Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post Reply
PiccoloTrombonist1
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2023 7:33 pm

Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by PiccoloTrombonist1 »

After playing piccolo trombone for a while, i got used to the mouthpiece and buzzing differently. However, i still needed to practice tenor trombone, which for whatever reason i hadnt played in a while. Whenever i play notes (specifically notes above F4), i have to change mr embouchure to allow air to flow correctly. However, when i make this change, i get a multiphonic like sound. Not as in horn growl, but almost like 2 out-of-tune trumpets trying to play louder than the other trumpet. Is there any way to adjust my embouchure, or some other change i could make to avoid this?
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 5165
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by harrisonreed »

You should get a lesson
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 5068
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by Burgerbob »

Sounds like a double buzz. Keep that lower lip firm!
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
Vegasbound
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2019 6:11 am

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by Vegasbound »

Burgerbob wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:19 pm Sounds like a double buzz. Keep that lower lip firm!
harrisonreed wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 7:20 pm You should get a lesson
Have a Skype lesson with DE :clever:
ALT
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:49 pm

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by ALT »

Burgerbob wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:19 pm Keep that lower lip firm!

What does this even mean?
User avatar
Burgerbob
Posts: 5068
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 8:10 pm
Location: LA
Contact:

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by Burgerbob »

ALT wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 5:35 am
Burgerbob wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:19 pm Keep that lower lip firm!

What does this even mean?
For most players, the upper lip is doing the real buzzing while the lower lip is being buzzed on, like a single reed instrument.
Aidan Ritchie, LA area player and teacher
User avatar
harrisonreed
Posts: 5165
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 12:18 pm
Location: Fort Riley, Kansas
Contact:

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by harrisonreed »

Yeah when you get a lip multiphonic, both lips are vibrating different pitches.
SkylarsTbone
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2024 8:42 pm

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by SkylarsTbone »

Burgerbob wrote: Sun Aug 06, 2023 10:19 pm Sounds like a double buzz. Keep that lower lip firm!
Thank you for this!!! I was practicing my solo and my A kept making strange buzzing sounds, which I later learned were multiphonics. I was paying zero attention to my lower lip whilst playing, so this really was a lifesaver.
Kbiggs
Posts: 1269
Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:46 am
Location: Vancouver WA

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by Kbiggs »

Yes, a double-buzz often means that when a person who plays with more upper lip in the mouthpiece (Doug’s very high placement or high placement) doesn’t keep their lower lip firm enough, they can get that double-buzz. Sometimes, it can also be due to the mouthpiece placement being off, usually a little too low. For me, it was a combination of both.

I think that for people who play with more lower lip in the mouthpiece it’s just the opposite, but I’d check with Doug.
Kenneth Biggs
I have known a great many troubles, but most of them have never happened.
—Mark Twain (attributed)
blap73
Posts: 121
Joined: Sun Dec 26, 2021 11:45 am
Location: Southern California

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by blap73 »

I'll concur that having your MP placement slip a bit will aggravate / cause double-buzz.
I was having this happen a lot in concert situations, later in the program as I got tired. The quick fix was to stop playing, remove horn from face, re-set, and proceed. A very small shift from where I would normally have the MP would trip me up. Also I found that going back to a bit smaller rim diameter gave less problems.

It's a hugely frustrating experience when you are stuck in it.

Also suggest you Google Donald S. Reinhardt "pivot system"
trombonePlayer48
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2024 11:16 am

Re: Unwanted multiphonic on tenor

Post by trombonePlayer48 »

Burgerbob wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 8:46 am
ALT wrote: Mon Aug 07, 2023 5:35 am


What does this even mean?
For most players, the upper lip is doing the real buzzing while the lower lip is being buzzed on, like a single reed instrument.
This is what helped me, thanks a lot!
Post Reply

Return to “Performance”