I suddenly have the urge to play trumpet

Cranky · August 2023

Hard to explain.

I just want to play sweet melodies. One note at a time. No chords, no frets. I want to mute it and make the brass sing for me.

Played trombone for a year as a child. Practiced a lot and got pretty good. Parents suddenly decided that music wasn’t that important after all when they had to give the trombone back to the friends who lent it to me.

But I hear trumpets in my head a lot these days.

Anyone here dabbled, pursued, excelled?

stickyfiddle · August 2023

Brass is the one thing I've never even picked up and tried (grade 8 sax, grade 5 piano, grade 5 clarinet, 22 years of guitar and my sister played violin...)

I have little to add beyond a classic "go for it!! "

Horn sections and jazz trumpets are frickin awesome

Sporky · August 2023

I give you permission to use "Trumpets of Asgard" as your band name.

sev112 · August 2023

Buy a plastic one, suprisingly good

merlin · August 2023

Sporky said:

I give you permission to use "Trumpets of Asgard" as your band name.

Could I suggests "The Lost Trumpets of Asgard"?

And @Cranky, good idea, here's your first lesson, free!

viz · August 2023

Yes, it’s the greatest experience, having a go at another instrument. Nothing can trump it.

oh_pollo · August 2023

the-more-funny-awesome-know-was-Wasnatch-dangerousminds-net-comments-one-hell-an-cover-for-wasnatchs-front-back-nsfw-Accordin

guyinlyon · August 2023

Cranky said:

But I hear trumpets in my head a lot these days.

That's what happens when the acid kicks in.

Lie down on a comfortable sofa/bed, dim the lights, and put on some soft music.

It should pass after a few hours.

EricTheWeary · August 2023

sev112 said:

Buy a plastic one, suprisingly good

Yes I did some gigs with a trumpetist a few years ago and he spoke highly of the plastic ones.

If you listen to some pre war blues the trumpet effectively has the role that the electric guitar took on later, if your guitar playing experience includes blues it's, sort of, a natural second instrument. Although the singer in my old band, who was a music teacher to establish his credentials, took up trumpet in his fifties and after several years could only play about three notes cleanly.

sev112 · August 2023

Funnily I was discussing my trumpet teachers at school yesterday. When i reached Grade 6 at about 16 I got a new teacher. My abiding memories were 2 specific lessons - one was lying down on a table with a pile of books on my stomach trying to make them lift up when I breathed in.

The other lesson was half an hour of just blowing one note continuously . It ended up being one of the most useful musical lessons ever. It was about not just making a note, or trying to hold it without going sharp or flat etc. but in trying to get the best tone from that particular instrument, getting the brass to resonate / vibrate etc .

joeW · August 2023

Trumpets are beautiful when played well. Can’t beat em imv. Does it do something to your upper lip tho?

sev112 · August 2023

It will give you labial dexterity

Chalky · August 2023

Thoroughly recommend brass instruments. And once you've learned a 3 valve instrument, you can play an assortment of them. If you've never played brass before so you're a complete beginner then be aware that the trumpet can be a bit shrill when you start. Family and neighbours might not be so forgiving.

A cornet is a bit of a softer sounding alternative. A tenor horn will teach you all the right fingerings and embouchure for a beginner and makes a mellow sound that nobody will complain about.

Best way to learn is to get the scales under your fingers, start with C major, then learn to sing a melody in C major then play it. Nursery rhymes, hymns, carols, folk songs or diatonic jazz standards will all help. This sing-then-play is the best way to learn articulation, which makes a huge difference to how good you sound on brass instruments.

Note that brass instruments need a bit of maintenance, occasional oil and grease, and Youtube is your friendly tutor for these aspects.

Cranky · August 2023

Chalky said:

Thoroughly recommend brass instruments. And once you've learned a 3 valve instrument, you can play an assortment of them. If you've never played brass before so you're a complete beginner then be aware that the trumpet can be a bit shrill when you start. Family and neighbours might not be so forgiving.

A cornet is a bit of a softer sounding alternative. A tenor horn will teach you all the right fingerings and embouchure for a beginner and makes a mellow sound that nobody will complain about.

Best way to learn is to get the scales under your fingers, start with C major, then learn to sing a melody in C major then play it. Nursery rhymes, hymns, carols, folk songs or diatonic jazz standards will all help. This sing-then-play is the best way to learn articulation, which makes a huge difference to how good you sound on brass instruments.

Note that brass instruments need a bit of maintenance, occasional oil and grease, and Youtube is your friendly tutor for these aspects.

I remember doing some of that oiling stuff with trombone.

With trumpet I’ve been looking at options, including mouthpieces. I think I would pay more for a bigger cup size, at least to begin, as I would rather play more common frequencies with ease rather than struggle with lip mechanics on a smaller cup that would let me play high notes.

Technically I think I would prefer a cornet. But those are harder to find and really I’m not caring all that much. I will make a trumpet sound mellow.

As for scales and melodies, if I may, I think those come fairly naturally to me. I can’t explain it. Once a couple years ago I picked up a bugle and played “Taps” on it perfectly right off the bat. It just made sense to me. Never saw a bugle irl before that.

Chalky · August 2023

Regarding mouthpieces, finding one that suits your particular lip and muscle structure makes all the difference. I settled on a Denis Wick 5 in cornets and tenor horns as this gives me the best combination of tone and lip fatigue. For trumpet the balance is even more important, I find. I never have any need to go beyond a high G at the very most, so I prefer the sweeter tone and less range. Sounds like you do too.

If you're a natural then you'll progress very quickly - instinctive isn't good for classical but as I only play jazz standards to backing tracks it doesn't matter.

Shepherds crook cornets are common in the UK, Boosey & Hawkes being the usual, and always Blessings or Yamaha on Ebay. Straight cornets are usually US and are halfway to a trumpet. I have learned that I like the older US trumpet sounds, Conns, Olds, etc.

Once you've bought one, you'll buy more!

axisus · August 2023

Phew. Just checked and you don't live next door.

Cranky · August 2023

^^^ ha, yeah, not even close. Also I live on a 1-acre lot, so no worries for any of my neighbors.

But more importantly, I would like to update this thread. It’s a flugelhorn that I’m after, not a trumpet. The flugel darn near brings a tear to my eye.

axisus · August 2023

Cranky said:

^^^ ha, yeah, not even close. Also I live on a 1-acre lot, so no worries for any of my neighbors.

But more importantly, I would like to update this thread. It’s a flugelhorn that I’m after, not a trumpet. The flugel darn near brings a tear to my eye.

There's an instrument that can bring a tear to my eye, but I realise that if I bought one I would never get remotely near to the standard that does that.

fretmeister · August 2023

Trumpet is awesome.

I've been listening to a lot of Jeremy Pelt recently

https://open.spotify.com/album/3uF0eDO6FcdBSJcR4wdwms?si=2hDn_KC0TmqNcj_XYYgfXQ

Jfingers · August 2023

A lot of my favourite songs have Trumpet or Cornet on them. If you think you'll stick with it and enjoy the journey then go for it.

Chalky · August 2023

Cranky said:

^^^ ha, yeah, not even close. Also I live on a 1-acre lot, so no worries for any of my neighbors.

But more importantly, I would like to update this thread. It’s a flugelhorn that I’m after, not a trumpet. The flugel darn near brings a tear to my eye.

Flugelhorn is really beautiful. Bit harder to play in tune than the other two. I've got an older French Couesnon but most folks these days go for one based on the Yamaha YFH631 design with the third valve trigger. Slightly easier for tuning but not quite such a sweet tone. Beware of mouthpiece taper differences between US, French and Japanese models.

Cranky · August 2023

Chalky said:

Cranky said:

^^^ ha, yeah, not even close. Also I live on a 1-acre lot, so no worries for any of my neighbors.

But more importantly, I would like to update this thread. It’s a flugelhorn that I’m after, not a trumpet. The flugel darn near brings a tear to my eye.

Flugelhorn is really beautiful. Bit harder to play in tune than the other two. I've got an older French Couesnon but most folks these days go for one based on the Yamaha YFH631 design with the third valve trigger. Slightly easier for tuning but not quite such a sweet tone. Beware of mouthpiece taper differences between US, French and Japanese models.

Flugelhorn is mine. I will stick with the stock mouthpiece at least until I get the hang of things.

I don’t even feel remotely bad about this. I’m wildly excited. I’m working on sight reading and piano, relearning guitar, bass mandolin and ukulele to be conscientious about notes and harmony, and now my brass section. My theory has come along these past couple of years and a melodic instrument like this will help all of that plus my ear training. And it’s a flugelhorn! The sound just melts my heart.

Helps, I suppose, that I got a solid deal on an intermediate-level horn, a Bach fh600. If it comes to it (which it won’t), I won’t lose much or any money on it. But mainly I just don’t like “beginner” equipment that is of such questionable quality that it makes people not want to play. I’m a grownup. I’m spending money on nice things for myself and anyone else that I love.

There may be a cornet on the horizon, too.

Chalky · August 2023

Cranky said:

Chalky said:

Cranky said:

^^^ ha, yeah, not even close. Also I live on a 1-acre lot, so no worries for any of my neighbors.

But more importantly, I would like to update this thread. It’s a flugelhorn that I’m after, not a trumpet. The flugel darn near brings a tear to my eye.

Flugelhorn is really beautiful. Bit harder to play in tune than the other two. I've got an older French Couesnon but most folks these days go for one based on the Yamaha YFH631 design with the third valve trigger. Slightly easier for tuning but not quite such a sweet tone. Beware of mouthpiece taper differences between US, French and Japanese models.

Flugelhorn is mine. I will stick with the stock mouthpiece at least until I get the hang of things.

I don’t even feel remotely bad about this. I’m wildly excited. I’m working on sight reading and piano, relearning guitar, bass mandolin and ukulele to be conscientious about notes and harmony, and now my brass section. My theory has come along these past couple of years and a melodic instrument like this will help all of that plus my ear training. And it’s a flugelhorn! The sound just melts my heart.

Helps, I suppose, that I got a solid deal on an intermediate-level horn, a Bach fh600. If it comes to it (which it won’t), I won’t lose much or any money on it. But mainly I just don’t like “beginner” equipment that is of such questionable quality that it makes people not want to play. I’m a grownup. I’m spending money on nice things for myself and anyone else that I love.

There may be a cornet on the horizon, too.

We don't see many Bach flugelhorns in the UK compared to say Yamaha and Yamaha copies so I've not played one. But Bach's reputation on high end trumpets make me think it sounds beautiful:)

Cranky · August 2023

^^^ I was looking for the best combination of reputable builder, used condition and price. It was looking like I’d get an intermediate level Yamaha until I found that Bach, which I read great reviews on.

Middling Yamaha cornets are much easier to find. I can grab a good condition MIJ horn for around $250.

I also came across a Thomann flugel of the same model, FH-600, which I steered clear of for obvious reasons. But I wondered if the folks at Bach had a problem with Thomann, of Harley Benton fame, ripping off their exact model/name.

Chalky · August 2023

Thomann have used the FH600 model name since 2004 so they must have got over it by now. They sell the Stradivarius line of Bach instruments.

Teyeplayer · August 2023

Buy a Kazoo, shove it up your arse and fart -you are 95% of the way there and only 1% of punters will be able to tell the difference. It’s the brass answer to the Tonemaster range.

roberty · August 2023

A gentleman is someone who can play the trumpet* but chooses not to

*insert basically any instrument into this joke format

Cranky · August 2023

Teyeplayer said:

Buy a Kazoo, shove it up your arse and fart -you are 95% of the way there and only 1% of punters will be able to tell the difference. It’s the brass answer to the Tonemaster range.

You know what’s funny but not unsurprising is that the horn/trumpet forums have the same stupid, passive aggressive arguments the we guitar players have about student/entry-level vs pro/expensive gear.

Cranky · August 2023

roberty said:

A gentleman is someone who can play the trumpet* but chooses not to

*insert basically any instrument into this joke format

Except banjo.

No gentleman knows how to play banjo.

Teyeplayer · August 2023

Cranky said:

Teyeplayer said:

Buy a Kazoo, shove it up your arse and fart -you are 95% of the way there and only 1% of punters will be able to tell the difference. It’s the brass answer to the Tonemaster range.

You know what’s funny but not unsurprising is that the horn/trumpet forums have the same stupid, passive aggressive arguments the we guitar players have about student/entry-level vs pro/expensive gear.

Doesn’t surprise me, we all have similar mindsets just different instruments.

For what it’s worth, I loved my Tonemaster and will no doubt have another before long, but the kazoo joke was just too easy.

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I suddenly have the urge to play trumpet

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