Trumpet1Ohio

Hi...can you fill me in?

Guys refer to a horn slotting well, or not, in the upper register. What exactly does that mean?

Thanks

Manny Laureano

Simply put, slotting refers to the way a trumpet allows you define individual notes as you ascend to the up register.

It's mostly about the player but equipment will vary your ability to slot or define notes. Players who can ascend into the upper register and still hit notes in the dead center will sound very defined and slotted when they play a scale-like passage. If you hear a lot of glissing around it's because the targets for each note are too big and there's a lot or sometimes too much wiggle room on each note.

Here's a little trick:

practice playing an upward arpeggio the way you nomally do it.

Now, play it and this time go for the lower part of the center or target of each note as you ascend.

That snapping sound is the note "slotting" into place. Endeavor to get that nice snap in your upper register. It takes a strong embouchure and flexible lips with unimpinged wind moving through your lips to get this, so, be patient.

ML

Trumpet1Ohio

Thanks Manny, I thought that was what they meant but needed confirmation.

MPM

Manny,

Very good post! The "snapping sound" you described ... right on!

To the readers ... Bob Findley has an excellent explaination as well about the subject in his book.