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Question: Trumpet tone quality!?
How do I get better tone quality to get my trumpet playing to sound like the ones in concerts and on the radio!?

I can hit a wide range of notes, but the tone quality always sounds the same!. I don't really know how to describe it but it's kind of how it sounds when you start playing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
a good musician can make a hunk of junk instrument sound like angels are playing it!. (but good gear helps alot)!!!


tone quality is mostly about air support & proper breathing!.
if you want a dark tone, you need to use warm air (like fogging a mirror when you breathe out)!.
air speed matters too,!.!.!.!.!.if your air sppeed is too fast-you are likely to use cool air!.

so; warm up your air, slow down your air speed,!.!.!.

size of air column matters too; how deep do you breathe!? when you breathe in does your belly expand, or just your upper chest!? you need to support your air column from you diaphram (lower belly)!.

try the suggestions above, incorporate them into long tones when you practice,!.!.

btw; what size mouthpiece & brand of horn do you use!?
a mouthpiece can truly help or hinder tone production!.

(i play an olds trumpet from the '60's-with a bach 3c mouthpiece & my tone is dark like louis armstrong)Www@QuestionHome@Com

well, this won't boost you much, but it'll come with experience!.!.you can "soften" or "punch" your tone a lot depending on your pressure on the mouthpiece(looser lips=softer/airier tone!.!.!.tight lips=more piercing tone)etc!.!.!.what might help is doing all the lip slur/scales on a regular warm up basis!.(c-g-c-g-c-g!.!.!.!.!.!.!.b-f#-b-f#)and on down the scale, etc!.!.!.try it!.!.!.and practice! It'll come, be patient!.!.!.!.ooops!almost forgot--I'm assuming you have a good quality trumpet!?!.!.that goes a long way in tonal quality!. Some aren't so hot!!.!.shop around and ask some horn players around you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Just practice and be comfortable with what you're playing!. also, instrument quality is an issue, it may be time to get a new trumpet/fix yours!.Www@QuestionHome@Com