Now that you have learned and solidified the proper embouchure for the horn, it is time to get the fingers involved and add some notes!
The C Major Scale!
The first notes you are going to be playing on the horn as you work on good tone are ALL the notes of the C Major scale! It may seem like a lot, but following the sequence below will make it very accessible. You may have already learned how to play some of these notes and what they look like on the music staff, but in case you haven't you can learn that here as well! When playing each note, remember to re-form the "M" embouchure, place the mouthpiece comfortably on your lips at a slight downward angle with the correct 2/3 to 1/3 ratio, 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. As you work your way through the scale, don't worry if you get to a point where you are unable to get out some of the notes. As your embouchure gets stronger and more used to vibrating, it will become easier and you will be more successful!
Let's start with the lower notes of the C Major scale: G, F, E, D, and low C!
Now let's try the higher notes of the C Major scale: A, B, and high C!
* If you have a double horn, you will want to play these notes with the addition of the trigger (using your left thumb),
which allows for greater accuracy in the upper register.
* If you have a double horn, you will want to play these notes with the addition of the trigger (using your left thumb),
which allows for greater accuracy in the upper register.
Let's try putting all the notes together and play the C Major scale!
As you are practicing and playing the notes of the C Major scale, 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 maybe even no sound at all? If you need to, re-visit the Troubleshooting section of the Embouchure page until you are able to master the correct tone of these notes on the horn!
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, B-flat, C, D, E-flat, and F. On the horn, this translates to F, G, A, B-flat, and C. After mastering the notes of the C Major scale, you are ready to move on to these 5 new ones! But wait... 4 of them are actually from the C Major scale you just learned! For the one new note (B-flat), just like before, the fingering, how it looks on the music staff, and an example of the proper sound are provided. And if you have a double horn, you will want to play this note with the addition of the trigger (using your left thumb), which allows for greater accuracy in the upper register.
Again, listen to the sound you are hearing as you play. If you notice any imperfections to your tone, it doesn't hurt to re-visit the basics of the horn embouchure and some of the causes and solutions for bad tone in the Troubleshooting section of the Embouchure page.
Flying Along! ...
Now that you have mastered your first notes on the horn, it is time to go over some information regarding Intonation!