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People are always looking for horn secrets. One difficult range for many players is the “cash register” just below the staff, getting the notes to speak with power.
People talk about lots of stuff to help that range, but neglect one critical element that can absolutely revolutionize your low playing. That element is tilt.** As in tilting your head.
Combined with a good jaw drop and tonguing position the added tilt of the head can be exactly what makes a note speak with more power. In the photos the upper note is Ab in the staff and the lower one is Ab below the staff.
The exact amount of tilt is personal, but in my case it is as seen in the photos. I always tilt to my right, although for some readers a tip in the opposite direction may work better.
Try it! The results, combined with your jaw drop, might pleasantly surprise you, resulting in a more powerful and resonant low range with more secure jumps in and out of the low range.
UPDATE: To clarify, the tilt is to the side, in addition to any other movement (tipping) you may have in your embouchure.
**This post was written to read as an April fool’s joke, but (surprise!) actually it is not, the slight tilt is a quirk of my personal approach to the low range. Something about the tilt opens up the aperture.
And, of course, working on your low range is also no joke. For even more tips and practical music to develop your low range, see my recently updated publication, The Low Horn Boot Camp, available in print or as a Kindle eBook.
For more on my full line of publications visit the Horn Notes Edition website at www.hornnotes.com
