I just started playing trumpet a few weeks ago. I switched over from the french horn, and so far, it seems like the horn is a lot easier even though ppl say the horn is harder. On the trumpet, I'm not able to hit high notes, or get a good tone out. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks. =]

Im not too sure if this will help but I will say it just for the heck of it.

So I do agree with most people in saying that the horn is more challenging than trumpet.

I can say that you may be forming your enbushure wrong on the trumpet. Im not sure how big a difference the trumpet embushure is from the horn... my guess is that the way you are forming your chops is possibly wrong.

It's all I got.

I have been playing the trumpet for four years now and I love the trumpet!I'm in the ninth grade and out of a bunch of other high schoolers I got third chair.Anyways I have learned a lot and I think that it could be your embouchure and it could also be that you just haven't got used to it yet!I have never played the french horn permanetly but I know how and it is very challenging. I would just make sure that you have your lips close together and buzz like you are a truck engine or something and that's how you do it!If you have any more questions please ask me. I love to give advice!

Dear hornplayer8 I have more advice to give you when you start to play do some lip slurs like from low C to G to the next C and go back down. Also if you look up the fingerings for the last notes of the chromatic scale from low C down to low F# which is 123-F#, 13-G, 23-G#, 12-A, 1-A#, 2-B, and open-C.The lower you play the higher you will be able to play. I know it sounds retarted but it really truly works.

Hey you guys!I'm basically on here to look up sheet music and to give advice.I give advice to everyone and I would love to help you guys out.If you need anything let me know!

The embrochure for French horn is tighter and more pinched than for the trumpet - that's why you're not getting a good tone. Your chops have to be more relaxed in the center.

Also, you don't blow "down" into the "bowl" of a trumpet mouthpiece like you do in the French horn "funnel" mouthpiece. If you look at the mouthpieces, you'll notice an enormous difference.

There are a lot of other "tips", but the best three I have are

1) invest in an Arban's method book and play thrpugh the entire thing over the course of a year or so. Play every etude in it using multiple forms of tonguing and get familiar with the written material, too.

2) Practice the basics every day. Play low, slow and easy to start. Get good and worm before you "climb". Make sure you learn to play pedal tones as faithfully as you play the mid-range scales.

3) Remeber that you are not just a musician - you are also an athlete. You have to train your muscles - embrochure, fingers, diaphragm, etc. - just like any athlete does. Conditioning produces endurance and that's where people fall out first.

Best wishes to you, and welcome to the family.