Now that you have learned and solidified the proper embouchure for the baritone, it is time to get the fingers involved and add some notes!
Beginning Band / Method Book Notes
If you already are or plan on being in your school's band program, chances are you have or will receive a beginning method book. These books are designed so that students on ALL instruments can learn and play together on similar notes as they start their adventures in band! The first of these notes are usually, in concert pitch and on the baritone, B-flat, C, D, E-flat, and F, which also happen to be the perfect starting notes for the instrument! You may have already learned how to play these notes and what they look like on the music staff, but in case you haven't you can learn that here as well! As you work your way through this set of 5 notes, when playing each note remember to re-form the "M" embouchure, place the mouthpiece comfortably centered on your lips, take a deep breath, and blow with the same amount of air pressure you would use to blow out birthday candles. Examples of each note are available for you to listen to in order to get the correct sound in your ear, and you can even play along with the video to help you match the pitch and sound you are hearing.
*** TIP: If your comfortable starting note is 'F', then you should work your way down from F to E-flat to D to C to B-flat. If your comfortable starting note is 'B-flat', then you should work your way up from B-flat to C to D to E-flat to F. ***
*** TIP: If your comfortable starting note is 'F', then you should work your way down from F to E-flat to D to C to B-flat. If your comfortable starting note is 'B-flat', then you should work your way up from B-flat to C to D to E-flat to F. ***
Even though we are not quite ready to talk intonation yet, it is important to learn the low 'C' on baritone with the 4th valve, rather than the 1st & 3rd valve combination, since this is a very sharp note on the instrument. If your instrument does not have a 4th valve and you must use 1st & 3rd, there are other ways to adjust for this pitch problem which will be addressed on the Intonation page.
As you are practicing and playing your first 5 notes, what do you hear? Are you matching pitch and sound and playing with the best tone possible? Or do you hear a lot of rushing air, thin and pinched sounds, or "egging" notes? If you need to, re-visit the Troubleshooting section of the Embouchure page until you are able to master the correct tone of these 5 notes on the baritone!
Flying Along! ...
Now that you have mastered your first notes on the baritone, it is time to go over some information regarding Intonation!