articulation woes

thedeep42 · Post by **thedeep42** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:07 am

So, currently i'm the only person playing the BBb bass part in our brass band. I've recently started doing it on a 5/4 C because i like inflicting mental pain on myself (its what i have and it sounds great.. .when I play the right notes). We have one piece that basically starts with alternating fast eighth note triplets at octaves between the Bb's and Eb's on F concert. Staccatto, soft, repeated low F's... and I can't seem to make them speak properly. My tongue doesn't really know where to go once I get below A, maybe G... But below that it just comes out like 'thwethth.." i've tried all sorts of tongue positions and air variations.. I had this problem with a similar lick last year... finally made it work but i'd hardly say it was clean. that was also on a BBb and seemed a little easier. any ideas?

ZNC Dandy · Post by **ZNC Dandy** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:58 am

I did that as well on a CC, down a ninth and add 2 flats. It is mental gymnastics true, but once you get used to it, its not bad. What mouthpiece and horn are you using?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:55 pm

I don't know what piece, but you might try moving the horn foward a little for the top notes and back a little for the octave below. I know it'd look funny, but try it slowly just to see if the change in jaw placement will help you with the articulation. If it does, try faster until it helps. Don't worry about how it may look. The note are what matter.

thedeep42 · Post by **thedeep42** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:25 pm

just a little clarification... the piece is "Postcard from Mexico" by Howard Snell for british brass band. my part (the Bb) starts with a written staccatto low G (concert F) at pp on the downbeat of each of 4 measures of 6/8. in the fifth measure it changes to an eighth note staccato triplet for the first beat of each measure. the Eb's play the same thing one octave up on the second beat. We are the only parts playing aside from maybe percussion I think? My struggle is fighting the big horn to try to make the notes speak clearly and evenly, particularly at that dynamic level. it has proven deceptively hard for me.

i'm playing a 5/4 Rudy and i'm trying different mouthpieces right now due to metal allergy.. kelly 18, PT 88, however... i'm actually somewhat please with my PT65 F tuba mouthpiece. gives me the best clarity and the horn still has tons of bass. but it still sounds like muck currently. i'm going to woodshed it some more this week.

ZNC Dandy · Post by **ZNC Dandy** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:06 pm

If you can find one, and i'm not sure they make it anymore, a Marcinkewicz W4 is great for making things pop. On smaller horns it gives a great cimbasso like quality to the sound, but on big horns like the Rudy 5/4 it gives great clarity to the sound. I used a Monette 98 for brass band mostly. But I am currently in love with the Klier 1AA, its a titanic mouthpiece, but it works for just about everything.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:10 pm

Also consider something with a rounded cup and good response, like a Bach 18. When I want good definition and projection, that's what I use instead of my broad sounding Wick 1. Same rim, same throat, just the difference between a funnel cup and a rounded bottom cup.