problems with the attack on the bass trombone

[Ismael]

A question for the community. I have problems with the attack on the bass trombone. Could someone tell me if it is true that David Taylor mouthpieces make the attack easier? I currently play with Brass Lab Momo. Thanks

[hornbuilder]

How long have you been playing bass trombone? Do you have a teacher? What has your teacher said? No one can tell you what your problem is, and how to fix it, without knowing your playing.

[Ismael]

I have been playing the bass trombone for three years. I am a professional. But I've always had problems with attack.

[Ismael]

Sometimes I think I press the mouthpiece too hard against my lips. And sometimes I think I don't direct the tip of my tongue correctly.

[imsevimse]

I attack with a "broader" tounge on the bass but that's because the notes are low. I would probably do the same on the small bore tenor if the tenor part demanded those low notes in the trigger register, but it never do A difference I come to think of is on tenor I often strike behind the upper teeth with a pointed tip but on the bass I often strike on the bottom teeth with a broad tip. I think I do approach the instruments a bit different. All I can say is It works.

/Tom

[hornbuilder]

Do you have a teacher? What has the teacher said about this?

[Doug Elliott]

Attack problems are almost always response problems.
Most often that's from starting with your lips too far apart, and setting the mouthpiece with an open mouth.
This is stuff I work on in my Skype lessons.
After you fix the mechanical issues, then you can consider the possible mouthpiece issues.

[Ismael]

Attack problems are almost always response problems.
Most often that's from starting with your lips too far apart, and setting the mouthpiece with an open mouth.
This is stuff I work on in my Skype lessons.
After you fix the mechanical issues, then you can consider the possible mouthpiece issues.

How can I start from the beginning to solve the problems? Any advice?

[hornbuilder]

Arrange a Skype call with Doug

[Ismael]

¿Tienes profesor? ¿Qué ha dicho el profesor sobre esto? [/cita]

mi profesor dice que estoy demasiado cerrado y no dejo pasar aire. Es decir, que tengo que abrir más pero a veces pienso que es porque estoy demasiado abierto, no lo sé exactamente.

[Savio]

¿Tienes profesor? ¿Qué ha dicho el profesor sobre esto? [/cita]

mi profesor dice que estoy demasiado cerrado y no dejo pasar aire. Es decir, que tengo que abrir más pero a veces pienso que es porque estoy demasiado abierto, no lo sé exactamente.

Podrían ser muchas cosas diferentes. Prueba una sesión de Skype con Doug.

Leif

[Posaunus]

¿Tienes profesor? ¿Qué ha dicho el profesor sobre esto? [/cita]

mi profesor dice que estoy demasiado cerrado y no dejo pasar aire. Es decir, que tengo que abrir más pero a veces pienso que es porque estoy demasiado abierto, no lo sé exactamente.

Do you have a teacher? What did the teacher say about this?

My teacher says that I'm too closed and I don't let air through. I mean, I need to open up more, but sometimes I think it's because I'm too open, I don't know exactly.

[Ismael]

Attack problems are almost always response problems.
Most often that's from starting with your lips too far apart, and setting the mouthpiece with an open mouth.
This is stuff I work on in my Skype lessons.
After you fix the mechanical issues, then you can consider the possible mouthpiece issues.

It's very strange because when I attack notes in the high register I have no problem, but I find it very difficult to attack in the middle register. In the low register I also find it difficult to attack, but less so than in the middle register. I repeat, it is strange.

[Ismael]

Podrían ser muchas cosas diferentes. Prueba una sesión de Skype con Doug.

Leif

Como bien dices, creo que son varias cosas diferentes y una de ellas es que creo que me presiono demasiado la boquilla contra los labios, además de no orientar el golpe de lengua en el sitio correcto con los correspondientes problemas que puedan surgir derivados del aire.

[Posaunus]

Como bien dices, creo que son varias cosas diferentes y una de ellas es que creo que me presiono demasiado la boquilla contra los labios, además de no orientar el golpe de lengua en el sitio correcto con los correspondientes problemas que puedan surgir derivados del aire.

It could be a lot of different things. Try a Skype session with Doug.

Leif

As you say, I think it's a few different things and one of them is that I think I'm pressing the mouthpiece too hard against my lips, as well as not directing the tongue stroke in the right place with the corresponding problems that can arise from the air.

[Ismael]

For what it's worth, I would also like to say that sometimes I have noticed that playing with a tenor trombone mouthpiece and then switching to a bass trombone mouthpiece makes playing much easier. But that feeling is lost after a few minutes. I don't know how to make that feeling last forever.

[dukesboneman]

If you are able, Put your Tenor away for a month and just focus on Bass Trombone.
Pretend that you`re just starting out and focus on the minutia of playing

[Kbiggs]

What Doug and dukesboneman said.

It’s easy to get into the trap on the bass trombone of playing with the jaw too open, and the lips too open and stretched, or too compressed. Sometimes, that means that the mouthpiece is not the right size. More often, it means that the embouchure and air aren’t working well separately, and together as a unit. Using more pressure usually makes the problem worse.

Contact Doug.