I can definently help you on this one. I did the very same thing myself! Basically, the French Horn is hard to play. To say the least, you can play almost any note with any fingering. But I loved that warm mellow tone, so despite all this, I jumped on my chance to play the instrument. At first I thought it was difficult, and too hard to get a decent note out, but now I am in love with it. You could never get me to play a different instrument! But the key is to practice, practice, practice! with practice you`ll get that rich tone.

If there is anything specific I can answer for you, please feel free to ask!

Re: "Basically, the French Horn is hard to play. To say the least, you can play almost any note with any fingering."

I wish you`d stop saying that already. It`s a ridiculous remark. The Bb trumpet`s written middle C (one leger line below the staff), which is the first concert Bb below concert middle C, is the open SECOND harmonic, whereas the same written note for the horn (properly called "the horn", NOT "the French horn"--"horn" is NOT an abbreviation of "French horn"), which is the first concert F below concert middle C, is the open FOURTH harmonic. It follows, then, that there will be more valve combinations available for the same written note on the horn, but this is entirely irrelevant because: 1) the same written notes for the two instruments are not identical SONDING notes and 2) every note has a preferred fingering that all players must learn; you are not free to choose.

I don`t mean to say that, but it`s an expression. Simply that! I play a low e with first and second value, (Toni, that`s similar to the trumpet, as you probably well know), however the preffered fingering among most people is simply open.

So, for some notes, you can use slightly different fingering and still achieve the same sound.

Also, as for the "French Horn" thing, I`ve been told by numerous people I play the French Horn. I suppose you and I might be playing different instruments then. Who knows.

As for your question Toni-well, you`ll just have to try it! Personally I find that my French Horn is harder to play those really high notes, however the French horn`s pieces are generally written lower. For instance, a high F is considered a relatively hard note to hit, especially for beginners.

However I picked up the higher notes rather quickly, because my trumpet skills transfered easily over to the trumpet.

Why don`t you see if someone you know who plays the horn, will let you give theirs a try? The best way to decide if you like it, is to try it. But a word of caution-as with all new instruments, it might not sound too good the first time, and it`s difficult at the beginning. But being a trumpet player, it really shouldn`t be that hard for you.

Good luck!! Got anymore questions? I`d be happy to answer them Toni.

The horn definately has the smallest mouthpiece from the brass family. I`ve always played horn, so when I have to play trumpet (or fool around with my friend`s trombone )I feel like my lips have to get really "blubbery" to get the notes out.

I used to play the trumpet but switched after one year. The horn felt so much easier.

At First for 1 year i was a clarinet player. Then i switched over to trumpet. The trumpet seemed way too easy for me. My band director told me to try the french horn since it is the hardest brass instrument. So i play french horn for 2 years. The first year my band teacher was amazed. He is a professional horn player. He teaches and serveral colleges. CSUN, UCLA, ECT...

At my second year my lip pressure and my way of playing was almost as good as him. He said that I might be the best horn player there will be. That's why he spends 2 hours every Thursday turoring me for free. Its ussually the price for tutoring 1 dollars per minute. As of know I'am professional in ALL brass and 3 woodwind, violin, and piano. The french horn i must say is a very challenging instrument. When i first started i felt like dropping it on the floor and breaking it lol.

When i play tuba boy does the mouth piece feel weird. SOO big!