This topic is covered in my YouTube Lesson #1 at around the 5 minute mark but I’m happy to write about it too.
If you’re watching Trumpet players you’ll see all kinds of ways of holding their instruments. Whatever way you grab the thing it requires that you be able to:
- hold the bell up enough to get your sound out into the space you’re in;
- push the valves down effectively (fast);
- move the 3rd (and 1st if possible) valve slide in and out smoothly;
- get a hand free to drain the spit valve(s) and adjust the tuning slide;
- minimize pressure on the lips;
- and do all of the above comfortably – for hours at a time
The grip that I show in that video allows all of this to happen.
I’m not saying that my way is the only way, just that it works for me and most players that want to play low notes in tune. There are high note specialists who will use other grips, but if you’re a regular human you should probably use a grip that meets the criteria above.
- If you have special physical limitations you might have to team up will a good brass instrument technician so that you can play your best.
- As a general rule you should try to hold the instrument so that the bell is close to horizontal. If it’s too low (or high) then the sound is going to be muffled or muted by whatever gets between the bell and the listener. If you’re in a band program that includes a marching component you might be required to have that bell perfectly horizontal, so it’s a good idea to start somewhere close. When you become a famous Trumpet Hero you can do whatever you like!
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