How To Play
Here are some instructions on how to play your trumpet! At first trumpeting could seem challenging, but after some time and practice, you'll be able to show off to your friends, join a band or just play for fun! Playing the trumpet is a gift and a hobby that will last you a lifetime!
Part One - Breathing
1. Before you start to learn the trumpet embouchure (mouth position), it is important to understand proper breathing techniques while playing your instrument.
2. While seated, place your feet flat on the ground in front of you, and do not slouch.
3. Sit straight up in your chair, and as you inhale from your nose let the air push down into your stomach. You should feel your stomach expanding with air. This is actually your diaphragm being pushed down as your lungs expand.
4. While maintaining proper posture, exhale from your nose and feel your stomach get smaller as your diaphragm pushes up. This is the proper breathing technique for musicians.
2. While seated, place your feet flat on the ground in front of you, and do not slouch.
3. Sit straight up in your chair, and as you inhale from your nose let the air push down into your stomach. You should feel your stomach expanding with air. This is actually your diaphragm being pushed down as your lungs expand.
4. While maintaining proper posture, exhale from your nose and feel your stomach get smaller as your diaphragm pushes up. This is the proper breathing technique for musicians.
Part Two - Initial Learning
5. Before you take your trumpet out of it's case, start by saying the letter "M". While saying the letter, stop at the "mmm" part, and keep your lips in that position.
6. Now blow through your lips in that position to create a buzzing sound. It may seem odd at first, but that is the basic lip position while playing.
6. Now blow through your lips in that position to create a buzzing sound. It may seem odd at first, but that is the basic lip position while playing.
7. A few tips to follow while learning to get a good "buzzing" sound are by saying "mmm" and the sound "puh" as if you are spitting out a seed of your mouth. Now use more fuel, or air behind it to create a strong buzzing sound, keeping your lips tightly pressed together.
8. Keep practicing those steps until you are comfortable with your "buzz".
8. Keep practicing those steps until you are comfortable with your "buzz".
Part Three - Mouth Piece Playing
9. Next, with only your mouth piece, gently press it against your lips with it on your upper lip for two thirds and your lower lip for one third.
10. Now try to do the buzzing as mentioned above, only this time into your mouth piece.
10. Now try to do the buzzing as mentioned above, only this time into your mouth piece.
11. If your embouchure is resulting in little to no sound from your mouth piece, tighten your lips even further (like you've just tasted a sour lemon), and add more air to your buzz, pushing it directly through your mouth piece.
12. Continue buzzing through your mouthpiece, tightening and loosening your embouchure to create different pitches. Once comfortable with creating different pitches with your buzzing, it is finally time to use your trumpet.
12. Continue buzzing through your mouthpiece, tightening and loosening your embouchure to create different pitches. Once comfortable with creating different pitches with your buzzing, it is finally time to use your trumpet.
Part Four - Holding Your Trumpet
13. How you choose to hold your trumpet depends a lot on comfort level in certain positions, however there are some things that remain the same.
14. While holding your trumpet, place your left hand around the base, and your right hand to control the valves.
Left Hand
15. With your left hand, place your ring finger through the loop or ring, with your middle and pointer finger beside it.
16. Next, rest your thumb on the other side of the valves for support and grip. Your small finger may rest beside your ring finger or under the slide (whichever is most comfortable).
Right Hand
17. This hand will control the valves. Place your pointer, middle, and ring finger on the valves, and rest your small finger on top on the hook.
18. As you become more comfortable with playing you can slide your small finger under the hook, but when beginning, keeping your finger on the hook with help you to play on top of the valves (to increase speed etc...).
14. While holding your trumpet, place your left hand around the base, and your right hand to control the valves.
Left Hand
15. With your left hand, place your ring finger through the loop or ring, with your middle and pointer finger beside it.
16. Next, rest your thumb on the other side of the valves for support and grip. Your small finger may rest beside your ring finger or under the slide (whichever is most comfortable).
Right Hand
17. This hand will control the valves. Place your pointer, middle, and ring finger on the valves, and rest your small finger on top on the hook.
18. As you become more comfortable with playing you can slide your small finger under the hook, but when beginning, keeping your finger on the hook with help you to play on top of the valves (to increase speed etc...).
Part Five - Trumpet Playing
19. Now, you are finally ready to begin playing your trumpet. With your assembled trumpet and proper hold on the instrument, gently place your lips against the inserted mouth piece.
20. To create a sound from your trumpet use your "buzz" with a strong and controlled amount of air. Do not press any valves yet, but you should feel your lips move to obtain a note.
21. After playing your first note, try tightening your lips slightly and press valves one and two. This note should be higher than the one you began with. Below is a video to help you match your notes to the player:
20. To create a sound from your trumpet use your "buzz" with a strong and controlled amount of air. Do not press any valves yet, but you should feel your lips move to obtain a note.
21. After playing your first note, try tightening your lips slightly and press valves one and two. This note should be higher than the one you began with. Below is a video to help you match your notes to the player:
After hours of practice, you should be able to play the C scale, and begin to invest into different learning books with different notes, songs, and rhythms.
Congratulations! You can now play the B flat trumpet!
Congratulations! You can now play the B flat trumpet!
As you begin to become a more advanced player, here is a chart of B flat trumpet fingering, and musical symbols to help you improve your trumpeting!