The Physics of High Notes on Trumpet

I have reserved discussions on range, endurance and playing efficiency for master classes and visitors to the HT shops. But today I will make an exception and shed some light on the physics of playing in the upper register. In reality, this is mostly the same as playing in the mid and low registers, but most players like to think playing high notes is different.

So why would anyone expect that producing a big beautiful tone in the upper register is any different than playing low notes? Well, any trumpet player will tell you that the higher the note, the more effort is involved. Right? My answer is a firm, "No".

To understand this better, I first need to define my variables so that we're all on the same page. My definition of low, mid and high notes is probably different than yours so I'll start there. These are an example of one way to define registers and I'm sure you will have your own ideas on this subject.

• Low notes are produced by vibrating the longest lip in the mouthpiece. For most players, this is the lower lip and for me personally, the notes from G in the staff and below.
  
  
• The mid-range is defined by the lowest note produced by the shortest lip in the mouthpiece (my upper lip), G# in the staff up to the highest note I can play comfortably with the trumpet balanced on three fingers, which is high C. In reality, I can play up to the G above high C with the trumpet balanced, but there is much more effort so high C is the realistic top of my mid-range.
  
  
• The high register begins on the very next note and continues upward into the dog whistle zone that is silly and mostly unnecessary.
  

In the following video, I demonstrate playing a C scale with no fingerings (open valves) from high C to double high C.
This video was recorded three days after taking a 6-week hiatus from playing trumpet. I was traveling this summer and did not play as there was not time in my schedule. So when I returned, I began playing my regular lip slurs, scales, arpeggios and music. My range the very first day back was G above double high C, which diminished by a few half steps on day two. However, by day four my range was back to triple high C, which is the top of my range.

I am not really a high note player in the sense that I do not strive to play lead in latin, commercial or big bands. Even though I've performed these genres regularly over the years, I prefer to play lyrical, technical and melodic solo trumpet so screaming high notes are not important to me. Performing up to double high C at mf or p within a lyrical melody is more my style. However, to demonstrate the efficiency, control and the potential of my trumpets, I do scream a few high notes now and then.

So what's all this talk of physics and trumpet playing? Well, when I was a teenager in college, I began modeling the mechanics of trumpet playing to better understand my own playing deficiencies. Despite taking lessons from some very reputable trumpet players and professors, I was experiencing problems that my teachers told me to outright ignore. My range and endurance was seriously limited at the time and I truly wanted to become a great musician on trumpet. So I turned to physics since the vast majority of my successes up to that point could be explained by science.

This blog entry is not intended to explain every piece of the physics model I have put together over the past 20+ years. My goal is simply to introduce you to the concept of exploring science as a way of improving your own abilities on a brass instrument. In a world full of books and methods offering solutions through visualization, exercises and abstract thinking to achieve the almighty super C, I challenge you to take a more logical approach. Science holds the answers to your questions if you only take the time to create your own working model of brass playing.

So rather than giving you a list of variables, exercises and solutions, I challenge you to answer the following questions to better define and explore the mechanics of brass playing for yourself. Every player is different so your answers may be slightly or drastically different from other players. And these differences could be the key ingredients that have been holding you back from moving forward in your playing.

Watch my video again and write down your answers to the following questions:

1. Describe my use of air throughout the demonstration. Did the air volume change as I played higher and lower? What about air speed?
   
   
2. I played most of this clip with one hand to keep my right arm out of the equation. How much mouthpiece pressure was present on my lips? Explain my use of mouthpiece pressure in detail.
   
   
3. It can be difficult to gauge volume in terms of decibels in an online video. Describe your impressions of volume in this example and how this may apply to brass playing in general.
   
   
4. I mentioned longer and shorter lips in my definitions of range above. What are your thoughts on lip length as it relates to range? Why is there a break between the top and bottom lip as it relates to range?
   

Before building trumpets became my full time job, I taught a brass studio of 80 students. Yes, it was a full time job that I balanced with nightly rehearsals and performances. My approach to teaching all instruments has been to engage the student in a discussion of all aspects of performance including the physical mechanics.

Most of my younger trumpet students played a two octave chromatic scale from low C to high C and back down as part of their warm-up in 4th and 5th grade. Their most difficult notes were often below low C as their lips were not long enough to produce these pitches in a 7c mouthpiece. I never told my students that high C was a difficult note. In reality, we discussed the mechanics of playing trumpet eventually expanding our understanding to notes above the staff and then they simply played those notes.

Each of these kids had a working physics model of how and why the embouchure, air stream, instrument and mind worked together to produce specific results. And those who internalized this model became the most proficient. In fact, many of the kids excelled so quickly that they lost interest in practicing until I gave them much more challenging musical goals.

I no longer offer regular brass lessons as I have more than enough trumpets to build for clients. However, I have considered offering an online course or possibly publishing a real workbook/text designed to create and expand your own physics model of brass playing. Until then, please engage within this blog entry by leaving a message of your answers and additional questions. I will likely post a series of follow-up blog entries for those of you interested in receiving complimentary group lessons within this format.

Remember, the accuracy of your personal understanding of a problem will determine the results. If you do not understand the concept of a computer mouse, you cannot direct the cursor to access the vast potential of a computer. Likewise, a limited understanding of any aspect of brass playing will in turn limit your results as a brass musician.

Read the follow up Physics of High Notes continued after you've answered the questions above.