This guide will teach you how to play the trumpet in ten easy steps! You can play in front of your friends, be part of a band, or just for fun! Playing the trumpet is a hobby that will last a lifetime and is also fun.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Choosing a Trumpet
Step 1. Get a trumpet
Go to the local music store and ask the clerk for a used trumpet to buy or rent. Make sure the trumpet is in the key of B b. It does not need to be a premium brand trumpet, many studio instruments are made by unknown manufacturers. Also be sure to check the following before buying or renting your new instrument. Remember that buying a trumpet can be very expensive.
- The valve body must not have any dents.
- The tubes must move up and down smoothly and must not be "too loud".
- Make sure the sliding parts move freely back and forth.
Part 2 of 5: First Rudiments without Trumpet
Step 1. Keep the trumpet in its case
Pronounce the letter "M" like this: "mmm". Keep your lips in this position. Now, blow as if you were going to make a buzz. It may seem strange at first, but it is the basic position to use while playing.
Step 2. Practice buzzing
Here are some suggestions:
- Imagine that you have a small piece of paper on the tip of your tongue.
- Stick out your tongue a little, just the tip, as if to remove the imaginary piece of paper and spit it out of your mouth.
- Your lips should touch, creating a "buzzing" sound.
Part 3 of 5: Learning with the Trumpet
Step 1. Take out the tool
After whipping it, inhale through your mouth and put your lips in the correct position. Then place the trumpet on your lips. You should hear the correct modification achieved by the position of the lips when playing a note. Do not press the valves yet.
Step 2. Try to tighten your lips slightly after playing your first note, pushing down one or two tubes
The valves are numbered from one to three, valve number one is next to you, valve three is next to the horn.
Congratulations! You played the first two notes on the trumpet
Step 3. Get a mouthpiece
Buzzing can be very difficult for some to master. Try to always carry a mouthpiece with you to practice with that. If you do the exercise correctly with the mouthpiece, you should be able to get a consistent sound. It might sound like Donald Duck's voice, but that's a good thing - it means you're doing it right.
Part 4 of 5: Learning the First Scale
Step 1. Learn to alternate notes
This section uses notes on another site to aid your learning. You will notice that the names of the notes shown here are different from those on the site; this is because the note names on the site are for the piano, not the trumpet. They have been "transposed" to be the correct ones for the trumpet. You will know more after playing for a while.
Step 2. Learn your first scale
A scale is an ascending or descending set of notes in a specific system of intervals. Consisting of tones and semitones.
Step 3. Play your first note
Click on this link and play this note on the trumpet without pressing any valves. This note is Do.
Step 4. Push tubes one and three down and play this note
This is the note D. If you can't play the D, try to play it by just tightening your lips.
Step 5. Push down valves one and two, squeeze your lips a little tighter and play the E
Step 6. Then press valve one, squeeze your lips tighter and play the note F
Step 7. Now, don't squeeze the valves, squeeze your lips even tighter and play the note G
Step 8. Press tubes one and two, squeeze your lips a little tighter and play the note A
Step 9. Press valve two only, pursing your lips and play the note Yes
Step 10. Finally, let go of all tubes and play high C
Step 11. Congratulations
You have just played the first C scale on a trumpet; you will learn more with a music book.
Later you could learn the scale in E b. This scale has high notes, and can be more difficult at first glance; but with practice, persistence, and some help from a professional, you can manage to get the high notes too. Once you have succeeded, you can move on to higher or lower scales
Part 5 of 5: Practice and Improve
Step 1. Practice the stairs as much as possible
Try exercising every day for at least fifteen minutes. Better about an hour a day, when you have more stamina. At first fifteen minutes is enough.
Step 2. Buy a music book for beginner trumpet players and start learning about it before gradually moving on to more advanced things
The trumpet is a fantastic instrument that requires a lot of practice before you can play well.
Two excellent methods are those of Rubank and Getchell. Ask the clerk for one of these texts
Advice
- Before you start playing the trumpet, blow the air towards the horn to "warm up" the instrument.
- It is easier to breathe through the nose, and the air will be warmer, but to get more air quickly, you can breathe through your mouth.
- If blowing into the trumpet you hear nothing, or a dull sound, be sure to blow correctly. Grab the top of the button and twist the valve slightly until it locks, this should fix the problem. If the problem persists, bring the tool back to the shop, the clerk will help you!
- Here you will find the notes of a scale in C: C (open), D (first and third), E (first and second), F (first), G (open), A (first and second), B (second), C (open)
- Try to place the mouthpiece in the center of your lips. If you have braces, the mouthpiece may tend to move higher or lower than it should.
- Practice a lot! The only way to improve is to practice.
- Practice your breath too, starting with 1 beat, then 2, 4, up to eight. The diaphragm should expand.
- The most important piece of advice of all is to find a good trumpet teacher.
- If you have to play a higher note, don't tighten your lips, block the corners! A common mistake is to tighten the lips and increase muscle tension. You will play better if you learn to firm the corners of the lips and use the lateral muscles to support the vibrant lips as you play.
- If at any time you feel that your lips are about to bleed, or you feel lip fragments on the inside of your mouth, immediately stop playing throughout the day. If you keep playing with a bruised lip, you can have problems for more than a week.
- After learning to play the trumpet, you will move on to advanced music and you will find that you cannot start playing high notes right away. This is because your lips have not warmed up yet. To warm up without damaging the lips it is necessary to play the low notes, for example: C, D, E, F, G, and then repeat. After playing these notes for a while, you will be able to play the higher notes.
- If you are planning to take this hobby seriously, private lessons can help you. Finding a good teacher is definitely a worthwhile investment
- The trumpet may have what looks like a pinky ring. This ring is for more experienced players. It is used to tune any note by holding down the third valve.
Warnings
- Try not to drop or break the trumpet.
- Don't lift your fingers between each note.
- While playing a song, be sure not to press the mouthpiece too hard against your lips to get higher notes.
- Try not to get too nervous, breathe deeply and then try again.
