Why is the French Horn so Hard?

In this video, I explain why the horn can be hard for beginners. I give a very simple explanation of the overtone series and give a couple options to help make learning the horn a little easier.
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[@georgiawilliams668]

I’m a first chair horn player and one of my friends plays trumpet and I picked up her trumpet and played a perfect G scale and she was watching in shock. (Btw I also play mellophone😂)

[@jsquaredhorn]

LOL! So awesome. That gets them every time! And congrats to you for being first chair.

[@carlw]

Mellophone. I have a Yamaha 204, love the instrument. Balu Musik has a new one.

[@local1demo]

Mellophone is easier for sure

[@casenowlin1245]

I play horn and mellophone. I can pick up a trumpet and play 8/12 major scales

[@dominique971]

I never realized how well I was able to just listen after playing Horn for 7 years. Especially when I had to play pedal notes for a quartet, but I always had a blast playing it.

[@ALLinHerMovements]

Yes! That was mind blowing to me, that all those notes are open and right next to each other.

[@mr.pancakes9213]

I played trumpet though out middle school and 9th and my progress on range was always lacking compared to all the other trumpet players no matter how much I practiced lip slurs, so my band director got me to try horn and I fell in love, it’s very difficult but I enjoy it so much more. Actually switching to horn made my range on trumpet better, I play mostly horn now, I play horn in concert band, trumpet in jazz band, and mellophone in marching band.

[@susigutierrez5390]

Hey I do the exact same thing as you, but the only difference between me and you is that I switched to horn because I got bored of trumpet

[@mr.pancakes9213]

@@susigutierrez5390 yeah, trumpet is too easy

[@infiniteralph5052]

I started to play French horn sense last year to me it kinda came easy with the help of my band director, and now we one of the top junior highs in Florida

[@jsquaredhorn]

Infinite Ralph That’s awesome!

[@JTS_P]

my band teacher is letting me start playing french horn tomorrow since theres only 2 other hornists in my band and now all these videos are scaring me lol

[@sabidaonik5211]

you literally made every french horn player watching this, feel better about themselves.

[@itsnotmeitsyouman]

My partner is just starting out on the horn as an adult. Your channel is incredibly helpful in explaining all of the stuff I - a valve-illiterate trombonist - cannot begin to even think about trying to explain. Learning so much from you! Thank you for your work!

[@seanarki]

I played french horn from 5th to 8th grade, never understanding why everyone said it was so hard. Now I’m in University, and only recently did I try to play a french horn again. I tried for 20 minutes, only to produce the curdled remains of a major scale. It’s freaking hard! I should never have stopped playing!

[@gracewallisstudio]

French Horn is just...special...compared to the rest of the brass LOL

[@jsquaredhorn]

Lol! It is! But once you get it, it’s worth it. All the hard work pays off.

[@justanalpaca7803]

yeah it's so *f* *u* *n*

[@kenugget9593]

Wow, great explanation, thank you! I started playing trumpet in March and then trombone in October. However, I always wanted to learn french horn rather than trombone, so I might get one as well 😅

[@jsquaredhorn]

Go for it! It's hard work, but definitely worth it.

[@MarioGarcia-nn7eo]

Thx for the app I really needed this ❤

[@5688gamble]

I have never tried playing a brass instrument, I did (and still sometimes do) find violin unintuitive to play, feels like the more freedom an instrument offers you, the more opportunity to mess it up. I know the French horn is at least one of the hardest instruments to play, I imagine the trombone being hard for similar reasons to the violin in the literal ease of playing notes that aren't part of the western scale at all. When I compare the ukulele or the guitar to the violin I do get the distinct sense that although truly mastering any instrument takes a lifetime, that some are just much harder than others!

[@jsquaredhorn]

That’s true! Trombone is definitely very similar to the violin in that regard.

[@turtlebutme7103]

From what I hear my trombone friends say trombone isn't all too difficult in that regard because they only have 7 to 8 positions with the bell as an easy visual aid

[@bobjacobson858]

The real difference is that because the fundamental tone on the horn is lower than that on the trumpet and the player is typically playing higher-numbered partials, the available open notes are closer together. This will also hold true for any given fingering. This is basic physics. (BTW, I play trumpet and trombone, among other instruments representing different "families".)

[@jsquaredhorn]

That’s exactly what I said in the video. It’s great that you agree.

[@skrillzfn4183]

Or in school they make you take a test with the recorders and will only allow you to play french horn if you have good hearing in terms of if a pitch is wrong or right. (Going on 3 years playing horn since the beginning of middle school)

[@StarWarsMeg]

I love your sense of humour girl! :)

[@jsquaredhorn]

Thanks!

[@chocolatelover9147]

Originally I was a trumpet player and about two years ago I switched to horn. After messing around with the trumpet again I was so shocked at how easy it was

[@turtlebutme7103]

I had the same experience. I realized the difference when I was struggling with a horn piece and then when I was messing around was able to sight read it easily on trumpet

[@mrz3134]

I can switch between horn and trumpet but my trumpet friends cant

[@intimepercussion3170]

Nice!!!

[@jsquaredhorn]

Thanks!

[@professionaldoggiemom3055]

you can also play some notes with alternate fingerings to make it easier. for example, Bb was on the open fingering thing but you can also play it with 1. I do that regularly. Also, I did not PICK a hard instrument my band teacher made me and my friend (first and second chair trumpet) switch

[@alejandrovalvarez]

Didn't mention the right hand to adjust the sound in the bell

[@mingusthurber5923]

And how about pushing that air through a tiny little mouthpiece all the way through 30 feet of pipe!!?

[@jsquaredhorn]

Right?! 😂

[@mingusthurber5923]

@@jsquaredhorn It's so tiring!

[@qwiklok]

And internal tuning. You use both lips AND hand position to nail it on the fly . And Bb and F horns with 2 different scales and cross alternate fingerings And different sounds from either side. The music must be suitable for F or Bb sounds. And it fills with water stupidly fast requiring lots of emptying. And you need a clean clear Hollywood sound that sings. Rich, full and warm. Is that enough?

[@ethereal-oils5840]

lol. My mom plays the oboe and the rest of my family plays the French horn. We all agree that both the horn and the oboe are the hardest instruments

[@TomatoFettuccini]

Nah, you're probably right about the horn vs the trumpet.

[@Aduysvmncmkouyf]

French horn, Tuba, and trombone probably train your ear the best, Horn because of the fingerings, not to mention you can play any note with any fingering, Trombone because of that slide, the Tuba because of its low range it might be difficult for beginners to hear. But none the less, my band director plays better horn than trumpet. Which is weird lol.

[@tiredperson1124]

I played trumpet for 6th and 7th, then switched to Horn in 8th. It was sooooo scary, especially since I was the only Horn in band, so there was no one to ask if I was doing it right. Now I'm in 9th grade marching band playing the mellophone, and it's a whole new train wreck.

[@jsquaredhorn]

If you played trumpet, mellophone should be easy for you. Don’t worry, it gets easier :)

[@Bandnerd173]

Ik you kinda mentioned it but it’s mostly the partials are so hard to find and the mouthpiece is so small which makes it even harder

[@eryndaelfanpage4125]

It’s funny because I switched to horn in 7th grade and taught myself in three months-

[@savannah2351]

This video scared me away for a minute, but I am still thinking of taking up French horn :) I am 48 and never played a wind/brass instrument before! I downloaded TE Tuner and it is a very good app. I’m still exploring investing in an instrument rt now. I will definitely use this app! Thank you for the tip(s) 🙂

[@barrel9158]

I made no mistake picking French horn as a beginner for 6th grade

[@caitie2510]

I play French horn, and I love it. But it’s insanely hard

[@dianawolf894]

The importance of natural horn slurs...

[@lizzmitchell1527]

I'm playing my horn rn😹 3rd year horn this is not easy

[@momojiiii]

Im actually the only French horn player in my class, my teachers asked me if I wanna change instruments because I’m the only one so it harder for me

[@jsquaredhorn]

If you’re just starting, don’t give up. Keep practicing! The horn is hard in the beginning, but it only takes a couple of months or less to get used to it.

[@momojiiii]

@@jsquaredhorn omg hi! I’m actually not a beginner I’ve started in 7th but i was online and I’m not in 8th and it’s still hard for me

[@jsquaredhorn]

@@momojiiii i can definitely see how it can still be hard. Trying to learn the horn at home by yourself is super tough. But, stay with it. It’s so worth it.

[@jeffkokes1360]

Trumpet is harder (been playing for 7 years) Picked up the horn a month ago and got a French horn solo in one of our pieces over the other 4 people in the top band who have been playing the same length of time. And I am by no means a prodigy. Just practice and stop making excuses.

[@jsquaredhorn]

Congrats on your solo! Let me offer some context for your comment. You’d been playing a brass instrument for 7 years before you played the horn. Your ear is way more developed than the beginners that my video is for. If you have actually watched my video, I explain why some beginners may be having issues and what steps to take to help fix those issues. It’s not just a matter of “just practice”. It’s a matter of knowing what to practice. No one is making excuses here. I’m offering help. Thanks for the comment and congrats again on your solo!

[@abcdefgpianograndpiano1255]

Trumpet is in absolutely no way harder

[@hispanicchurro8131]

@@abcdefgpianograndpiano1255 trumpet is like making a Turkey sandwich French Horn is like making a panini with no arms.

[@gregmonks9708]

The French horn is hard because it's made of metal. Sheesh. :^)

[@nicecool5512]

Ya, I hate French Horn. I get the worst parts, I am so bored in band. Everyone elses parts are so cool. I want to like it.

[@jsquaredhorn]

Yeah, it’s not fun to have boring parts. There are songs out there with really good horn parts. Those are usually in harder songs and when we have hard parts, the woodwind parts are even harder, so it will depend on the level of players in your band. I would find a solo or etude book to practice on your own so that you can play things that interest you, too. We can play more than just the music our band directors give us.

[@nicecool5512]

@@jsquaredhorn If French Horn is a good instrument, then why dont we ever get any of the good parts?

[@nicecool5512]

We are literally useless, no wonder nobody wants to play it

[@jsquaredhorn]

@@nicecool5512 we have great parts! You have to ask your band director why they picked songs with boring horn parts. Listen to the horn part in this song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqTQgXt8g7ugbbs The horns have the melody in the first measure.

[@jsquaredhorn]

@@nicecool5512 The horn part starts at 1:25 in this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/mofJgWaplLSbpKM