How to Play Pedals!-Daily Practice Tips

The pedal register on low brass instruments is fun to play but can take some careful control to develop! In this video I talk about starting to develop your pedal register; while this is geared specifically towards trombone/euphonium/baritone players there may be ideas that are helpful for all brass players! Take a listen and if you haven't worked on your pedal register in a while (or ever!) now is your chance!

[@douglasrichardson4953]

I love your teaching with the “it’s just a lot of fun” approach. Cos quite frankly it is and that’s the greatest motivator. Thank you for your enlightening posts. I admire your playing and teaching greatly. 👍🏼🎶😁

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Thanks for watching; I hope whatever insights I can provide are helpful!

[@samuelbrowning9155]

A friend came up to me and asked me how to play peal tones. You and I have a very similar approach to reaching the bottom-most partial of the trombone. I told her what I have done is play the regular Bb in the staff and use your F attachment to help relax into the F. Then do the exact same thing with the low F in first position to ease into the pedal Bb. To me, it's easier to play the pedal Bb than it it to play a low D or a low C. For me personally, I wasn't able to gliss very well in the pedal register initially. I had to train my airflow with easing into each pedal note like I've said previously. We all have our ways in learning how to do things, like you said. So I thought I would add my experience with it, as a bass trombonist.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Thank you for the insights!

[@daniel41673]

Hi. What model is this trombone? Thanks

[@theblucketman]

When I first did it 9th grade, I did on a baritone, and it was way easier on that instrument for me for some reason, also used my bottom lip, mainly because it was easier for me to get a better constant airflow, but I also had trouble with hitting lower pedals on my trombone, took your advice on top lip, and even though I am not getting the air flow I was used to, the lower pedals became way easier, thank you for the advice to practice on!

[@wrenn1728]

This comment help me soooo much!! THANK YOUUUUU!!!!

[@mauldus]

Really enjoying these tips. Thanks Keith!

[@jaydenr.3556]

I did it! I used to be able to do that but forgot how and couldn't get it so I looked up a video. Thanks a lot!

[@ethant.8496]

THANK YOU! I just rented a bass trombone from my school because I really like the sound, buuuttt I don’t really know how to pedal so this was VERY helpful! Amazing video, I love your energy

[@jackaldridge6886]

So helpful!

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

So glad! Thanks for watching

[@Cysubtor_8vb]

Interesting hearing how trombonist conceptualize pedal Bb as a tuba/euphonium player that's getting into the instrument. The pedal notes are some of the first I played on trombone as I'm simply more familiar with range and the slow/warm air support needed to drop low. Not sure if it would be bad for trombone embouchure, but it always felt like going from a "ti" & "ta" articulation to a "ba" or "da" feel.

[@loghbrass]

Thank you Keith.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

You're welcome and thank you for watching!

[@acs197]

After playing for a while in marching band, we would play pedals to help our lips. I love playing them, they sound a feel really good. :)

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Agreed!

[@noahbracht3498]

i struggle cause i get light headed every time I practice and that is very unmotivating but i still try to push through.

[@johndowson7929]

It's like having two separate embouchure and can drive me crazy when say for example the pedal F major scale when I get to Bb C my embouchure shape changes , my aim is to be able to slur dwn there but good luck on that one . I with regret neglected my lower register , so it gets worked on every day n god ain't it a slow process ?

[@FallingVortex]

Im a 6th grader who is going for bass trombone in my 7th grade year my lowest note is pedal F how can I make pedal Gb and F be louder?

[@jimmurdoch6206]

Hi Keith, great video. I've just been given a new tune to play which features a couple of pedal tones just below my usual 'strong' range on my Bb tenor valve trombone, these are a low F and E. My F# (valves 123) is really strong, but dropping to F (v1) and then the E (v12) my sound really weakens. I once played next to a guy (trombonist) who changed mp's for certain tunes. Do you have a view on this?

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

While I am not a big fan of younger students changing mouthpieces to suit a particular piece/setting (I feel that it is important to develop solid fundamentals and control on one setup before adding variables), for more experienced players I think it is perfectly fine (and frankly sometimes necessary!) I myself will use a larger piece (my go-to is a 3G) for when I need to do bass-type work on tenor, although this is more about the sound/articulation/response. I think as long as one's fundamentals are sound you should use what you need to get the job done!

[@jimmurdoch6206]

@@SchmittMusicTromboneShop Hi Keith, many thanks for your very prompt reply - how brilliant that we have this amazing technology to communicate! - I think I might look at another mp, but of course in the present times, going and testing a few isnt possible. I'm presently on a Bach 6.5AL which I think is pretty standard general purpose size. In the meantime, I'll keep practising, even after a couple of hours yesterday I could notice some improvement on the F and E. Strangely I found itxwas my low C which had strengthened most. I think it's somewhat down to the intonation vagaries of the vtb. Mines a '58 Conn 6H, so it's not a bad instrument. :-) Thanks again for your insights.

[@yosltsum]

ok so I can play down to the Bb in the video on a tenor trombone with an F attachment but it is at 7th position. A is at 1st position in my horn and I don't know why, my lowest pedal note is G1 or maybe Gb or F1 on a good practicing day.

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

It's hard to say for sure but it is possible that the pitch may be sinking lower for you due to a combination of the embouchure and airflow. We often trick ourselves into thinking that in order to play lower we need to/can completely relax the embouchure and air to access the lower register where, in fact, we still need to support with both, keeping the corners of the embouchure firm and the air support slow but very well supported. I have found with students that letting one or both sag can result in dropping of the pitch and loss of sound core and control...

[@esiotrot1018]

As a trombonist i find that when playing in the pedal register i find it more comfortable to puff out my cheeks any tips on how to change this

[@SchmittMusicTromboneShop]

Thanks for the comment! Every player is different and so I would hesitate to recommend a change unless the cheek puffing is causing issues (loss of response, sound instability, unfocused/airy sound, etc.). With that said if you did want to explore a change I might start with thinking about the jaw position (dropping the jaw), mouthpiece placement (potentially shifted upward a bit to allow the bottom lip to vibrate more freely), keeping the corners of the embouchure still firm and thinking about focusing the slow, warm air through the middle of the mouthpiece. It might help to try slurring from a 2nd-line Bb to the pedal, thinking about keeping the corner/cheek position as similar as possible and letting the air change help to facilitate the change...