Flat high register on a horn...

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jon112780
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Flat high register on a horn...

Post by jon112780 »

My euphonium (Yamaha 642) has a high range that is on the flat side; it's not anything drastic, but you can tell. It has been confirmed by a couple people with a couple different mouthpieces (all medium-large euphonium mouthpieces). Is there a mouthpiece out there that might make it much easier to lip in tune? By the way, the rest of the horn plays well in tune :D

It is a bit different than my 983 Eb, which actually plays a bit high in the upper register, I've played on it for 8 years and it's not an issue.

thanks!
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Kevin Hendrick
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Post by Kevin Hendrick »

For your 642, you might want to try a mouthpiece with a larger throat ID ("bore") than you've been using -- a small throat can drag the pitch flat in the high range.
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iiipopes
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Post by iiipopes »

Indeed. Try a Wick, either the main line or the Steven Mead series.
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jon112780
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how?

Post by jon112780 »

Wouldn't a trigger bring pitches down when used? (I've never used a euphonium that had one). Is there a way to install it (reverse?) to bring the pitch up?

just wonderin'
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peter birch
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Post by peter birch »

I often wonder if this is more to do with the embrochure than the instrument or mouthpiece.
woodwind players talk about supporting the embrochure by not letting the corners of the mouth drop as they play high notes.
as we play higher and the jaw pivots downward and back, I wonder if something similsr is happening.
What do you think?
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J.c. Sherman
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Post by J.c. Sherman »

Often, a flat high range on a brass instrument is the result of a mouthpiece with too great a cup volume. Physically, compared to a straight tube, the bell brings the lower partials up to pitch, the mouthpiece brings the upper overtownes down to pitch. too much cup volume brings the pitches too far down.

My $.02

J.c.S.
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass
http://www.jcsherman.net
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