Techniques For Higher Notes

[Alexandra Washington]

First I'd like to thank Andre for refering me to this page. Second, I'm having a little trouble hitting higher notes. I'm fourteen and I'm in a high school band. Recently we have decided to do alot more jazz. Meaning I would have to hit higher notes. I can hit a high F without any problem...but after that it gets harder. Could anybody give me a few techniques?

[Andy Derrick]

Long notes, slow scales and slow lip slurs are always good to start with.

Also, try basic melodic studies like the Bel Canto by Concone. There is an edition by Reinhardt for trombone which I like.

Finally, a good way of isolating the muscles is to hold a pencil straight out between your lips for a minute at a time.

Whilst high range is desirable however, good sound and great swing with the right attitude will help you go far.

[Eric Wik]

I do not know whether physiologically the following is possible for you, but here is a method my teacher taught me a number of years ago.
When you are playing, or trying to play high notes, say, one following on another, think of frowning slightly and blow toward the "roof" of the mouthpiece. This will produce the high notes if you are capable of jutting your jaw out as you aim toward the roof of the mouthpiece. I know it may sound strange, at first blush, but if your facial structure permits of the last motion I mentioned, the note you have clearly in your mind will come forth. Try it. It works for me; further, it makes unnecessary exercises that might be done without your trombone.

[Alexandra Washington]

Muchos Gracias Senior Wik, it really does help. My band director is proud of me ^_^. I'm getting alot better...and no lol, it wasn't awkward....alright yeah at first it was :P

[David Marriott, Jr.]

I think a solid balanced approach to going up AND down also helps. Range is in many ways about air, and equally exploring the lower register will increase your chances for extending your range upwards as well. I have a long tone routine that has drastically increased my range over the past few years. It's posted as a PDF on my website at http://www.redraspus.com/downloads/ so feel free to download. Be sure to read the guidelines and instructions at the end, and good luck!

[Rick Harris]

Use your tongue, not your neck, lips, mouth, jaw, orair as far as overblowing. By this i mean, that the higher you go, the more your tongue should arch towards the top of your mouth. The reason a pitch is high or low is because of the length of the device and the resistance that is being created. If you create more resistance in your mouth, or back pressure, then the air will come out in a smaller but more powerful stream. Think of it like a garden hose, when you turn the hose on the water pours out alot but with very little pressure. Now put your thumb in front of the opening, the water is still coming out at the same rate, but at a different pressure and speed. Thing of your tongue as the thumb. Hope this helps. Over time this will become a natural thing, but you just have to keep doing it. Also for practice you can also kind of make a hissing sound as you play, sort of like the way a cat hisses. this forces the tongue against the roof of the mouth, to let understand the motion needed. It is only a training exercise. Yes, it works, as my range is double Bb (trumpet's high C). Imay just be lucky, as I remember one day not having it and then one day I did after some experimentation with embouchure position and just messing with my mouth. The only thing that will actually hurt you is if you jam the mouthpiece into your face with too much pressure or you overblow trying to do it. Start soft, the worst that happens is nothing comes out, stop and try again, DO NOT OVERBLOW, we all want to do that. The best that will happen is a sqeak of some random note will come out. That is called progress. Most instructors do not like this approach, but then again how are you supposed to play high if you do not try to play high? Start gently, quietly and manipulatively, not brutally! Hope this helps. Also keep in mind that I am 29 years old and did not have this comfortably until I was in my 20's. I know you do not want to hear this, as I did not either when I was young, but your mouth as a kid in High School or even first year college, is not the same as a man with weathered skin and a 5 o'clock shadow that has had time to toughen up the skin. it has also been proven that fine motor skills are still being learned and developed by men and women until the age of 25 sometimes. Patience.

[Alexandra Washington]

Thank you so much, I will definately try this out. I think the highest I can hit now is A on the third ledger line.
Also, if you have anything to help with my town it would be much appreciated

Rick Harris said:

Use your tongue, not your neck, lips, mouth, jaw, orair as far as overblowing. By this i mean, that the higher you go, the more your tongue should arch towards the top of your mouth. The reason a pitch is high or low is because of the length of the device and the resistance that is being created. If you create more resistance in your mouth, or back pressure, then the air will come out in a smaller but more powerful stream. Think of it like a garden hose, when you turn the hose on the water pours out alot but with very little pressure. Now put your thumb in front of the opening, the water is still coming out at the same rate, but at a different pressure and speed. Thing of your tongue as the thumb. Hope this helps. Over time this will become a natural thing, but you just have to keep doing it. Also for practice you can also kind of make a hissing sound as you play, sort of like the way a cat hisses. this forces the tongue against the roof of the mouth, to let understand the motion needed. It is only a training exercise. Yes, it works, as my range is double Bb (trumpet's high C). Imay just be lucky, as I remember one day not having it and then one day I did after some experimentation with embouchure position and just messing with my mouth. The only thing that will actually hurt you is if you jam the mouthpiece into your face with too much pressure or you overblow trying to do it. Start soft, the worst that happens is nothing comes out, stop and try again, DO NOT OVERBLOW, we all want to do that. The best that will happen is a sqeak of some random note will come out. That is called progress. Most instructors do not like this approach, but then again how are you supposed to play high if you do not try to play high? Start gently, quietly and manipulatively, not brutally! Hope this helps. Also keep in mind that I am 29 years old and did not have this comfortably until I was in my 20's. I know you do not want to hear this, as I did not either when I was young, but your mouth as a kid in High School or even first year college, is not the same as a man with weathered skin and a 5 o'clock shadow that has had time to toughen up the skin. it has also been proven that fine motor skills are still being learned and developed by men and women until the age of 25 sometimes. Patience.

[Eric Wik]

Be sure that the mouthpiece and trombone that you are working with are what you are most comfortable with. As Denis Wick says in the book on the art of playing the instrument--and I'm paraphrasing: Find out what horn you are most at home with, and what mouthpiece you are most at home with, and stick with them. You have to be sure that you are not fighting the mouthpiece or horn when you are aiming for an overall improvement of your high range. Surely, if you can play a high F, you can probably play the others. There is a tendency to put too much air through the horn in the high range: that is counterproductive, usually. Less air is required in the high range, but greater control is important.