I recently acquired a full double horn, and while looking for a teacher, I've been having a play. This morning, from nowhere after a couple weeks of messing about, I managed to play a consistent C (with my tuner set to an 'F' instrument). But what I'm still not sure about is which side of the horn is which. I know that without the trigger the air is going through the front set of slides (as viewed from the valve keys), and around the larger loop on the left - I know this because I can take one of the slides out, and press the valve key to stop the sound path. I thought the front side must be the 'F' side of the horn since it's might be the longer section, but I'm not so sure, since if I play a note and pull the trigger, the sound goes flatter - and there is more tubing before the slides which is hard to judge. I'm expecting the B flat side to be higher....

After some experimentation I can just about hit that C with or without the trigger (and no valves pressed), but I thought that I should only get that note on the F side! A bit confused.... I really at this stage just want to stick to one side and work on that, but I need to know which side is which first! Any help appreciated...!

Now that half-term is up, I'm hoping to hear from a teacher who can probably sort this out for me, but, well, I'm impatient!

From your use of words I am thinking you are from the UK. The trigger engagement could be either Bb or F. Most likely it engages the Bb side of the horn. Let us know what brand and we can be more sure.

Typically the slides on the top are the F horn slides and the ones below are Bb. I do not suggest trying to learn on just the one side. The higher notes will be easier to get on the Bb side of the horn. You should try and understand the Horn is a tube and the notes you get are harmonics of that tube. So there are many fingerings for individual notes (it is not like other instruments where there is only one fingering). If you do not have a method book then get one with a fingering chart in it, or get a fingering chart off the internet.

Use the F horn fingerings for written G (second line treble clef)and below, use the Bb side of the horn for G# and above. YOu can learn alternate fingerings later. If you can't find a teacher, try to find a horn player of any kind (high school, junior high, whatever).

Thanks John, that kind of makes sense. I thought I would just use one side of the horn because many students start that way, but I guess if I can learn both sides, that's good. It depends on the teacher I guess. I'm inclined to agree that my horn is in F without the trigger. Yes, I'm in UK. My horn is from Gear4Music:

http://www.gear4music.com/Brass_Instruments/French_Horn/Student_French_Horn_by_Gear4music_Goldsefv_4.html

It's a gamble - if it turns out to be useless I will at least have got some of the basics going before I upgrade. It does seem fully functional, and makes a nice sound - at least to my ear.

Something that really had me stumped was that with my tuner set to an 'F' instrument, I could not get the C4 indicated in the horn book (i.e. the suggested middle-C starting note); I finally got that note this morning, but coincidentally picked up "Essential Elements 2000" Band Method book with a CD. I looked at the initial note they suggest to learn (G above middle C), and played the CD for that exercise. I expected the tuner to register G4 from the CD, but it actually says G3! So maybe that's what I should have been shooting for; it's certainly much easier to play notes in that range....

I looked at the picture on th elink and yes that is your basic F/Bb horn. I am not familiar with the brand but if you are liking the sound right now it will be a great horn for you to learn on.

Have fun and feel free to ask questions.

the Bb side of the horn is exactly the same as the F side. exept for the fingerings. From the mouth piece is a tube that goes to a loop and to the trigger then from the trigger to a second loop. when the trigger is down the air goes not to the second loop but to the Bb tubes. when not pressed it goes to the F tuning and through the second loop. To tune the horn you play a note that is open (no keys pressed.) a C to start. adjust the F slide. the one conected to the thumb valve. when it is tuned press the trigger and the note should be the same. if not adjust the Bb tube. that should help if you have any questions email me.
from,
theeye426

The thought is nice but he does not have a Bb tuning slide on his particular model.

Yamaha I have is the same way... no main Bb slide. In this case just play a middle or 3rd line C fingered Trigger-open (just the trigger) and tune that using the main tuning slide which is the first moveable slide you'll see if you follow the tubing starting at the mouthpiece end. Once this is in tune, flick to the F side (now you are completely open, using no keys/valves at all) and tune the F slide to match your Bb side. That's all you need to do to get the sides in tune with each other. Tuning the individual slides (1st, 2nd, 3rd, ect.) can be done with a tuner or by ear if your ear is good.

Since no one else addressed this, I'll comment on why you can play C4 w/ no valves depressed w/ or w/o the trigger. Because you can, that's all! No big secret! All the C's w/i the normal playing range of the horn can be played open on both the F side and the Bb sides of the horn. Every fingering chart will show these as normal fingerings for C.

Valerie