High Notes on Trombone

In this video, I step through 9 techniques that a trombone player should combine to improve their high register on the trombone. I forgot to mention step # 10: Practice!
I have told my students for years that the best way to learn how to play an instrument is to play the instrument.

[@myspaceiscool7671]

you just said all my bad habits

[@samaohya1838]

I so feel you

[@ryanbest9914]

I know right

[@lasaaagna]

I find it quite funny that everybody here is a trombone player and then there’s just me who’sdoing an English essay and wanted to know what a high note on a trombone sounded like so i could analyse a simile (the funniest part is that I left a comment lmao I really need to get a life)

[@johnwright1964]

Thanks for hanging out with us. : )

[@professorsc213]

You definitely have a life. You just learned something about brass instruments, as an instrumental instructor of 42 years I find that any knowledge is forward progress. So it sounds to me like you have a life. All the best luck to you with your essay.

[@sophiaries3169]

Hey, this randomly popped up on my recommended and in a saxophonist so…

[@calebrettig1892]

The embouchure is the hardest thing to figure out about yourself as a musician, so many teachers try to teach it but it cannot be taught. There should be one guideline for the embouchure of each brass instrument and it should be up to the player to figure out what suits the the best. At least that is my opinion feel free to contradict me with your own or hell even agree with me! haha

[@rachelmuller5541]

Yes, it's true.

[@themoniathansnest5404]

Caleb Rettig you just practice and practice until you get it, the form is up to you, I have that down to a science now, it’s muscle memory, the techniques just flow together now. I’m 15 and I’ve been playing for only about 4 years but my musicianship has improved incredibly

[@ford4235]

Yes, very well said

[@randscott4676]

The problem is not embouchure, it is falling prey to focusing on your process (thinking about what you are doing - all controlled by the subconscious mind inaccessible to conscious control) and not focusing on the sound that dictates the embouchure. Think sound. Think product says this teacher of 41 years.

[@MrBochawa]

@@randscott4676 Yes, that's all fine when your system is not completely antithetical to producing a natural sound on the instrument. This theory of development is absolutely the way to go when you have already developed a system of playing that is aligned with the instrument, physically speaking. If a student's embouchure is totally off target, getting "the sound" is impossible. This is a common trope among brass teachers of all levels because it was touted by some of the greatest players in our history. I'm sorry, but Arnold Jacobs and Bud Herseth had more than extremely limited experience teaching beginners. If this worked, then all of our students who aren't deaf would be fantastic players.

[@pierredelecto9385]

This just gave me access to two partials I was really struggling with and one I had never even reached. One more to go, but I'm going to build up to that last one. High notes on brass instruments are not joke.

[@mauriceistheguyy]

I know ;-;

[@adamfee130]

I've been playing trombone for 8 or 9 years and honestly it has taken me till today to figure out that my biggest problem is that I push the trombone really hard against my face and tense up so that's how today went AKA very upset but happy that I finally figured this out. Also this video was incredibly helpful so I just wanted to say thank you!

[@johnwright1964]

At my home and at work I do quite a bit of Butler/cleanup work. I not only look the part, I live it. I’m just looking for a millionaire to work for.

[@Lazar931]

I do not know how to thank you ! You improved my playing unbelievably... After only watching 5 minutes your video I went on a totally different level ! I am student of the Belgrades music academy, and our profesor never learned us any of this stuff. Once again, thank you so much sir ! I wish i had a profesor like you !!!

[@lrballistics]

+Lazar Scepanovic "Our profesor never learned us any of this stuff"

[@NerfMaster07]

English is not everyone's first language man. Give him some slack, you understood what he said.

[@jadewolf3094]

S/he is european bro, dont be ignorant they speak differently there

[@bombaexplodeza1377]

Hehe is zavrsio akademiju.

[@cbfedge5593]

@@lrballistics actually, this is really old English. So it's not entirely wrong

[@gabrielhinsley4142]

I'm in my freshmen year and this helped me so much thank you!

[@Evan-ib3fv]

dean hinsley i

[@mindaer5167]

Welcome to the future your a senior now 🤠

[@daviboi808]

ayy freshman gang, although from the looks of it you're in college now

[@jonaskaiser5798]

I had braces for one year and now i can't even get to the g³. Fortunately my brother is an trumpetplayer so i can use his mouthpiece to practice. This video helped me a lot.

[@asmorthius2534]

You help me a lot, one year and a half ago my high register was middle c, I was new (only 3 months on the trombone) but I wanted to improve all my register, you and Pollard helped a lot, now i can play high C (F with effort) and Bb pedal easy, seriously, thank you

[@Warcrafter]

I can attest to the reverse as well. Being a trumpet player i picked up my dads trombone, and playing it has helped my range tremendously! I can now hit the D on the 5th ledger line for the trombone!

[@itsdoot5080]

Thanks John. My band director was telling me that when I play a high note to lower my lips into the bottom of the cup, and even it out when playing lower/ middle notes. Watching this helps a lot, because I had just gotten moved up to second chair, and with that, I have to learn notes over F. It's pretty painful, and my main problems are opening the inside of my mouth, and playing louder, which I normally have trouble with that when playing most notes that go past a high A. Another problem would be playing eighth notes, but I normally get passed that if it isn't playing a lot of them. So, since last month I've learned all the way up to F, and since in concert band, we have to play the First Suit in Eb (Gustav Holst), and Dancing Day(Jim Colona), which, in second position, is almost impossible for me to play how I'm supposed to, because I would have to play high eighth notes, which I am new too. So, is there any way to get passed these? We have a concert soon, and I'm not that good with it. If you have any techniques to do this, please tell me, they'd be extremely helpful in the future.

[@shinyparts]

Thank you for your help, the tongue and 'hee' helped me unlock the higher notes on my trumpet.

[@johnwright1964]

I need to update this video. For High Notes: 1) Firm the lips up against the teeth just as a guitarist would press the strings against the fretboard. Your teeth are the fretboard. 2) Arch the back of the tongue and push faster air. 3) Don't pinch the lips together. 4) Don't pull the corners of your mouth back into a smile. (weakness)

[@Billyleenyan]

I've seen this guy in a gangsters film. Great lesson by the way

[@FanTrombone]

heheheheh

[@1orsten]

Great summary and reminder of "what´s right" Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@muckymuck_plays2817]

Wow my playing has greatly improved! I can play so many high notes now!!! I used to not be able to hit anything higher than a high C. Now I can go way further! Thank you so much!

[@TomW2034]

Thank you again, John Wright, for posting really helpful trombone videos. I appreciate your effort.

[@niklassilen4313]

Excellent video! My son found it extremely interesting and helpful and even I, without any knowledge of playing the trombone, found it interesting. Thank you!

[@johnwright1964]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

Very helpful, probably the best high-notes tutorial I've ever seen.

[@ckimpal]

Great instruction video John. It's not cheating if it gets the desired results and does not cause any adverse side effects. As long as the tone and stamina are not effected, then I would label as an effective technique. Great comment about the practice, cause it certainly takes a lot of practice to master any technique.

[@EnglishTMTB]

Define "adverse side effects", please? Technique that gets desired results (and progress) in the short term, with tone and stamina seeming to be fine but the technique is wrong, then it may seriously hamper progress in the long run. What might seem like effective technique in the short run might be really detrimental to long-term success... for example - the "spitting" method of articulation (tongue between the lips to articulate) might bring some improvements to a relative beginner, but it'll prevent them ever developing a fast single-tongue and prevent multiple-tonguing altogether. Take excessive mouthpiece pressure as another example, if you prefer that one. IMHO, there very much is such a thing as "cheating" when it comes to brass playing, in both the sense of cheating to get results and cheating the player out of future progress. (And FWIW, I'm not saying this is necessarily the case with this video - from my POV, I'm seeing the gentleman describing a metaphor for keeping a certain degree of lip-lip compression - if thinking of it that way helps him and may help others then that's not cheating, it's a way of thinking to acquire a desirable result).

[@alfreddooley9672]

Sincere thanks! This is a very useful video, especially for this old guy coming back to playing. All best!

[@haleyslife5265]

I have my trombone in my hand right now and as your naming tips I’m trying them out and it’s working so well I finally know how to do mine thanks

[@pawbiter]

I learned SO MUCH from this video. Thank you!

[@Nathaliedkk]

Thank you so much! I just realized I have always been playing with the inside of my mouth closed, and neither or my two teachers have ever told me that! I've always just thought it was me who had an ugly sound compared to the other trombones I'm playing with, but apparently and luckily I'm not as bad at playing as I thought I was! I'll now try to practice and do my best to play with the right sound!

[@rescue270]

Nathalie Kjærgaard Your comment is four years old but I will tell you that I had a similar problem of thin sound. My band director cajoled me for a long time about opening my teeth up. Tone got better but still wasn't great in low register and my teeth were so far apart that I thought I would swallow my mouthpiece. Drove me nuts. Some years later I tried using a Bach 6-1/2AL mouthpice instead of the Bach 12C that my horn came with and that was the problem! 12Cs are designed for playing in the high register and have a small counterbore, which restricts airflow and affects tone in the low register. Since I learned and played on the 12C for so long, I have never been able to play high notes on the 6-1/2AL as well as I do on the 12C, so I have to use two mouthpieces. 12C for parts with higher notes and 6-1/2AL for lower range parts. I have a fairly adequate range for a section player but I would not consider myself to have a stellar range at all. I can hit high D (five ledger lines up) maybe a few times on a good day without using false embouchure and that's where I've been for 30+ years. I've seen commenters here who yawn at the thought of an octave above that because they just naturally have the chops to play high trumpet notes on trombones. Most us aren't that blessed...

[@wayneworthy2672]

Thanks John. The video is instructive and useful. True, the technique clashes with what many consider the "standard and acceptable" way of playing the trombone, but it works, and that's what I'm concerned about. In addition, I've noticed some of the greatest trombonists and trumpet players using this same technique; just couldn't quite fully understand it until now. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to explain it in simple terms. You're a good teacher; very patient, and you seem to be an excellent trombonist. Nice accent too. Like the idea about using a trumpet to develop the high range on the trombone. Works for Troy Andrews; "Trombone Shorty." His range on the trumpet is incredible. Will give this technique a try when I get home. Merci une fois encore! Unclesoybodythevegan

[@sopermanobsessed]

I agree! Also vegan trombonists are the coolest! 😎🌱✌🏽

[@denisebailey5936]

my son has played clarinet for 3 years, and today decided he wanted to buy his friends extra trombone and learn to play. I found this video and sent it to my son, and wanted to say thank you! I have never watched a more helpful video in my life! You Sir, are a fantastic teacher!

[@Lifecomesfromwithin]

That helped tremendously thanks I had immediate results I just bought a trombone last November I've had two mouth pieces n a copper pipe since I was 16. I cut the Bell down to make it like a sackbutt since I'm into early music. I have a renaissance cornett ordered as well.

[@javaman2883]

This helps explain some things I noticed back in high school. I had so much fuller tone than some other players in my section (I was lead junior and senior years), we tried to get some other players to loose that nasal tone, but we just couldn't figure out how to get him to do it. Wish I had this video resource in 1995 One thing that helped me with trombone high notes was practicing the tuba. That big mouthpiece for tuba required different embouchure movement, after working on high notes on tuba, my trombone high notes were better.

[@dancingwithpalmtrees]

Thank you. I’m just starting trombone. So this helped.

[@sidneylutara9786]

For years i struggle with my embouchure. This video wad so eyeopening and helpful. Thank you sincerely

[@RayFallon]

I've been playing a long time... 60s... and I've never heard the tip of buzzing on a trumpet mouthpiece - all we brass freaks have trumpet (and tuba, and horn) mouthpieces laying around the house, so tomorrow I'm going to start - very cool - obviously what you're preaching works for you. I'm up for it. Nice...

[@ethanc.9893]

this actually helped out a lot for me, I just started and i just hit high f with this advice! thank you!

[@swift104]

Thanks Mr. Raymond, this video IS helpful!

[@arturobecerra5248]

Where were you in my High School Honor Band Days 84-86?!? I once screamed a handful of times matching a trumpet but NEVER knew how I accomplished it. And it happened while doing warm up and scales. #GoAllCity L.A.U.S.D. All District Marching Honor Band Gotta buy me a flugelhorn now! ;-)

[@user-qk1nh8nq6o]

Great lesson thanks for the help!

[@rca2xyz]

Thank you for this great explanation.

[@johngarrison4112]

This is extremely helpful. Thank you so much.

[@tkapitula]

Awesome instruction. Thank you

[@maryfletcher4]

Thanks-its very good of you to bother to inform others!!

[@pardimya]

Thank you very much I play trombone and band and this really helped

[@jtohplayer813]

I never knew my band teacher had a YT channel, Amazing.

[@dunhunnid-other8696]

This helps me alot, I have mastered the Trumpet so I can surely master the Trombone

[@classic_cars_4_life556]

This is the best video I’ve seen on this, I’m a 7th grader who is on 1st trombone with Birdland, this definitely help, thank you so much.

[@TRUMPETSIZZLE]

👍😀A lot of good common sense tips!👍😀

[@professorsc213]

Excellent video, thank you for posting. As a private instrumental instructor of 42 years, I find your video to be comprehensive and very easy for a beginner to understand. You are an excellent teacher. In a world like we live in today music can be a refuge from all the craziness out there in the world today. You and I and all our fellow instrumental instructors are providing a tremendous service to society by creating that refuge that people can find in music whether they be raw beginner or advanced. Godspeed.

[@johnwright1964]

Thank you sir!

[@aylexmusic]

thanks! ive been playing for about a little less or more than a year and im trying to learn how to play the second octave of the b flat scale.

[@davidbucher4095]

Great advice.

[@ShrekIsLyfe]

Thanks, your videos are quite helpful to me.

[@CADSchulungen]

Thanks for that! Now to try it out...

[@tubefishery]

You have provided very useful information. There is a good bit of relatively confusing information on methods of improving the high register, but I think your tips are practical and applicable. Thanks for sharing.

[@logangroff5893]

Thank you for your help. I have All-District tryouts coming up.

[@supahfiyah10]

Thank you so much 🙏 I used to be one of your students in 5th grade

[@general5104]

E X C E L L E N T ADVICE !!! That was a nice bucket-full of nice tips, that I intend to get some good use from. I started getting interested in blowing a horn, when I was browsing the tool shelves at Harbor Freight, & picked up a Civil-War type Bugle for about $30.00. I hung it on the wall, just for decorations. After a bit, I took it down and made it sound like something you do if you eat too much chili..., but my interest was peaked. Then my grandson saved his money and brought his Trombone up here. He said his mama said he was driving her bananas with it, so he left it up here. I had a REAL horn, so I was working on watching KZbin videos and getting tones. Not good ones, but better than what I was able to squeeze out of the Bugle. One day I was killing time before a meeting and wandered onto a Pawn Shop and found myself a great pair of Amp crimpers and a trumpet and haggled down to $54.00 for the both of them. The bell was dented in a dent here and there and the buttons were stuck and one button was missing. But I got it and a nice carrying case. The mouthpiece was stuck in it, to, but now I have a REAL trumpet. Beats that Bugle. I hung it back on the wall to be a dust catcher again. Now, I try to spend a little while, every day, on both horns. The first 50 plus years of my life were wrapped around a guitar. I played, in one band or another, (as a call-on, when one of the band members needed a break. I would play as long as they needed me, then go sit back down), for folks to dance, mainly in square dance halls and old skating rinks, and enjoy-joyed the heck out of it, but my job, required me to use heavy equipment and Impact guns and Carpal Tunnel was destroying my grip and paining me really bad. I had Carpal Tunnel surgery, both wrists. I could NO LONGER play my guitars! I loved playing music ! I waited over ten years and started on a horn. Not too long from now I'll be 70.

[@sohamshukla5732]

I finally hit that super high g thanks to your tips!

[@johnwright1964]

cool

[@vgsaiyan6943]

I need this because Heaven's Light: 1st Trombone

[@ninjadude36]

Thank you for helping!

[@turnitback]

An excellent explanation, thank you. It will help me a great deal.

[@SpaceDude3600]

I'm coming from Tuba to trombone and I really needed this. Thanks

[@wayneworthy2672]

This works for me. Thanks John.

[@johnwright1964]

Great to hear!

[@EberFilipeSunlight91]

Hi John, I was looking for a way to study the highs of the trumpet, I ended up finding it here, thank you very much, I never understood the "eee" articulation, finally I'm getting it!

[@zimnochmusic]

You have a lot of the most important principles down and are demonstrating them very well. The only problem I see is the manner in which you are arching your tongue clearly pulls up on your larynx blocking off the full airstream and creating more tension than you need to be employing. Compensating for this tension may have something to do with why you find it necessary to move the mouth corners as you have described. When the air is flowing without being impeded, the speed of the air will automatically adjust the lips vibrating speed. And the mouth corners remain solidly unchanged. I suggest watching James Morrison's video on upper register playing (here on KZbin). That all being said, you're doing a fantastic job, and if your habits are working for you and you are happy with the results, don't change a thing. All the best!

[@eddyhoughton6542]

Hey John, thanks for the great video and the sound tips. We're stuck in coronavirus quarantine in our flat and to help kill the time my son is teaching me trombone (I've been a flute player since the 1980s). Your advice has helped nip some bad habits in the bud!

[@johnwright1964]

Cool

[@Danoluvrr]

Thank you so much I was having trouble hitting the second octave and I have all county monday and I can hit the octaves thank you so much

[@josuenavarrete3701]

Your video was super helpful, you’d be an awesome teacher :)

[@putzgadol]

I studied for five years withe principal of a major Symphony. this stuff was never mentioned. Hank you, john

[@laurajarry3881]

This is very great assistance for my son's solo test thank you!🙄

[@donniebell1338]

Thank you so much this was very helpful thank you

[@MrTBoneMalone]

Urbie Green said basically that same thing about using the upper lip in the mouthpiece that way, but with less detail. Good video.

[@johnwright1964]

MrTBoneMalone I listened to Urbie Green all the time growing up. I think Urbie was at his best when he was playing in Henry Renee's orchestra.

[@Director1456]

I lost my skill for playing the second octave on the euphonium due to the new bigger mouthpiece. Since there's no video guidance this detailed,I went to search for trombones since both euphonium and trombone mouthpieces are nearly identical. Thanks to John Wright, I can finally reach high notes but only with techniques. I still need to develop my lip muscles for the long run. Thanks anyways,without you I would be struggling right now with my Japanese scores(since they have crazy high notes for euphonium).

[@doughboy90001]

blessing 12c mouthpiece is a good trainer as well. helped me get the high Eb in dizzy Gillespies A night in Tunisia., hurts like hell in the beginning give it a month or so and you will notice the difference. You retain the chops and stamina with half the effort.

[@doughboy90001]

he was a trumpet player by the way.

[@mapffff]

High Eb? xD

[@coyoteserranoband]

I just stared playing trombone this month and I have this crazy dream to play in the army band or air force now.

[@johnwright1964]

That doesn't sound crazy to me. Start off practicing at least 30 minutes every day. Set a timer. Watch my youtube videos and watch other videos from other trombone players. See if you can get trombone lessons so that one day you can place in the top band. Learn something new every day. Work every day and then one day... boom.

[@coyoteserranoband]

@@johnwright1964 Thanks for the support! I actually went to school for choral methods and have been teaching ever since I graduated. Never thought I'd ever want to play trombone, but here I am. I'm starting lessons and inspire to learn something new !

[@user-vj8sp5je7f]

Thank you!

[@kewlz71]

I'm a high school freshman and this would for sure help me out

[@tazdude41]

Same, its a big change in music from 8th grade

[@EddieJazzFan]

Great tips thanks. Is that a King 3B or 4B ?

[@samaohya1838]

Thanks for this. I’m really having a problem playing high noted

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

Thank you. I'm a novice. Don't read music. This is very informative.

[@Nitodvd]

Very helpful and informative. :) thank you

[@hollykronen8281]

This helped so much

[@johnwright1964]

Cool

[@izzzDelta]

Because everyone's lips are soo different, it's probable that some of these tips that may be helpful for others. aren't helpful for some. For those some, the main thing to think about is 1. Fast air, push more air through and you'll get higher, and 2. Don't push the instrument back hard on your lips, you'll damage them and you'll be working your arm muscle instead of your face. And time, this takes work and time.

[@tuniox8914]

your great teacher

[@leopardbird1262]

This video helped a lot

[@MattAllenTeller]

This guy is right on. Someone whose facial structure dictates more lower lip than upper lip would do just the opposite as he says, curling in the upper lip instead of the lower. Tongue is the same.

[@mhacousticrenderings]

Very nice.

[@NSGFR]

Hey john thanks for sharing. I especially have problems with notes higher c2 like Bolero d flat or Rhenish e flat. I can make a beautiful c2 but above the d flat sound very squeezed and anything beyond I never reached despite working on it. Do you have any tip how to improve especially on the 5th octave for trombonists? Regards Fabian

[@johnwright1964]

John Wright For High Notes: 1) Firm the lips up against the teeth just as a guitarist would press the strings against the fretboard. Your teeth are the fretboard. 2) Arch the back of the tongue and push faster air. 3) Don't pinch the lips together, instead give the teeth and lips room to vibrate 4) Don't pull the corners of your mouth back into a smile. (weakness)

[@joangarcia507]

This is a very useful video

[@dariusromer6860]

good help thanks

[@eleazarmupukuta4390]

thanks for the video

[@peterisputnins3524]

Thanks for the video ;)

[@kingfred_1524]

thanks for the tips and next time can you show how to play hard notes

[@kyj1257]

도움이 되었습니다 감사합니다

[@oliviafallier2585]

Welp. This is exciting for an advanced player.

[@macncheetos5045]

thanks john wright!!!!#slayyyy

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

Thanks.

[@monkadelic13]

a 42 B bach can hit 4 octaves. I made National with a 4 scale D flat and Blue Bells of Scotland..

[@Mocitydon15]

Does anybody know what model and brand that Trombone is? Shank size as well?

[@billythesillyy]

YOOO THATS MY BAND TEACHER RIGHT THERE >:D

[@benbaggett5946]

Could this work on a euphonium too?

[@johnwright1964]

King IIIB with F - attachment.

[@user-pb6lj9gs2j]

How to play good low B flat and C with value?

[@tthatggguy]

I watch this video to see if I could get hirer… And I can already hit those notes… I want to get higher!