Skip to main content

Trumpet Sound Tricks

The trumpet is capable of several tricks.

Trumpets are capable of several tricks specific to the instrument. Performers must play these tricks commonly in classical, jazz, rock and popular music. Some of the most common tricks involve manipulating the airstream to create specific effects and using external devices to change the texture and timbre of the instrument's sound. Learning about these tricks makes it possible for the trumpet player to perform them and the audience to recognize them.

Vibrato


There are several types of vibrato available to the trumpeter. Lip vibrato involves using the lip to subtly shake the instrument in a measured fashion. This creates a quick vibrato that is useful in Mariachi music. The jaw vibrato lends itself to classical playing requiring the use of the jaw to create the sound. Trumpet players make a chewing motion with their jaw to change the frequency the tone vibrates. A less common method of vibrato includes the air vibrato in which the diaphragm shakes the airstream to create vibrato.

Mutes


Mutes come in all shapes and sizes. The purpose of these mutes is to both reduce the sound and change the timbre. The straight mute gives the trumpet a slight metallic nasal buzzing sound. The cup mute has a curled end that gives the trumpet a soft, muffled sound. The bucket mute attaches to the front of the trumpet bell and cuts out the higher frequency trumpet sounds, giving the instrument a subdued sound. Other mutes, including the Harmon “wah-wah” mute, hat mutes and even a toilet plunger changes the sound. Mutes are tricks that all trumpet players should have.

Multiphonics


One especially interesting trick is the ability for the trumpeter to play more than one pitch. This trick requires a combination of playing and singing through the instrument. To be most effective, the trumpeter must sing in the same range as the trumpet. Women will have an easier time with this trick than men since most men will have to sing in their falsetto voice. The effect of this trick creates two simultaneous sounds that make the trumpet appear as if it is capable of playing intervals.

Circular Breathing


The majority of trumpet players will never learn this trick as it isn’t required to play the trumpet well. The ability to play continuously without stopping to take a breath requires a trick called circular breathing. When a player circular breathes, she first fills her cheeks with a pocket of air. When she runs out of air, she pushes the air in her cheeks out and inhales through her nose. The air pushed out continues the sound while she takes a breath. This cycle is continued and she is able to breathe continuously while playing.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more