How to Hold a Mellophone

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Take one look at a mellophone, and you might find yourself asking, “which end is up?” You’re not alone, if you’ve ever wondered how to properly hold this French Horn-looking instrument. In order to play it properly, you will need to have full access to the keys and the mouthpiece while projecting sound properly.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Mellophone
Chair

Step1

Sit down on a hard-back chair. A soft chair like a recliner or a folding lawn chair will now allow you to have the proper posture to produce sound. Have your back against the rest lightly and sit with your muscles relaxed in order to produce the air necessary to play.

Step2

Hold the body of the mellophone against your chest. The bell, the large opening which sound comes out, should be facing upward. This position should also have the mouthpiece facing your head and should be close enough that you only have to lower your head slightly.

Step3

Place your index, middle and ring fingers on the three keys. The keys are the little buttons that go up and down and produce different notes depending on their position. You should have a full range of motion with your fingers while holding the instrument against your chest. Your thumb should rest naturally on the horn, if you so choose, or you can leave it off the horn altogether. Your pinky should rest inside the open-ended mellophone loop not far from where your pinky naturally falls.

Step4

Hold your less dominant hand on the other side of the horn. Place your ring finger inside the ring on the back end of the horn. That ring allows you to pull out the lower rear valve of the mellophone, if you should need to change the horn's pitch slightly. Your thumb of your less dominant hand should rest along the chamber of the first valve of the mellophone.

Step5

Lower your head so that your lips connect with the mouth piece. If your posture is correct, you will be able to get a full breath, which will allow for better control over the tone and volume of your mellophone playing. Adjust your body to ensure that this happens.