Low Range Exercises

[Phil Dawson]

Try playing major and/or minor scales going as low as you can and keep working on going lower. By playing scales it is easy to hear if you are playing the note in tune and you are not trying to jump down to a low note from a long ways above (octave or P5). Scales are free but can be boring although not always easy.

[Yama861]

Work on any of the Rochut Etudes 2 octaves down. Work to get and keep the volume up. Be consistent working on these each practice session and keep them melodic. You will be surprised at the results. Personally, I finish each practice session with this.

[jtuba]

Check out Micky Wrobleski's(sp?) low etude book. My buddy has this book and it's pretty ridiculous. He's worked them up and seems to like them.

[Chuck(G)]

What, doesn't anyone use the Snedecor Low Etudes any more? (You can get it from Robert King music).

[Chuck(G)]

What, doesn't anyone use the Snedecor Low Etudes any more? (You can get it from Robert King music).

I suggested that in my first post.

Sorry, before my first cup of coffee--and no glasses!

Another good book that might be more appropriate for a high-school player is the Roger Jones "36 Lyric and Low Etudes", but I don't know if it's still in print.

[tubaaron]

Now besides low range exercises for high range, any recommendations on high range exercises for high range?? Thanks..

[MikeMason]

try Wes Jacobs' low etudes. they're a few selected rochuts taken down by half step.this allows you to incrementally "sneak up" on a solid low range.By playing these familiar tunes,you can keep your intonation honest...Encore publishers i think..

[tubaribonephone]

I usually take a slow, mid-range etude that I know and play that down an octave to work on long, sustained low notes and up an octave to work on high notes.

[ThomasDodd]

anything after that is like balencing an Elephant on top of a flag pole, its just too unstable.

Funny.

I suddenly see Wade at the top of a flag pole, wodering how he got there...

[Wes Krygsman]

For an easy exercise that takes time, do long tones and get down there. I do a few versions of long tones but the one i think that helped my low register is play a low B flat(the one 3 spaces down from the staff), for 4 beats at 60 beats per minute on a metronome(or use a watch or clock with a second hand) then slur smoothly down to the A right below it(no breath between these 2) and hold that for 4 beats. On the "+" of 4, take a huge quick free breath and play another b flat for 4, then slur to an A flat for 4. Keep coming back to the B flat for 4, then go chromatically lower on each second note. Do this all the way down to pedal B flat (try it using the 4th valve and using false tones when you get low enough). Then when you finished playing the pedal, repeat the upper B flat and play it as long as you can.

Then try to do this an octave lower starting on pedal B flat. That's where the real fun begins.

I had alot of trouble with this in high school, and after doing this everyday for a year, my low range started happening and my air/breath control was much better. I don't remember exactly, but I think I may have sped up the metronome a little just to be able to make it through for all 8 beats. Either way, good luck.

[MaryAnn]

Wes posted a good exercise for working your way down into the low range.

Something similar can be used for the high range, using the highest note that you can play relaxed. The mental attitude to take is, "I can play this note completely relaxed, so I can just leave the mouthpiece on my face, stay just as relaxed, and reach for just a half step above that note." It works pretty well. Don't ever force it though.

MA