor also recommend second space Ab be played with T,2 instead of T,23. It's easier & the intonation is about the same.

In the lower register, the low F,E,D & Db are much better sounding if played on the Bb horn. I dont' know why it so. But I do know it's pretty standard to use Bb horn for those few notes.

About fingering above high C: It really doesn't matter anyway because when will you ever perform on those notes? Ha ha ha!

Valerie

I can go to the A above the staff and on really and I mean really good days, I can get a few notes higher. My goal for next year is to get comfortable enough to get to the B.

I'm serious about this for those of you who struggle with upper range. Check out Jeff Smiley's book, "The Balanced Embouchure." There's nothing else like it out there. It's written for trumpet, but it also works for horn. It changed my horn playing life! His book is not available in music stores, only on line. (Again, I feel I need to repeat that I have NO commercial interests in the sale of this book.) ~Valerie in Tacoma, WA

>> About fingering above high C: It really doesn't matter anyway because when will you ever perform on those notes? Ha ha ha!

Not to mention you can play a full chromatic scale up there with any finger combination.

I just performed the Hallelujah Chorus yesterday, and the highest note was a B.

<Added>

Editing to add that my full everyday-playable range is C-C, three octaves.

C above the staff ... im a lyric soprano ..

2 G's above the staff. I'm a coloratura soprano!

But I'd rather play my horn.

Valerie in Tacoma

I've hit the G above the staff. If I strech it I can maybe get out two more...
My range is almost four octaves which is silly but yeah...

I've actually sat down for a few days one week to figure out my maximum range;

Lowest- REALLY LOW A. Theres an F# right below it thats deemed the lowest note on horn (mathmatically speaking)... If you take the normal tuning F, put it down 2 octaves, and go to the A below that, there you go.

Highest- You won't belive this, but being a trumpet player as well.. You know, ego and everything, hitting those high high octave notes above the staff just to par up to the trumpet player next to me in jazz (I don't play as much this year because I'm focusing on college audition stuff...) Well, take the A that's right above normal tuning F, and put it up 3 octaves. I don't know how the hell I did it. I really need to start recording these notes. I think people would get a kick out of them. Chromatically though I can get the A one octave below it. My complete range if a full 5 octaves, along with those extra squealy notes above that. lol

Really those notes are all about emboucher. And that high A is more about fast air then pressure and tightness... And I wouldn't reccomend trying to hit that A unless you know what your doing. Bad for your emboucher. But the better you get at playing high notes without having to tighten up, the higher you can go later on.

I can play from c-c-c-c.The flutes highest C is beautiful.No sharpy sounds either.I'm not too fond of the the lowest C for flutes.But I can play it.I can play all flute notes!MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!