To all those who play trumpet?

Question

I'm tring to play a couple of measures on a song (King Kong), wher theres some sixteen notes thats really fast. If you do know how to do it, please explain on how to do it , thanx.

Answer 1

Is it a run that can be slurred, repeated notes, or a complicated lick? If its a run that can be slurred, I would recommend learning a scale with very similar notes and doing it 10 times during warmup. Start slow (use a metronome!) and slowly speed it up over a few days until you can play it up to speed.

If the passage is repeated notes, you may want to use double tonguing. This is where you use the syllables "tuu kuu tuu kuu" to tongue the notes. If you are not familiar with this technique visit here (http://abel.hive.no/trumpet/tpin/dbltonguing.html).

If it is a complicated passage with many jumps that needs to be tongued, then you need to practice your double tonguing a lot. Practice until you are good enough to soften the double tongue to "Duu Guu Duu Guu" instead of "Tuu Kuu Tuu Kuu". I find the easiest way to learn a complicated passage is to memorize it. That way, when you are bored watching tv you can run through the fingerings in your head or on your hand. Good Luck!

Answer 2

It depends how fast it is. It would help if you asked your teacher what to do, since they know your ability better than us.

You could always try working your way up from a slower tempo. Hard work is the key.

There's also 'double tounging'. You tounge the first note with the tip of your tounge and the second with the back of your tounge. It's tricky and takes a lot of practice to master.

If you have any control over this, slow the beat down to a tempo that you can manage. If it does happen to get easier for you, then speed it back up. I think I'm starting to repeat myself.

Answer 3

Start by playing th rest of the music at a slower time measure and get those notes in that way, then slowly work up the pace.

Answer 4

triple tonguing will sound like absolute crap in a jazz setting, and is more often used in triplets, but anyway...the only solution to being able to play that lick is practice. Take it very slow at fist and very gradually speed it up. If you start taking it faster than you can play it, back up and run it a couple of times at a slower tempo. It takes a lot of patience, but that's the only way to get it to sound like you want.

Answer 5

I used to play trumpet and cornet and baritone. Has your teacher ever taught you "triple tounging"? It really helps with the fast notes.