You can take lessons with Jason with our Trumpet Momentum Subscription Series of videos here on KZread. Visit www.whyharrelson.com/trumpet-momentum.html to sign up.

I have tried several mouthpieces (trumpeters are notorious for that) and about ten years ago I settled on a Bach 1D Megatone. I get a great tone from it and it's more free flowing than others I've tried.

So I changed mouthpieces this past week. I went from a Schilke 14B to a Dennis Wick London 5C. They are two totally different mouthpieces but after I watched this it made a lot of sense of how the bigger more open throat and back-bore sounded better and was a lot more free blowing. Awesome video!!

Great stuff, Jason. You just made the trumpet world a better place!! Terry

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Terry, I'm happy to say you have done the same many times in your career! 👍

Great information, Jason! Thanks so much as always.

Very informative. Appreciate the lesson.

Thanks for this detailed lesson. Really opened my eyes... I (an amateur) have been playing with a Bach 7C all my 35 years of playing. Now, I am looking forward to try other brands. All brass players should watch this.

@Joe_Biden915

2 жыл бұрын

Me too!

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome. Let me know when you have questions.

@VoodooDewey69

2 жыл бұрын

If you're still an amateur after 35 years something's wrong

@Joe_Biden915

2 жыл бұрын

@@VoodooDewey69 yeah, it's called having another profession.

@SeekerLancer

2 жыл бұрын

@@VoodooDewey69 Many people play as a hobby not as a job. If you're not getting paid you're an amateur.

This is super helpful. Thank you!

Thank you!!That was very informative and well presented!

Thank you very very much for sharing your knowledge and deeper understanding for those really important section.. I appreciate that extremely thanks a lot..

Long long ago, I had only two mouthpieces a besson and a conn... You were lucky in those days to have more than one choice.... I preferred the conn because it had wider diameter and shallower cup and smaller hole. however when fitted to the trumpet the shanks were of different length so the slide had to be used for tuning.

This is the content people like! Congrats for bringing some respect back to your brand. Going online and complaining about people's behavior does not help anyone and only hurts you. This helpful, specific, and mature content is great. Please keep it up!!!

@harrelsontrumpets

3 жыл бұрын

I don't follow, but okay

The Bach 5V rim hurts my lips .So I need a wider rim ,with the Bach V cup, and your 155 throat or your H cup.The back-bore and gap is my last choice to figure out.Thank You ! You have helped me understand all the variables that work together on a mp.I will forget mp charts .

I really appreciate your shares, your knowledge. All teachers in brass must (not should), really really must known all this aspects and work on students, because sometimes the student don’t need to change nothing at all. Just knowing what’s going on it’s enough. Now, if you can, have some questions related to this topic. #1 Not only the Entrance but the Length of throats too. I mean the length and shape throats, at I call the “neck” and “shoulder” throat and the length of the drill it self. This it’s a 3rd part that are uncalled (on all brands, I think) it’s the Vertex of it. If it’s too long increase pressure, decreases back bore.... and other things too, if shorter increase back bore length and shape. So, the place where the vertex occur determine airflow feel, sound, response.... you know. #2 Backbore shapes and length. To accommodate/balance all mouthpiece parts, can we divide back bore in two or three parts ?? I mean the shape of it self. So, instead of a V or U bore shape, why not a UV or VU shape ? #3 Drill measures. If drill are too big do we need to have a larger shaped back bore ? Or a “standard” bore will do the job with that bigger drill ? With bigger drills, Cups need to have more or less deep ? I mean in general terms. I know it’s all balance, on personal work player and so on, but really will appreciate your thoughts on this matters. Please. Cheers and keep the awesome work.

i think this is a very very very good video/ points. watched form beginning to end. specially first and last topic for me ... omg.. i always tell all my students this is crucial to even start playing! thanks jason!

Really insightful and clearly presented, thanks!

fascinating, learned a lot!!!

Wow! So much information. Very interesting. Thanks.

Great information. Thank You !

Excellent video!!! Very well presented and explained...WONDERFUL!!! 🎺

Finding Warburton mouthpieces back about 1989-ish was a revelation. Discussing backbones was very enlightening. Took his advice and Ken's and found a piece that increased range and endurance. I changed horns, but it didn't work as well. Found Curry 600 series works great on my Yamaha 8335La trumpet. So does a Yamaha GP7A4. I'm an amateur/semi-pro and never bought into "just practice more to overcome..." whatever. ITG research articles on the physics of trumpet playing convinced me to explore options and experiment as much as I am able. Love your videos, Jason!

@Couesnonfl

2 жыл бұрын

2nd sentence should say backbores ... stupid autocorrect!

Very instructive!

This was eye opening. Will definitely be making time to visit you.

Hey thanks, this is great and super helpful :)

I played a beginners trumpet until my senior year. My dad got me a nice yamaha my senior year and I hated it. At my high school, 25 years ago we never talked about mouthpieces. I never considered that the reason I hated my trumpet might have been mouthpiece related. They were both 7c so they should be the same right? I would love to be fitted professionally. I would like to try to get a warmer jazz sound without breaking the bank trying all the wrong things. I also play slightly off center of my mouth so im not sure how that affects my embucure. Im trying to build my chops again but I want the right line to change sound.

I think when I get my playing back closer to my expectations, the next logical step would definitely be take the time to find out "what's best for me".. Your approach to customer service is similar to mine. Time for me to get to work!

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Nice! You will definitely have an easier time finding what works for you when practicing diligently. I also need to get back to work practicing!

Wow! Great info! Thank you. So, if I’m picking up what you’re putting down, the 5MM allows me as a player, to not only find a better mouthpiece (all 5 pieces) that works with me natural as well as work better with any of my trumpets (assuming we establish better gapping/length of the 5MM to each trumpet)?

Thank you - after a life of playing the trumpet I still learn new things.. I have soooo much mouthpieces which I tried over the years and I now have two which works great.. but if I would have known this a long time ago I would most likely have spent less on my mouthpiece collection over time.

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Such is life! :)

@jwalker7277

3 жыл бұрын

@@harrelsontrumpetsI need help I have a high point on my left tooth next to my front tooth and it leaves a callous under my lip.

Hi Jason, thanks for this great information regarding mouthpiece sizes. I have a question regarding lip/ aperture shape. I noticed in your momentum videos that when you demonstrate the aperture for higher notes that you don’t have a much red tissue showing. When some players, myself included, bring their chops into a playing position I still have plenty of red showing. It is my experience that these players use the pressure of the rim to help seal the chops. In your opinion, how does this affect rim contour and mouthpiece choice? I can’t curl my chops in to make the red disappear without sounding horrible. Any advice? Thanks, Ron 😊

That drawing of the most extreme throat entrance shape looks a lot like that of a clarino mouthpiece.

Good advice!

Thank you very very much for this educational video. Very interesting and informative.

@harrelsontrumpets

Жыл бұрын

thank you

One question I have about tip #1 is how do you determine the rim diameter and shape without having to physically try a bunch of different mouthpieces. Is it possible to use some type of material that forms a mold of the players mouth? Just a thought... As far as tip #2, that can be more of selection as you explained. As far as tip #3, the 5MM modular system seems like it would work great. I look forward to trying it. My setup right now has a gap of .244 after carefully measuring it. I definitely want to reduce it after watching this video and see what happens. Thank you again for this video.

Very valuable video. Thank you very much. At some point Ill work with you.

Hi. I would like to ask how about the gap setting in Fürst Pless horn. This instrument has a tuning tube that I use to tune in with others. So I believe this gap changes to. Anyway, thank you for making this video. You have answered many of my questions. Cheers.

Great explanation of mouthpiece tech .Now I know its time for a change .I'm living in the ice ages .

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

Let us know if we can help.

@VoodooDewey69

2 жыл бұрын

@@harrelsontrumpets You can definately help me .Your a very dedicated tradesman and when the Lord wills I will have you build me the most spectacular instrument youve have ever created .The Christ is King trumpet .It will be the holy grail of any trumpet ever created by man Im already pricing rubies, sapphires, opals and many other semiprecious stones .All in Gods time . .

Hello Jason and first thanks for sharing this clip! I've got a question. I have a let's say good mouthpiece diameter and rim that I've found testing I don't even know how many pieces but I've found that it works for me only if it's silver plated brass. If I gold plate it or try a rubber or wood mouthpiece rim (and I have too since sometimes I have to play in the winter outside in the middle of the Swiss alps) the same shape doesn't work. My question is: is this really possible or is my mind tricking me? Thanks a lot, Denis

Whats your take on the Denis Wick ultra 3c golden ? Have you tried it ? What are your professional thoughts ? Whats the equivalent in other brands ? Best regards

When I was in college the big thing was drilling out Bach mouthpieces to get a larger throat. After watching this video, I imagine this totally changed the mouthpiece by changing the shape of the throat entrance.

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, among other factors that would have changed including the shape of the backbore.

I’ve had a double lung transplant , hole in my throat from a incubator and four strokes,and a front Bridge. I’m starting back up with a Getzen. Using a Bach 10 3/4 CW. It feels better than my 7c. I’m looking for a big flat rim with at least a C cup

You mentioned another video on rim shape, do you have a link? Thanks

Really really impressed by your level of dedication and knowledge. I'm looking for a new mouthpiece and I would love to go through some extended process to chose one, BUT.... I'm a trombone player... Would you recommend any trombone shop, with the same level of expertise? (in Europe if possible). I've had myself some important lips injury in my youth (upper lips completely split in two, 6 stitiches necessary to get it back together) and I would like to assess how / if it should affect my mouthpiece choice.

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

We are working on a new line of 5MM Trombone mouthpieces that will launch next year.

Very, very interesting and educational video. Thank you. It seems to me that one aspect of trumpet mouthpieces that is consistently overlooked is rim width and how it impacts playing. I’d be very appreciative if you could produce a video focusing on this issue.

@harrelsontrumpets

3 жыл бұрын

I have released many videos on this subject. See "Three Mouthpiece Mistakes" to get started.

@hayesman76

3 жыл бұрын

Harrelson Trumpets Thanks for your reply. Isn’t “Three Mouthpiece Mistakes” the video I posted my comment above under? I did watch that entire video but it didn’t really address the specific issue of rim width, it was mainly discussing rim shape i.e. round vs flat. My question has more to do with the width or thickness of the rim. I think that in the Bach mouthpiece manual wide-width rims are called “cushion rims”. I’m going to review the video again, though.

Very interesting. When I was a trumpet player, flat rimmed "original" copies for valveless trumpets were the rage, as they are now, except now, they are considered mandatory. What do you think of these?

Hi there, really great video, I’ve haven’t heard anyone talk about the high point before and what you had to say was very enlightening. What is your opinion on wedge mouthpiece? To me it looks like they would be able to create an artificial high point. Do you offer wedge rims with 5MM?

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

The owner of Wedge has been given 5 separate opportunities to work with me on providing Wedge rinks for the 5MM. If you want it to happen, ask him so we can get this done! 🎺😃

Hi, i would like to have a consultation on finding a good mpc for lead playing and smokey jazz Sound playing.

I may be getting dentures in the near future. Any advice the possibility of continuing to play trumpet with dentures.

Hi I play on 5mm the cup is 624 Dc, throat D160.21 and backbore looks like 2134 could I use a bigger throat with this set up what are your suggestions.

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Sylvester, Yes, you could use a bigger throat, but that is a relatively large size compared to Bach, Yamaha, Schilke and Warburton. In comparison to Monette, a 160 throat is slightly smaller than average. You will experience more dynamic range with the ability to play both softer and louder as your throat diameter increases. If your goal is to further increase the breadth of tone, then yes a 165 or 170 will be beneficial. If you want more focus (compact sound), you would want a smaller throat. You can also increase the backbore end diameter, which will spread your projection more. A last consideration, you could play on a D160.22 (one size larger on the exit diameter) with a 22.35. This will increase your tonal color with an emphasis on low and mid overtones without changing the projection pattern. Give me a call if you want to discuss further. Jason

Does the depth of the mp come into play?

The high point and its relationship to the rim contour is a topic that warrants further discussion because Jason, I think you are speaking from your personal point of reference which is not the same as my own and possibly others with high points in their teeth. I too, have a high point where my two upper front teeth come together, my left overlaps the right slightly, thus my high point is on the mesial edge of my left central incisor. But, here's how I'm different from you: My mouthpiece placement is high enough that the inside diameter of the mouthpiece sits right at the gum line; therefore, the high point doesn't come into play as far as the rim of the mouthpiece is concerned. I also do not feel that any pivoting of the mouthpiece occurs laterally (side to side). I feel as though I have four contact points (right top, right bottom, left top, left bottom, can kinda be considered as "the four corners"). I have a question for you though: Wayne Bergeron's latest mouthpiece seems to have the higher point more toward the outside diameter of the rim, which seems pretty flat otherwise. Do you think that this might allow for more vibrating fluency inside the mouthpiece particularly when there is more pressure applied? This rim contour solved the problem of the inside diameter digging into his lips to the point of causing him some real problems.

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Jason, we do see many variations of single (and multiple) high point scenarios that greatly affect mouthpiece rim placement, shape and size. In general, everyone has different needs. In the video, I simply gave my specific scenario as an example. Concerning nearly flat rims and variations with a slight high point at a wider diameter, this is unlikely to affect lip amplitude overall. It could help with flexibility as flat rims tend to inhibit flexibility in terms of playing wide interval leaps. This is usually because the surface contact area is increased with flat rims, which holds the lips in place preventing the aperture from moving larger or smaller. We are in the process of creating a visual aid on our website to show each rim shape variation including outside radius/shape, inside radius/shape and diameter. Combined with examples of various dental structures, this will also help everyone understand how and why some rim variable may be more successful than others.

Thanks for this. How would you consider weight, ..and what I believe is more important -displacement of weight - as far as importance?

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Weight is irrelevant. Efficiency is independent of weight.

How do I find you in the Denver area? I’ll be around this winter and my problem is playing after cancer treatment..seems all of my mouthpieces are no longer feeling normal! I can hardly play simple things..... I had partial surgery to remove a tumor on the right side of my face. It sometimes hurts my jaw I can only play for short periods of time! If you could give me any suggestions in a consult....I’ll stop by and chat Greg B

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Give us a call and schedule a shop tour! 303.657.2747 www.whyharrelson.com

The importance of the high point is that it determines the size of the diameter of the rim.

It's very interesting to see that the rim shape should match the teeth, I have a question, I need to get the caps replaced on my front teeth, is it possible to get a dentist to design teeth that are optimized for my trumpet embouchure?

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, this is possible and there are some dentists who are brass players that specifically focus on this goal. Google will be helpful here!

So i lost my tow front teeth in a weird way causing my front two teeth to make a point. almost like part of a triangle. I find a lot of success with a Bach 1C. I dont like how bite-y the mouthpiece is. I purchased a schilke 14a4 today. It makes everything pretty easy to play but my chops die in 2 seconds with that mouthpiece. Im considering getting a 17b4 (or a 17a4 if they even make that). Thoughts? Edit to add more info: I like the tone that a 1C gives me A LOT. it gives me a big round sound and i like it a lot. I struggle to get up above a high E on it though. with the silcke i have an F pretty easily. It gets a little fuzzy down low though. I also find that the schilke really throws my sound forward. like it gets me a really focused sound. If i could have a focused warm sound thatd be nice which is why im considering switching to a 17a/b4.

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

Yes, I'm happy to give you quick advice here and more info if you give me a call at 303.657.2747. The 14A4 is clearly too shallow as your tone gets fuzzy in the lower register due to your lips hitting the cup. The front end attack on the Schilke is a sign that you prefer a shallow throat entrance. A hybrid between the 14 Rim diameter/shape and a deeper (not as deep at your 1C) cup and a .150-160 throat would likely give you the best of both worlds. This is very easy to set up in the Harrelson 5MM system. www.whyharrelson.com/build-my-mouthpiece.html

@Rolphul

4 жыл бұрын

@@harrelsontrumpets wow thank you so much! on honestly didnt expect a reply from you just some other commwnter. I really appreciate that information Edit: Ill have to look into buying one of your mouthpieces when i can. Right now im paying for school out of pocket so im a little strapped

Searching for Holy Grail. But now well described by you. Very informative video. Could you share your thoughts about Zottola stepped backbore?

Hi, I have a stupid question, how do you feel about rotary trumpets? why don't you do them? thanks (sorry for my english)

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

99% of trumpet players prefer vertical pistons over rotary.

In high school i switched from 7c to 7m when i purchased a new trumpet. I lost my embouchure. The mouthpiece would slide down completely over my bottom lip. I could not force it to stay up.

how to measure the gap between the end of the mouthpiece insidethe tube of trumpet please

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

see my blog entry here www.whyharrelson.com/jasons-blog/how-to-achieve-optimum-mouthpiece-gap-in-3-easy-steps-part-1

Thanks, Jason. My dental configuration resembles yours.

So that’s why we should look at exact mm instead of a chart number.

You guys make cornet mouthpieces?

Jason, I'm trying to sign up, found the sign in, not the sign up. help?

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

the sign in??? Visit our website www.whyharrelson.com, then scroll to the bottom of the first page

Your Spectratone is the way to go

Everybody talks about going from the beginner's 7c to a 3c as they progress, but wouldn't it be good for a person with thin lips to go in the other direction to, say, a 9c or a 10 c?

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

Thin lips are less of a concern than skill in aperture control. The diameter is usually determined by many factors including high point on the teeth, lip physiology, and approach to embouchure.

Mouthpieces are personal to each person.I watched all these videos on different mouthpieces from different players. My mistake was watching them and buying mouthpieces .

@harrelsontrumpets

2 жыл бұрын

I have another 40 mouthpiece reviews going up in the coming month!

Imho.the ability to play high lead for hours rather easily is a very rare talent, it can't be learned, the mouthpiece helps somewhat but even the ideal mouthpiece for you won't make you one of those rare talents. So most better focus on musicality instead of fireworks and for that I really am convinced that the right mouthpiece is essential but it's frustrating that when playing lyrical , beautiful on trumpet, one gets condescending reactions like: oh, a "classic" player or "good for in church" I meet "jazzy" saxophone amateur players who can't believe our study books go only up to the high D at best. They somehow feel the lowest note on a trumpet is the middle C. This adoration of the high note is so frustrating.

@harrelsontrumpets

3 жыл бұрын

While playing high notes for hours can be challenging, it can also be learned. But the real question: should we be playing high notes for hours? Musicality usually wins. :)

This is so deeeeeeep!… I'm quite embarrassed to tell you how I decided upon a mouthpiece. Trial & Error. sigh!…

@harrelsontrumpets

4 жыл бұрын

👍

hang on.. they make different mouthpieces for trumpets? Maybe this is why I can't get any high notes!

@-5249

4 жыл бұрын

Speaking from experience, I was in the same position as you, and bought a lead mouthpiece. It helps, but you need to have some foundation of upper range first.

ABSOLUTELY! Too many untrained teachers giving out bad advice....