Tuning across octaves

How and what to teach and learn.
Post Reply
tailgate
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:35 am

Tuning across octaves

Post by tailgate »

Bass trombone - Tips to improving tuning over octaves? B flat in the stave is much flatter than Bflat above!
I guess the problem is mostly the user although I have heard that deeper mouthpieces also have an impact.
Which Bflat should I use to tune with!!
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 4528
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

Re: Tuning across octaves

Post by Burgerbob »

the 2nd partial (low Bb in the staff) has a huge, huge slot. There's a lot of space where that note can sound "acceptable" but not necessarily be in the center of the note. Experiment with where you play it.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
FullPedalTrombonist
Posts: 152
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 2:28 pm

Re: Tuning across octaves

Post by FullPedalTrombonist »

I always tune to the 3rd partial with the ensemble or when I tune while practicing. And also 2nd just so I know where it is also. Tune all your notes, pretty much, as you play your scales make all the effort you can to hit the center of each pitch right away. Whichever octave you tune to make sure you’re moving your slide to play the next octave in tune.

I like a bass to have some tighter slotting so I don’t have to work too hard to center my notes, but not toooooo slotted so I have wiggle room for other reasons.
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 4490
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Tuning across octaves

Post by harrisonreed »

If octaves don't line up it COULD be the mouthpiece backbore being wrong for the horn, or the valves slightly out of alignment. It could definitely be just you though, too.
User avatar
WilliamLang
Posts: 406
Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2019 6:12 pm

Re: Tuning across octaves

Post by WilliamLang »

use the one that's furthest "in" to tune, then keep working on developing your embouchure (making sure to buzz in the middle of the pitch at maximum resonance) and sense of pitch in the long term
William Lang
Interim Instructor, the University of Oklahoma
Stephens Horns Artist
Long Island Brass Artist
faculty, the Longy School of Music
founding member of loadbang
www.williamlang.org
User avatar
LeTromboniste
Posts: 1019
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:22 am
Location: Sion, CH

Re: Tuning across octaves

Post by LeTromboniste »

Is the top Bb even sharper and the pedal Bb even flatter? If yes, it's very possible it's the mouthpiece having too large a throat/backbore for the horn (if the cup was too deep the problem would be reversed, higher octaves would be flat).

If not, if only that partial is out of line, then it's likely you, or a quirk of the horn.
Maximilien Brisson
www.maximilienbrisson.com
Lecturer for baroque trombone,
Hfk Bremen/University of the Arts Bremen
Post Reply

Return to “Teaching & Learning”