Are diads playable?

_Mark_

In my early attempts to hit the first leger line 'a', i sometimes break out a diad, two tones ringing simultaneously. I know this is due to my pathetic embouchure, but my question is: do people play this way in an intentional ~ controlled way?

barliman2001

@_mark_ James Morrison and his multiphonics come to mind.

mafields627

Two things come to mind: an uncontrolled double buzz (which I see most often with my younger low brass students and try to eliminate) and multiphonics (humming a pitch with playing another).

It sounds like you are referring to the uncontrolled double buzz. I don't know anyone that does that purposefully.

_Mark_

@mafields627 said in Are diads playable?:

Two things come to mind: an uncontrolled double buzz (which I see most often with my younger low brass students and try to eliminate) and multiphonics (humming a pitch with playing another).

It sounds like you are referring to the uncontrolled double buzz. I don't know anyone that does that purposefully.

I'm struggling with minimal lip cover over some very irregular teeth. It's definitely uncontrolled double buzzing. I'm sure that if I were a young student, my teacher would pull the trumpet out of my hands and tell me i'd never make good. I still haven't found the best placement for the mouthpiece, and i'm sure this is the reason i'm not getting high notes.

mafields627

@_mark_ Your description of your issue makes sense as to why you're having a double buzz.

When you are approaching the A, do you try to go straight from G or do you go chromatically from G#? A lot of times approaching from the half step instead of whole step makes it easier to play that note.

Also, I wonder if you would be a candidate for the Wedge mouthpiece?

ROWUK

@_mark_
I believe that you are not in any position to comment on anything except the symptoms that you notice. Trying to "analyse" the issue with no base knowledge just leads to useless hardware and embouchure changes.
Irregular teeth are no issue unless you learned to play on perfect teeth and then they got messed up in an accident (ask me how I know).
Moving the mouthpiece around is poison and where exactly it is, is certainly not a problem for getting started and playing up to G on top of the staff. My experience is that a proper daily routine promotes evolution - not revolution. Embouchure is fine motor activity, not building a six pack. Low impact repetitions! Lipslurs, longtones!

I am sure that multiphonics can be generated with a combination of lips and humming/singing or only with a weak embouchure. The mouthpiece in the "wrong place" would not be the cause of the double buzz, rather simple weak chops from lack of constructive practice.

GeorgeB

@_mark_

Listen to what ROWUK is saying. You'll never get better advice in your life than you'll get from this man. Seriously.

George

_Mark_

@mafields627 said in Are diads playable?:

@_mark_ Your description of your issue makes sense as to why you're having a double buzz.

When you are approaching the A, do you try to go straight from G or do you go chromatically from G#? A lot of times approaching from the half step instead of whole step makes it easier to play that note.

Also, I wonder if you would be a candidate for the Wedge mouthpiece?

I've heard of the wedge mp and suspect i'll need it, but I've been wanting to find a way through first. Thanks. I'm just coming up on six months of learning, and I started from total scratch. Never touched a horn in my 64 years of life before. I had no facial muscles to work with. I'm finally able to limp through some tunes and scales. I think, in time, perhaps a bit more time than typical, I'll fight my way up to c above the staff. I've been trying different mouthpieces, and have a wedge in mind for trial in the future.

_Mark_

@rowuk i did not mean to give advice. I'm absolutely unqualified. I hope no one took or takes anything i say in that spirit. One does not learn anything in the manner of being self-taught without analyzing from ones own trial and error experience, but henceforth I'll just keep that part to myself. I appreciate the tips and guidance that have come from this forum. Much obliged.

J. Jericho

@_mark_ What mouthpiece are you using?

GeorgeB

@j-jericho said in Are diads playable?:

@_mark_ What mouthpiece are you using?

Yes, Mark, I wonder the same thing.

I am and have been a Wedge user for about two years but have moved away from it because the placement of the mp on the lips ( it has a dot at the top and the bottom of it's oval rim ) is too critical for my old chops. But you get a 90 day return period and that would be enough to see if it would work for you. I was using a 65MD (.650 inches ) size.