Normally I`m a tuba player with some euphonium doubling but got asked to play bass trombone in a pit orchestra this summer. I`m using a Bach 1 1/4 G large-shank mouthpiece on an older Reynolds Contempora single-valve bass trombone; don`t know bore size but it`s quite large; the horn plays well with a small tuba mouthpiece or Schilke 60.

My range hits a hard ceiling at F above the staff. I can hit up to that note dependably. After that there`s nothing; not just hard to hit, the notes just aren`t there. Of course it could be chops, but on a smaller-bore valve trombone or euphonium I can dependably go all the way up to the high Bb.

Any ideas?

yeahhh. well that`s fun isn`t it! what i like to do when i am trying to hit those high notes is think low. point your upper lip slightly down so that the air hits the lower openning of your mouth piece. it`s all about the waves within the air. the smaller the waves, the higher you can go. if you just blow into the horn, the waves will be very thinned out causing you to have trouble hitting anything high. soo yeah, have fun with that, and i hope i made since to you. i know it all sounds good in my head.

you`re playing bass trombone. why would you want to play anything above that?

I`m working with a Giardinelli 2G in my Reynolds Contempora TO-01 (F/E double rotor), and find it to be a nice middle of the road size for low to high playing.
As to why you`d want to play above F with a bass trombone, I`m playing in performances of Orff`s "Carmina Burana" this weekend, and in addition to honking out a string of low E`s, all three bones have to pick off a unison, pp high Bb with a crescendo to ff. There are also a string of ff high A`s that the section plays in unison.

you have to stop thinking direction. if you keep thinking "high" your body is just going to tense up from your lungs to your face. the moment this happens you lose all your sound. stop thinking about that. just think about the sound riding on the air.

i suggest you do chromatic exercises going up and only think about the sound riding on that solid stream of air to get that upper register out.

also go REALLY slow. if you rush it you will miss the point.

Try playing the F in 4th (slightly sharp 4th). If you can hit that, then it`s mental. Once you do hit that, go up chromaticly, gliss it first, then go note by note. Then try the same thing, with the F in 6th.

And always remember, when you are playing up high, don`t think about playing high, like Mas said. The thing I tell my students is to think about projection. Think about playing for someone 15 or 20 yards further away. And be confident about it! Remember, in the end, it`s just a note. "It`s just a G!!"

use a 6 1/2 AL mouth piece and tilt your trombone down when you go high

also use more air

i play a bass trombone too and i can only go to high G harhar

squeeze, with just the right amount of air. takes lots of practice.

i can hit super C on my bass trombone. i`d advise using a 1 1/2G, may not sound like much of a difference, but it makes it. also make sure the mouthpiece rim is wide... make sure ur not using a crap make, to be honest, i can play better on a gold yamaha mouthpiece than a silver bach one tho