Pitchfinders: A Trumpeter's Guide to Main Tuning Slide Triggers

[@kevinyuemusic]

Love the videos! I remember in a Masterclass a few years back hearing about the Charlie Geyer setup on Eb/D horns. I think I would spend so much time fumbling around with the bell that it would make my intonation worse, haha.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Haha! Yeah it would definitely take some practice... I would probably prefer one of the trigger arrangements myself.

[@brianfinchermusic]

GREAT video Jon! Dan shared this with me.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Thanks, Brian!! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks to Dan for sharing it with you :)

[@Iseeisees]

Omg that (Yamaha?) Piccolo "bell slide" at 11:08 is genius. Also! Happy to see an actual classical trumpet player who knows his craft on youtube producing quality content. All the best!

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Yes, I thought it was really cool as well! It's a Will Spencer Bb/A Herald Piccolo trumpet. Apparently Spencer used to offer the bell trigger as an option but not anymore. Thanks for your support - glad you're enjoying my content!

[@richardmason7107]

Remember the Conn Victor Cornets and trumpets with the "opera glass" tuning. You could adjust the tuning with your left thumb. What is normally thought of as the main tuning slide today, was used for quick change to A.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

I learned about these after I posted this video! At some point I will do a follow up including these mechanisms!

[@kevincabeza8116]

Thanks for the videos Jon, keep it up man.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Glad you enjoyed it, Kevin! Will do!

[@GDM223SR]

I had no idea there were such things! Thanks for a very informative video, as always!

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

You're welcome, Steve! Glad you learned something new. 🤓

[@episnod]

Well done. I have a Melk MTST (to quote you!) on my Bach 229 C. High G is worth the price of admission. I am familiar with all the folks you mention. Bravo!

[@teslasintern]

My Adams CN2 cornet has a main tuning slide trigger. I'm still learning to use it, but I think it's really cool!

[@MatthiaGoedegebuur]

This is amazing! I really enjoy your content! Thanks you very much! Some more information: on cornets played in the 'British Style Brassbands' it is quite populair to have a cornet with a trigger on the main tuning slide. Not only Besson has this system, but also Geneva and I believe Eclipse.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

So glad you enjoyed it!!! Glad to hear more manufacturers offer main tuning slide triggers as an option - which just gives the artists more power to make music in the way they wish. 🤓🤓🤓

[@danellewilbraham]

Adams also makes one of these cornets

[@joelnord4699]

Great content, hope the channel keeps growing

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Glad you enjoy it, Joel! There will be lots more of nerdy trumpet content for you to enjoy, don't worry.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Have a great Rocking New Year

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Thanks Oscar!

[@evan12697]

Worth noting too that even though it isn’t a “trigger” in a literal sense, many cornets around the turn of the century had the ability to move the tuning slide while playing. I guess most notably would be the Conn Wonder which had a push rod on the top tube of the main tuning slide allowing the thumb or 2nd/3rd finger of the left had wrapped around the casing to move the slide in or out. A little clunky to get used to by modern standards, but a nice feature

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

That is so interesting!! You’re not the first to tell me about this feature on old cornets - will definitely look into it!

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Pitchfinders? If they could just make something for the Clarinets and Oboes! 🙄 Seriously great video! I always have to pick on my friends up front!

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Thanks! This topic was one of the original inspirations for me to make a youtube channel so I'm glad I was finally able to bring it to this very hungry and nerdy audience.

[@zachhanson3794]

my friend has a conn wonder cornet built in 1900 with a adjustable tuning slide, you use your left thumb to push it in and your left index finger to push it out, so the idea was around for a bit

[@GordonHudson]

I have a cornet with a main tuning slide trigger. It's a bit of a problem moving from A on second space to G (and similar moves) as the instrument has no first valve trigger. Normally you would extend 1 on the A then go open for the G and you have plenty of time to let the first slide go back in. With the main tuning slide you have to do it very quickly. I also feel it introduces an inherent loss in compression around the slide compared to having grease on it. I use rotary valve oil on the slide but it's still a compromise. Besson introduced main slide triggers on all their brass band instruments a few years ago, like my cornet.

[@WillMartinez1999]

Awesome video, I'm considering sending my Bach 37 to Mr. Melk after I get my leadpipe from Ken Larson. Ill also be aquiring a Jack Holland Pitch Finder soon and would be happy to share the function of it.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Very cool! Which horn are you planning to install the Jack Holland on?

[@WillMartinez1999]

@@JonTalksTrumpet Most likely my jazz Horn, it's a Cannonball 42 built by Kanstul

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Very cool. I would definitely like to see any media you collect of that mechanism once it’s installed - thanks for offering!!

[@hillrl51]

Jack Holland can be heard in many of the older “Mr Jack Daniels Original Silver Cornet Band”. Especially Una Voce Poca Fa.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Woah!! Thank you for the heads up, I’ll have to check that out!

[@ryanking2254]

Great video.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@ChildOfKingJesus57]

Hi Jon. Thanks for this tuning information. Very helpful. I notice in the background of this video a framed picture of a trumpet. It’s very nice. Can you tell me where I can get a copy and who the artist is? Thanks.

[@luizcamilo8565]

Wow! Great!

[@JoinerStudios]

Wonderful video!! What do you know about matching a mouthpiece to your horn to get the best intonation ? Does changing the shank length effect intonation?

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Really glad you enjoyed it! That will have to be a topic for a future video, but certainly there is a relationship between length, internal volume of the mouthpiece, and the intonation on the trumpet.

[@ChristopherHealeyComposer]

You missed an option! Not the same design, but same functionality. The Puje trumpet/cornets are designed with a thumb slide that adjusts the entire instrument. :)

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

You’re so right!! Someday I’ll probably make a follow up with another video of me reacting to various other designs...

[@mal2ksc]

This may be outside your circle, but Kanstul has been slapping the "tune any note" mechanism on everything they can (especially drum corps bugles, which is where I encountered them) for many decades too. This was even more important when they only had two valves.

[@aktrumpet1]

Would love to see an example of one - never heard about this as I never did any real marching or drum corp. Can you share a link so I can take a look?

[@mal2ksc]

@@aktrumpet1 No, KZbin deletes comments with links in them (unless they're to other YT locations). But Kanstul has exploded engineering views of their instruments on their website. Have fun!

[@trumpetmatts]

Do you know of a tuning slide adjuster that is not soldered on? Also love the video 🙂

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

I thought I remembered seeing something like that once, and found this. Not sure if you can still get it, but it’s an interesting concept! www.northbaytrumpetstudio.com/studio/meierhenry.html

[@arkination]

Great stuff Jon! Ok, just gotta ask... did you put at Gen 3 tuning slide on your Yamaha Chicago Gen 2 C trumpet? And if so... I'm curious why :) (Gen 2 owner over here)

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Yup! I would say basically the square Gen III slide had the depth of color of the Gen II but a quickness and brilliance of response more like the Gen I - especially in the low register. The middle G is also a little better on the Gen III.

[@arkination]

@@JonTalksTrumpet Ah sorry for the delay, didn't have my notifications on! Ok, thanks for the info Jon. Funnily enough I've heard and read similar things. So if I could ask... where did you pick up your Gen III tuning slide? It seems like they're not typically in stock anywhere i check. In any case, thanks for all your awesome trumpet videos. Cheers from San Francisco!

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

@@arkination It was certainly a challenge. I emailed Wayne Tanabe several times over the course of years and eventually he sent me one. Took I think about 2 years of persistence. I'm sure it's easier now but it's not really meant to be an off the shelf purchase.

[@arkination]

@@JonTalksTrumpet Word. Ok thanks. Challenge accepted!

[@us-Bahn]

Question: On Schilke tunable bell horns, what’s the recommended way to achieve optimal intonation? Is it a main tuning slide & tuning bell combination?

[@ndrwcmpt1]

Hey Jon, at 9:16 you mention using Zaja Red for your tuning slide. I can't find anywhere that sells this anymore. Do you still use it? Do you have any recommendations about where to order some? Or have you been forced to switch to something else? Thanks!

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

If only I was good enough to worry about my tuning on the fly! ;-} I was wondering if there was enough slide to make a slide up or down noticeable? Comical or otherwise?

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Haha! Not really... I would guess that at most, fully depressing the lever it would lower the pitch about 50 or 60 cents, which is only about halfway between whatever note you're on and the half step below it.

[@Dr.trumpet74]

Greetings, John. There is a nightmare and horror going on in the world... But musicians still need to work... I serve at the Mikhailovsky Opera House on cornet and trumpet. I like your educational stories about your favorite trumpet. It is impossible to order anything now. I kindly ask you to send detailed drawings for the manufacture of a trimming mechanism for the trumpet Yamaha in B, in C. Thank you! Sincerely, Anatoly Sakharov. Mikhailovsky Theater. Saint Petersburg.

[@ricaard]

You have a beautiful sound.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Thank you for saying that!

[@ricaard]

@@JonTalksTrumpet call 'em how I hear 'em.

[@flightmansam]

I play on one if Dan's horns! Still has a section where he removed the plating to install pitch finder, but removed it before selling to me :(

[@manmi5856]

So funny. He sounds like he's still in his vocal change. I wonder if there's a pitch finder or tuning slide for that. 😄

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Lol, I’m 29 years old so hopefully my voice is done changing 🤣 thanks for watching, hope you enjoyed!

[@jameskakurosaki3051]

Suscribed

[@MathewHarwich]

where can I buy these???

[@emanuel1959]

What about the pudgy. works great!

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

I know, right?!? I knew about it but didn’t think of it when writing the script. In part 2 for sure!

[@alfonsobenitez8574]

What would you do if you only have one arm? I see several one arm trumpet players. How do they do it.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Trumpet *is* an instrument that can be played one handed, with some compromises. Ideally when we play trumpet we’re operating at least FIVE things - the three valves, plus the operation first and third valve slides. The pitchfinder adds a sixth thing. So for a player with use of only one arm, probably the focus will have to be on the three valves, and with some custom brass work you might be able to find a way to operate one of the slides with a custom trigger of some kind. The weight of the trumpet can be held with a system like the ergo brass.

[@alfonsobenitez8574]

@@JonTalksTrumpet I am looking into buying the Ergo Brass. I used a glove that I only exposed the fingers that I used for the valves the other two to protect my pinky and it feels much easier to whole. Thank you so much.

[@sceu25]

I play low brass why am I watching this. Cool idea though.

[@JonTalksTrumpet]

Glad you enjoyed it! Trombones have a pitchfinder, but it's called the slide LOL. Many professional Euphoniums, Baritones, and Tubas offer a pitchfinder style mechanism as well!

[@ChildOfKingJesus57]

Hi Jon. Thanks for this tuning information. Very helpful. I notice in the background of this video a framed picture of a trumpet. It’s very nice. Can you tell me where I can get a copy and who the artist is? Thanks.