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Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 9:01 pm
by masonhuebler
Good evening trombone chat,
I recently have upgraded to a custom Chicago Series Shires and am presented with an issue (however this issue was still present in my last instrument, but across a larger range). When I play the partial from F to Bb (on top of the staff so F3 to Bb3) any louder than a mezzoforte, it sounds extremely distorted, almost like a flutter tongue. I've tried opening my jaw more, changing my air, and changing my embouchure, but nothing has fixed it, only having my mouth basically wide open, to the point of me almost biting the mouthpiece. This however did not fix it completely just loosened it up a bit. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 10:04 pm
by Doug Elliott
Lots of different changes will appear to fix it temporarily, but I would say all of the things you've tried are in the wrong direction.

It's not the horn.

I do lessons by Skype. Send me a message if you're interested.

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2024 11:54 pm
by masonhuebler
What would you think the problem is? I have a teacher (whom I'm on a scholarship with, and I cannot really afford any other lessons), however we haven't had time to really dive into this quite yet, and I figured I could work on it because I won't see her for a few weeks.

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 7:42 am
by Doug Elliott
viewtopic.php?p=222367&hilit=Double+buzz#p222367

Read the whole thread.

And STOP PLAYING LOUD.
As you work on fixing it, just don't let it happen.

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 8:39 am
by masonhuebler
Thank you!! That thread describes exactly what's going on. I'll just keep my sound down for a while, and see if maybe it's my bottom lip causing problems. Thanks!

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 9:06 am
by harrisonreed
Sounds like a lip multiphonic -- highly undesirable and easy to do when you don't want it and don't know how to do it, still weird and very difficult to do when you *do* want it and somewhat know how to do it, in the strange pieces that actually call for it. It's got to do with not having a 'dominant' lip controlling the embouchure. If you try to play even-steven, 50/50 with your lips it will happen frequently.

See "Arabenne", concerto for trombone.

Re: Loud notes sound like a distorted flutter tongue

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2024 5:23 pm
by LetItSlide
I experienced this when I was in college. The solution was to back off from loud playing. Also, I was playing around with multiphonics a lot at the time, and had trouble NOT vocalizing when playing loudly. Again, backing off helped me take control back.