Middle/Low range
- Jackr34
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sep 01, 2019
I am working on Mahler 3 and am struggling to play loud with any kind of efficiency and not splat on my low range. I have struggled with a great high range and sub par low range in the past but I have mostly solved that problem. Now I am just struggling on volume and efficiency in the low range. I have mostly just been buzzing does anyone have any other tips or exercises. Thanks.
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
The chances are your mouthpiece is too small for you. That limits middle and low range volume, and makes you have to shift for low notes. Does that sound familiar?
What are you using?
What are you using?
- Jackr34
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sep 01, 2019
I am using a Hammond 11ml which is very similar to a bach 4 or schilke 52
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
I didn't like the Hammond 11ML. I found it too shallow and had poor low range. If you really like Hammond, an 11L or 11XL might be better. I generally play a Wick 4BL or an Elliott G cup (102 rim).
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
I obviously don't know your playing or your embouchure, that was just a guess based on "great high range and sub par low range." I suppose it could also be the opposite, too big for you. Or something you're doing or not doing. Not enough information here.
- Jackr34
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sep 01, 2019
Do you have any suggestions for exercises or concepts that I can try with my current hardware. Thanks
- FullPedalTrombonist
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Personally during my quest to regain my chops for range stuff I try to work through the Phil Teele book as well as just doing regular range and flexibility stuff as high and as low as I can. It’s a slog, but mostly because of the amount of time I can dedicate. Keep track of where you bottom out. Make your lowest note a focus when working on attacks and tone and volume. Then work lower. Figure out a melody that you can play to hit your lowest note while playing effortlessly and melodically and play it the next half step lower when you can.
As far as chop stuff I’m no expert. If your mouthpiece really is the wrong size or you’re doing something that isn’t optimal for your chops I’d be looking for someone in person or a Doug Skype session
As far as chop stuff I’m no expert. If your mouthpiece really is the wrong size or you’re doing something that isn’t optimal for your chops I’d be looking for someone in person or a Doug Skype session
- Doug_Elliott
- Posts: 4155
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
It's impossible to recommend anything with absolutely no knowledge of your playing.
- baileyman
- Posts: 1169
- Joined: Mar 24, 2018
The number of players with great low ranges on differing instruments and wildly different mouthpiece suggests there exists a practice solution. My own practice works flexibility over the entire range, and every range improves, though slowly. When I work on getting back and forth from one note to another, it's a focus on moving from the tuning for one note to the tuning for the other, the mouth and chop tuning, that is. Funny how often it's the lower note that is the problem. The closer it gets to bang bang bang bang the better. And when it happens, the lower note is great. The practice is to get the movement to happen increasingly regularly.
- griffinben
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Mar 20, 2019
Take a local or skype lesson with a GOOD teacher - they will better be able to diagnose and recommend a solution.
Look to equipment last unless it lies outside the range of normalcy.
Look to equipment last unless it lies outside the range of normalcy.