Trumpet Tip: Don't Tighten Your Lips to Play High Notes

Trumpeter @bobbyspellman draws on years of experience teaching beginning trumpeters to pinpoint some challenges that students often face when picking up the horn. In this episode, Bobby discusses the misconception that you should tighten your lips to play high notes, while covering the mechanics of air speed and suggestions for better tone production.

Bob's IG: @bobspellman
Twitter: @bobby_spellman

[Rob.Richards]

At last! Out of all the millions of youtube vids and teachers, YOU were the first to teach me what to actually do and how it works. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

[awreactions]

I'm a senior in high school, been playing the trumpet since 5th grade, and I still struggle with getting notes that are a high E or higher 😭, this really helped

[tacosinmytummy]

Gained literally an octave of range above the staff from this video. Hit triple C for the first time. Thank you so much!

[IndianOutlaw]

I did everything wrong in high school and college. I used massive mouthpiece pressure and zero diaphragm support. I'm a comeback player now (flugelhorn) and am using your methods. I am only two weeks into my comeback but am already noticing significant improvements in my tone and range. My endurance is improving at a slower rate, but I expected that.

[Hause]

I’m a trombonist and this literally made jazz solos so much easier, all those years of slightly off pitch notes will be behind me.

[neelpati]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm a seventh grader in my school's symphonic band I, which is the second best (to honor band), and I continuously squashed my lips for those pesky high notes. My high notes always sounded really gritty, and squashed, and I barely passed my playing test. Now I have to learn my school's fight song, and there are some really high notes there. But now, I clearly feel as if I can play them better. It's kinda weird how band directors don't really mention this. But thank gosh I found you, you just earned a like and a sub!!

[padraigpipher]

I'm in the high school marching band, and I didn't know how much tension I was playing with until now, and it works very well, thank you so much.

[Dani-ceyn]

i was looking for in person instructors to do this for like a year now, it turns out people in this day in age (or in canada) no longer play the trumpet. thank you and im saving this to my computer

[baka]

When I don’t use your method, my embouchure hurts a lot due to the pressure I am putting, now with your method, I can now reach an High G, thanks

[infectedbanana]

Finally!! someone that cares about having good tone at high ranges.
Loved the lesson, Bob.
SUBSCRIBED

[matayasramoutar]

Biggest help to me as a self taught trumpet player

[gelatinousfeline]

This just blew my mind (pun intended). I've played trumpet since fifth grade and I was NEVER taught this by any of my band directors. Thank you so much!!

[minervadavis]

Been teaching kids about the placement of the tongue for years. Not enough teachers talk about this. I have my students whistle up and down to show them the importance of the placement of the tongue. Glad more people are talking about this! Very important to gain range on trumpet. Great video!

[darianburkhart]

Band director here. This will be an invaluable video for my brass students. Thank you

[thelbronius]

Love the video! One issue: the diaphragm isn’t actually responsible for “pushing” out the air. I know…it’s nitpicking and it stills works as a cue. I mention it because it’s an educational video.

[eskimophoto]

This is great stuff. Thanks a lot. I'm a 52 year old band teacher that played trombone for years. This year, I'm trying to learn to play high on the trumpet and can only get a C on the 2nd ledger line above the staff. I'm working on going on up.

One thing I'd correct is the role of the diaphragm--you have the diaphragm's function wrong. It's not your fault--this was taught by music teachers everywhere for many years. All my teachers taught it wrong too.

Inhalation (inspiration): The diaphragm is the primary muscle that pulls air INTO the lungs, inhalation, or Inspiration. Accessory muscles on the outside of the rib cage assist when needed. The external rib muscles help the diaphragm breath in air.

Exhalation (expiration): The diaphragm is NOT ACTIVE during exhalation or expiration, when breathing quietly, the inhalation muscles simply relax and the rib cage elastically recoils expelling air.

Forced air exhalation (playing high notes): the interior rib muscles and the abdominals are the ones that can force air out of the lungs. The diaphragm is relaxed and the abs and interior rib muscles push the air out.

In summary: The diaphragm can ONLY pull air into the lungs. Other muscles can push air out of the lungs: abs and internal rib muscles.

Everything else in your video is great. Here's a medical review video that explains the breathing muscles clearly. The link goes to the end of the video where the summary is. Of course watching the entire video is advised.

[kiyahloved]

Omgggg! This video is so useful because I actually thought that the tightening your lips was true, I tried and failed. But thanks to this video I can play high E (0 down).

[papanino]

I must have heard this explanation a million times before but this video finally helped me figure it out. Obviously it's hard, it's something I've never done before. But I can work on that. Practice and get better. Thanks a lot for this!

[gabeprevots]

holy shit this is so useful, whenever I would squeak out a high note in class or marching band, my teacher would say to "have a smaller aperture and use faster air" but i could never figure out how to do it right! So glad I got recommended this video

[tristanbrewee]

Wow, thanks! As someone who's trying to learn to play the Trumper on his own, I made exactly the mistake you described. I was figuring this was way to hard. You explained so much in just 10 minutes!