Chronically Playing Sharp

[Ostiax]

Hey folks,

I'm looking to get some advice from the collective as I'm having an issue with my playing that's stumping me. I'm returning to trombone playing after 7 years away after getting my degree in performance. I purchased a nice used M&W symphonic tenor and am currently playing on a Greg Black 4G.

It's only been a few weeks, but my articulations are getting more and more clear like they used to be, my sound is open and also clear, and I'm getting used to playing smoothly and having good slide action again.

The biggest issue I'm having now is that I'm constantly playing sharp. I mean "tuning slide pulled all the way out and I still play sharp" sharp. I've never had this issue before. When I was younger and getting my degree, I usually had my tuning slide pulled out a half inch to maybe an inch on some days. I've tried several things during long tone exercises such as changing my embouchure to try to play more flat, or opening my oral cavity in case I was subconsciously constricting airflow. Unfortunately, these tricks don't seem to work. The more I open my oral cavity, the less control I feel, and the more I lip things down, the worse my sound gets.

I can practice Bordognis and Arbans just fine, I'm going to be working on excerpts here soon, but this is what's currently my biggest roadblock. Are there any tips, tricks, or exercises that folks have to work on recentering pitch? Has anyone had this issue in general and overcome it?

I'm currently working on getting lessons from my old college professor, but I'd like something to work on in the interim. Thanks!

[bitbckt]

I’m sure the usual experts will have insights, but I’ll take a swing:

Rest and hydrate. You’re not going to be able to do what you used to out of the gate. Tension and exhaustion can easily cause loss of the pitch center.

Lip bends, particularly in the second partial. Try to focus on coming up to pitch, rather than down.

Warm down with some bends in the pedal register to help get blood flowing - your chops will recover faster.

[AndrewMeronek]

Is the tuning sharp for everything, or is it different across different ranges?

[imsevimse]

Maybe you need to have your tuningslide out? I knew a professional player who had his tuningslide pulled as far as possible and his sound was good anyway. I have had my tungslide out an inch in the past but now I have made a choice and push it all the way. I tune a=442. It's the same on all my horns. Then I use long positions so I have almost no 7:th pos. I think this tuning has improved my sound because I play "lower in the sound" (not flat in pitch) and that's where I find the sweet spot. For me I feel the sound comes out more easy this way. This must be individual.

/Tom

[Doug Elliott]

Can't tell anything without seeing you.
Skype?

[hyperbolica]

The position of your tuning slide has nothing to do with your quality as a musician. People sometimes believe that pulling out the slide equates to some weakness in your moral character.

Anyway, try this. Play a Bb on the horn, and gradually pull the horn away so you hear just the raw buzz of your lips. Is your buzz a higher pitch than the Bb?

Also, with a sensitive tuner, try to center a pitch to get the best sound. See how the best centered sound relates to the pitch.

Do all this in front of a mirror so you can see how the best sound looks and feels on your face.

I've had the same "problem" with the tuning slide, but I just put it where it needs to go and make sure everything else is doing what it needs to do.

[JLivi]

I agree with Doug, it’s hard to truly diagnose without seeing you, but since you’re here I’ll take a stab at it.

Is this one of those situations that when you play regardless of where the tuning site is located you are just as sharp? Or are you getting less sharp as the tuning side comes out?

Sometimes I have students that when they adjust their tuning slide nothing really happens to the pitch. This is commonly an embouchure issue. With you just coming back to the horn I would give it more time and really focus on your tone. Reassess in 1-3 months. Maybe that’s crazy idk

[Thom]

My bass bone instructor during my Jr. College days had me do lip slurs in the same position, ex. play Bb in first position and lip down to A and up to B natural. Doing that exercise really helped me to get better intonation. Just my 2 cents worth.

[CharlieB]

I purchased a nice used M&W symphonic tenor

Have you eliminated the horn from the equation?
Maybe have someone else test-drive it ?
Does your sharpness persist when you play another horn ?

[Ostiax]

I purchased a nice used M&W symphonic tenor

Have you eliminated the horn from the equation?
Maybe have someone else test-drive it ?
Does your sharpness persist when you play another horn ?

I did. I let my old college teacher try it out and he sounded great, perfectly in tune with the tuning slide maybe a half-inch out. I also tried his horn and had similar results, still sharp.

[Ostiax]

Lots of great advice here, I knew I loved this place. I think I'll also schedule a lesson with Doug and see what he thinks. Thanks for the warm welcome, folks, I really appreciate it!