Thanks for watching! I always encourage discussion in my comment section, but please note that I will not tolerate bragging or degrading comments. Nobody wants to know what your highest note is, and nobody wants to see you criticizing beginners or struggling players. Let’s keep it civil.

I’ve been using this method for a bit now and it has really helped!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Awesome man, keep at it!

@quandabulous_g_official1937

11 ай бұрын

Yeah same, I went from a double high C to a double Eb (on a very very good day) after like a week and a half of this

@GrilledCheese_ObamaSandwich

3 ай бұрын

Commenting here so you might see it. I'm cappet out at a comfortable F the octave above the F played in this video. It's the absolute highest I can comfortably play in a standard playing setting. I can play a Bb5, but not comfortably and it sounds bad. How do I improve past this point?​@@SamuelPlaysBrass

Bean playing for 2 years and thisa something I been struggling wit. This is a life saver and a halfthank you sam.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Glad I could help, Liam! You’re not alone. I’ve struggled with it for a long time too.

@trombonedude5312

8 ай бұрын

Another technique that my old tutor taught me that helped me a lot with my range is to start in the middle-low range (I typically start with an F one line from the top of the staff) and play a major arpeggio going up to the next octave, i.e. 1-3-5-1(8) or F-A-C-F, and then repeat, going up a half step until you can't anymore. This technique got me from my highest note being a G three ledger lines above the staff to consistently hitting high Bbs and Cs in about a year

@ravenger2445

8 ай бұрын

bro got that Samsung keyboard

I’ve been in a competition with my buddy on how high we can go on trombone. We are both currently stuck at 4 octaves. This video will really help me win lol.

My daughter just asked me yesterday how to get higher notes on her trombone. And people say our phones aren't listening to us! 😂 Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to share it with her tonight!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

8 ай бұрын

Haha, better investigate that! Hope this helps her though!

Can confirm this works. I also like to combine this with playing intervals once a note feels solidly in range. Just major chords Bb-D-F-Bb, B-D#-F#-B and so on, chromatically up the scale as far as you can go. It adds something practical to the mix since not much music is asking you to glissando up in that register.

Bro is ripped

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

LOL, still working on it!

I study and teach a lot of instruments. I got into brass (trumpet) like 8 months ago, love it. Got a trombone today. This tip is gonna be very useful.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

3 күн бұрын

@@mattoakley5613 Sweet, hope it ends up helping! Good luck with your brass endeavors!

FANTASTIC, definitely utilize what your instrument is good at. I think I had been taught this once in school however the knowledge fell out of my ears at somepoint. 😂

Samuel is so humble, his parents must be so proud of him!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

I feel like I'm getting r/wooshed... Did I say something that came off as arrogant?

@Commando10664

2 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrassnah you just seem fairly humble

@ab-zg8pt

20 күн бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Nope! I meant it, you seem like a genuinely good guy!

He hit the Wycliffe Gordon special at the end ⚡️ 😮

I have been doing that to play lower notes didnt even think about doing it the opposite way thanks m8

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

Cool! I think it works great in either direction :)

You put a smile on my face 😊. Thank you!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear, Kevin!

yes it did help!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Ай бұрын

Glad to hear!

Does this work on guitar?

@serenedarkness6257

Жыл бұрын

As a guitarist…and trombonist…this comment is gold

@oogabooga6411

Жыл бұрын

it only works on bass guitar

@hirokokueh3541

8 ай бұрын

only for slide guitar

I’ve been playing the trombone for almost 3 years and it’s something I still struggle with thanks for the tips

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Hope the tips help! Good luck!

man my problems have finally be solved. Ive always needed to play high notes in concerts and this helped!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

Super glad to hear it helped! Keep chipping away at it!

Thank you so much! I’ve used this demonstration and I used to be able to play High F but now I can play C in octave 5!!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Ай бұрын

So glad it helped! Congrats on some solid progress!!

@UnitedStatesOilForce

Ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass👍

Watching him do this has reminded me of all the times I nearly broke down trying to hit a high note on bass trombone🥲

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

Can’t say I blame you. Bass is tough!

Great tip! 👍 🎉

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Jen!

I’m just about to start band and I picked trombone this helps a lot thanks

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

Glad it helped! Best of luck!

I remember trying this and then learning how to get about as high pitched as flutes with sustained notes!

Thank you so much! This helps a lot!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

8 ай бұрын

So glad I could help!

As a Euphonium player i practiced long tone exercises and with each week increased what ever notes I played by a half step. It worked for my in high school. I'm 6 years outta high school and outta practice and recently picked up my horn again.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Good luck picking it back up! High school is usually the easiest time to build range. Being a young buck with supple chops definitely makes it easier. I’m finding I have to work for it a lot more now that I’m a few years removed from high school myself.

Wait help i struggled for a year in 6th grade and this helped me out so much ❤❤❤

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

So glad I could help!

Been doing this and now can play bolero solo as a senior in high school been playing for 10 years

I’m in middle school and rlly wanna play high, plan on using this to help me play higher! Thx so much!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

4 ай бұрын

Hope it helps out! Thanks for watching!

Thanks bro

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

You’re welcome, fellow engineer.

As someone who has played Trombone for 7 years - I can confirm that this is one of the best ways to build range

I figured this out while trying to play G in fourth position it was really useful 😅

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

Yep, do that glissando of F-G in 4th-2nd and then in 6th-4th. Should help to get that 4th position G locked in. It’s a tricky note compared to doing it in sharp 2nd!

Thx! This really helped!

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Glad you found it useful!

I played trombone in high school, and the highest I was ever really able to get was the G above the register. I played the 1st trombone part of Stars and Stripes Forever which has the high A in there, so it was a little disappointing that I never reached that note...

Thanks Sam you earned a sub :)

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! And thanks for subbing!

When I was at the best of my playing in college, my highest was an octave above high b flat (b flat in the middle of the treble staff). Basically I could play b flat in four different octaves.

Literally what my music teacher sid to do and it works

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Glad your teacher and I agree-and that it worked!

I do lip slurs on my trombone every day, the highest note I can clearly hit is the Ab above the staff, I’m hoping to hit the Bb above staff one day, so I’ll keep doing lip slurs. Lip slurs really help with warm ups and reaching high notes

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

You’ve got this! I was stuck at about a high G for a LONG time but I promise it gets easier with diligence!

Instead of falling off that last top F you nearly played, try to hold the note until it becomes a note. When you can play it with vib you've got the note.

This was very helpful now I can play my Db in how the grinch stole Christmas

my man did the Wycliffe me we note

The fact that I instantly read the note and was like yeah that’s a super F right there, that’s kinda low (Joke) I remember my freshman year of high school we were playing Berlioz’s March to the Scaffold and I had to do the lick that went up to high Eb. My range at the time was the F you played at the beginning and I hadn’t gained any range in about half a year. I worked super hard and got the high Eb and the high F above for good measure after a lot of literal blood sweat and tears but it all payed off. I got to perform knowing that I could hit the high Eb, only to miss it completely…

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

Only just saw this comment for some reason, but felt that last sentence 110% 😔

I’ve hit the treble clef C road block and I need it for a audition 😭

I dont play trombone but I am thinking about it I will use this if I do get one thx

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Hope you do end up playing trombone! It’s lots of fun.

Thank you so much as a trombone player. This helps a lot but does it also work for low notes

@SamuelPlaysBrass

5 ай бұрын

Glad it helped! Just do the exercise in reverse and go down one position at a time instead of up if you want to work on your low notes!

So does this increase your range in the long haul? I'm doing a bunch of jazz stuff recently and I'm trying to get into improving, but since improv is new to me I suck at it and need more notes in my tank to fire out.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, if you keep doing this, it definitely will have long-term benefits. This exercise does a great job of getting you acquainted with the sensation of playing higher gradually enough that it doesn’t feel like muscular overload.

I watched the whole video even though i’m a saxophone player lol

Hi I’m a trombone player I played the trombone for 2 years, I was wondering how fast can you go on it and how high

also in order to make your pitch higher you have to tighten your embouchure and increase your air speed

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

Those are the same two pieces of advice everyone has heard a million times and they don’t always work very well or only to a certain extent, hence why I didn’t bother mentioning them.

My highest range is 4 notes below that high note at the end

Yeah dude I’ve been trying to build up to that double G for the Star Wars high note and I can’t seem to get good tone past double F or so I just have to keep practicing

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Not all of us can be Trombone Timo, eh?

I’m a bit late but I do have a question, for high notes what do you recommend to keep them stable? I can play high but it’s my problem is keeping them stable for a long time. My teacher is making me play in treble clef so any tips or advice?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

8 ай бұрын

When you sustain a high note, always imagine you’re blowing to the end of the note, not just the beginning of it to “hit the target.” Your air does and should have a target, so to speak, but it should be the very end of the phrase. Just try not to get caught up on hitting the note to begin with. That’s definitely helped me when I’ve had the same issue as you.

@Lucas-ok7lw

8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!!

I don't play trombone, but I'll keep that in mind

I'm a trombonist and I managed to play the high A 7 ledger lines above the staff

@SamuelPlaysBrass

3 ай бұрын

Someone didn’t read the pinned comment.

@verminthebonehead

3 ай бұрын

​@@SamuelPlaysBrass I didn't mean to make it seem snarky but I honestly surprised my self by doing that I'm only a fresh man in highschool

This works in the other direction for pedal tones

@SamuelPlaysBrass

8 ай бұрын

Indeed!

This method never worked for me that well. I got better results by practicing on the mouthpiece and doing lip slurs. Improving my flexibility helped me unlock higher registers.

Hopefully it'll help be ause I really wanna play louder

I had a master class with a trombone professor at my local college and he taught pretty much the same thing but you start in first and gliss 6th so you’re on a lower note and lip up to the same note you played in first and then gliss back to first while going higher and repeat, idk if that made any sense it’s hard to explain

I learned a lot and I used to do it since I started playing trombone. But I can reach only that G

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Just give it a week or two and you’ll have the Ab above it!

Is that trombone a conn 52h?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Close, it’s an 88H.

what instrument to do you mainly okay because i looked at your channel and youve played a lot so whats your main?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

I’m mostly a trumpet player. That’s what I started out on.

Can you do this with a trumpet?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Not really. The trumpet doesn’t have a hand slide like the trombone does. The closest you can get is chromatic scales or mess with the 3rd valve slide being all the way out.

If I’m Corekt that’s a trigger trumebone which the trigger removes 6 posiessens

@SamuelPlaysBrass

5 ай бұрын

You’re correct that this trombone has a trigger. You can still play all seven positions on the slide, but 6th position can be replaced by trigger+1st and 7th position by trigger+2nd, although a slightly lower 2nd (approximately position 2.25).

I’m a percussion player :)

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

So, uh… what brings you here then?

@Potato_the_third

10 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I’m gaining intelligence on a rival group

Hey what trombone is that, I think I have the same exact one, except in a bit worse condition

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

It’s a Conn 88H from the 1970s!

hi

How do you get your embouchure strong enough to sustain the high notes? Mine always seems to give out and it just sounds like high pitched spitty air

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

That’s a really good question. My high notes are definitely not the best tone, and my chops aren’t the best either. A lot of my high register ability comes from manipulating the speed/direction/quantity of air. High notes take less air but blown faster and slightly upward. To achieve this imagine flexing your abs as you exhale. Seems weird but it helps massively. Also, angling the horn downward slightly helps me relieve the pressure from my top lip, which helps too.

@highmind3389

9 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I haven’t tried angling it upwards, and the abs thing I haven’t quite understand until now. Thank you so much!! I’ll be sure to try that tomorrow when I practice!

I can already hit like a double F or G on a good day, now I just need the tone and breath support behind it and I can finally be like wycliffe gordon

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Wycliffe does a lot more than hit double G’s.

@ryan_1314

Жыл бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass yea, he has insane mastery of different techniques, and can play MUCH higher than a G5, but getting a higher range is a small step closer to getting my technical skill to his level

how do you know where the alternate positions are for your highest note???

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

All you really have to do is set up a tuner app on your phone and do some trial/error.

@vxyage258

Жыл бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Okay thank you so much!!! I really appreciate it

What you use for the lips, motor oil? Embouchure going crazy 😂

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Ай бұрын

Haha I appreciate that, but don’t worry, all it takes is some good old-fashioned practice! It’s cliché of me to say “if I can do it, anyone can” but it’s true!

Tuning slide on the trumpet?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

I guess if you have a very specific “problem note” with the tuning slide set normally but you can play it with your slide out to A, you could quasi-glissando to it!

Ive been playing since 2019 and my biggest problem ist just that 1 my sound is actually disgusting and 2 I can’t play high notes. I can’t even play the high F you showcased as a staring point in this video

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

Hm, that's unfortunate. Honestly in your case I'd recommend starting on an F or A in the staff in 6th position and very slowly moving the slide inward while focusing on a wide, steady tone quality.

I can hit a g 5 ledger lines up

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

And when exactly did I ask?

I am the 100 liker🎉

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your support!

I don't play trombone but cool

I play tuba and i was wondering if i were to play trombone would it allow me to play higher notes on tuba?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

Not directly. The higher notes on tuba will get easier with time regardless, and playing trombone *might* help you figure out how those high notes work a little quicker, BUT trombone is a different instrument with a differrent set of techniques and embouchure muscles required, so the benefits of switching are limited. I honestly recommend staying on tuba and not 'crossing the fence' unless you really need to for whatever reason.

@Bobbys_friend

9 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass thank you for explaining it to me🙏

i forget what the name of that trombone your playing is called i play a different trombone

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

It’s a Conn 88H.

How do I play higher on a bass trombone

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

The exact same way as what I described here. All the slide positions are the same on tenor and bass trombone excluding the triggers.

I'm a tuba player and I can reach Eb4 but that's besides the point I also own a trombone actually I've owned the trombone since I was tuba player and I'm only getting this information now? But that's besides the point. Would this help with my tuba high notes?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

To be honest, unless you find that you use the exact same embouchure setup and muscles to form your trombone embouchure as for tuba, then I don't think it will carry over. For instance, I play the trumpet, my main instrument, on a very different set of chops than the trombone, and my high range on the trumpet, which goes well into the stratosphere, did not transfer over to the trombone at all, and even to barely squeak out the high F at the end of this video it took hours and years of work in ways I hadn't expected.

@bulbushead_gang4739

Жыл бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Tried it. Didn't carry over. I don't even know how to play trombone.💀

rookie numbers brotha

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

ok bro but when did I ask

@birdpog1

10 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass bro you should be playing that 8va at least

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

@@birdpog1 I played that high F 8va later in the video dawg, watch all the way through

@birdpog1

10 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass oh no no no, I'm talking about another 8 brotha, 15ma pal

Ok, so, high E flat, 2 ledger lines are my highest. Help?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

9 ай бұрын

No matter what your highest note is, the technique is always the same: hold out your highest note and try to move the slide inward one position to see if you can hold out the next note above it.

@Trombone_Guy

9 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass alr, thanks!

When i reach the high note, it just goes down

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

I received a great tip from Demondrae Thurman: sustaining any note (especially a high note) is like driving uphill. You need to keep your foot on the gas pedal, so to speak. For brass players that means a steady, fast exhale and imagining you’re aiming for the end of the note, not the beginning.

Really cool, but we all know that in the end it is futile, for trumpets are the best.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Y’all really need to make it all about yourselves literally all the time, huh?

@WasatchWind

Жыл бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass Of course we do, because trumpets are the best. 😎

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

@@WasatchWind Point proven.

@WasatchWind

Жыл бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass it's all in good fun friend, I know as well as any person who's done concert, jazz, and marching band the great variety of wonderful sound that can come from all the other instruments.

@carolinaroot3492

10 ай бұрын

🤪

there had to be a trumpet behind the camera.

Woah my trombone doesn’t look like that

As a flautist I simply hate manoeuvring upper registers for obvious reasons

Ugh I want to play trombone so bad

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Does your school have a band program? I’d highly recommend giving it a shot!

Cool! But I dont have a trombone

@SamuelPlaysBrass

8 ай бұрын

Step 1: acquire trombone

@superjumpbros64

8 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass I do have a saxophone... BUT a trombone is noice

@NotFine

8 ай бұрын

Seriously I've been eyeing a trombone but tbh 700 dollars is a bit too much to ask for lol

@superjumpbros64

8 ай бұрын

@@NotFine yeah, too much at the moment

my fucking highest note is a G3 4th position

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

If that’s the case, no big deal! Hold that note in 4th and slowly move your slide to 3rd while aiming your air forward. It’ll come sooner than you might expect!

Rusty trombones hahaha

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

Beg your pardon?

i dont even play trombone why am i watching this

@SamuelPlaysBrass

4 ай бұрын

Well, whatever the reason, I appreciate the view as it helps with the algorithm!

I’m meant to play lower

@SamuelPlaysBrass

10 ай бұрын

Low notes are more fun anyway on trombone. Practice lots of pedal tones!

The best way to learn how to play high with a trombone is to put it down and learn the trumpet first. Then go back to the trombone. It will also improve your general skill with the trombone or any other brass instrument as well, since the trumpet is the hardest and requires more skill.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

11 ай бұрын

I say this as a trumpet player and as respectfully as possible: this is just entirely wrong. I’ve heard it before, and I find it a lamentable view to hold on the matter. Sure, trumpet players can squeak out high notes if they pick up a trombone and approach it the same way they do the trumpet. But their embouchure and approach to playing will be VERY poorly suited to the middle and low registers of the instrument, and the sound they produce will be far too bright and edgy for any symphonic or concert setting. When I picked up the trombone, I cultivated a completely separate embouchure for it than I use for the trumpet. It was hard work, and it meant saying goodbye to the “free” high notes, but it helped in the long run. Every brass instrument poses its own challenges. Objectively speaking, the horn is the hardest from a technical and acoustical perspective, although the slide makes the trombone in some ways the hardest. Trumpet requires a solid knowledge of how to pressurize your airstream without physically “using” a lot of air. That does not mean the knowledge from playing trumpet will benefit you on any other brass instrument. For most people, it is unhelpful at best and actively detrimental at worst to try to pick up the trumpet. Its approach is different from any other instrument in the brass family, and playing on such a small and shallow mouthpiece can seriously mess up a low brass player’s embouchure. You might be right in some very rare instances, but for the vast majority of low brass players, it is nothing but harmful to put a trumpet in their hands.

But it makes my head hurt

@SamuelPlaysBrass

4 ай бұрын

I would suggest playing high notes as quietly as possible and not force air through the horn at such a high speed. Head rush is definitely a common issue, but won’t occur frequently if you approach high notes with the correct technique.

Become a Pro,yhen we'll chat

@SamuelPlaysBrass

6 ай бұрын

What a cynical mentality. Just because someone isn’t a professional, their approach is completely invalid?

I don't know how to do this on my tenor trombone

@SamuelPlaysBrass

7 ай бұрын

That’s exactly what this video is meant to help with. Tenor, bass, it doesn’t matter.

@That_BoiY3LL0W

7 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass oh ok

I play trumpet. Why am I watching this?

@SamuelPlaysBrass

4 ай бұрын

Well hey, your view is helping propel this video forward in the algorithm, so regardless, thank you for watching :)

trombón

@SamuelPlaysBrass

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, captain obvious.

Takes of the mouthpiece and plays that instead

@SamuelPlaysBrass

2 ай бұрын

That's actually a good exercise for developing notes around high Bb/C/Db but it's tough to go any higher than those 5 ledger lines on the mouthpiece.

Not real useful as doing this does not allow you to play those notes in real music.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

3 ай бұрын

You do have to learn to walk so as to be able to run, yes? And before even that you have to learn to crawl?

@berntd

3 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass if your video is geared towards a total beginner, then yes.

@SamuelPlaysBrass

3 ай бұрын

@@berntd that’s YT Shorts in a nutshell. I can’t possibly hope to help a serious older player unlock their range in 60 seconds.

@berntd

3 ай бұрын

@@SamuelPlaysBrass What make you think you can unlock anyone's range?