How to Play Baritone Horn
The baritone horn is a wind instrument in the low brass section of a concert or symphonic band. Although often confused with the euphonium due to their similar range and appearance, the baritone is a distinct instrument usually brighter in tone than the euphonium. Playing the baritone is similar to playing many other valve brass instruments but requires some overall familiarity with the instrument itself.
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Things You'll Need
- Baritone mouthpiece
- Pitch reference, such as a tuner or a tuned instrument on which you are able to identify distinct notes
- Music stand
- Fingering chart
- Sheet music
Instructions
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Preparation and Playing
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1
Find seating that allows for ample, even lap space and in which you can comfortably sit upright with no breathing restrictions.
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2
Hold the baritone in your lap with the tubing vertical and your right hand over the valves.
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3
Take the small end of the baritone mouthpiece and insert it in the small open-ended tube (called the bore) near your face as you hold the baritone. Use a gentle twisting motion as you do so to ensure a snug fit.
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4
Press your lips together somewhat firmly and blow air through the center of your lips. Your lips should be firmly enough together to cause a buzzing sound, but not so firm that it's a strain to pass air. This positioning of your lips is referred to as your embouchure.
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5
Bring your lips to the mouthpiece and blow air into it with the same embouchure. This will produce an open note on the baritone. Continue blowing and adjust your embouchure to produce the best tone you are capable of.
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6
Identify the open note you are playing using your pitch reference. Then press the valves in the combinations specified in your fingering chart to start playing through the range of notes.
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Simple sheet music will help you navigate through basic melodies. Play through some simple sheet music, using the fingering chart as reference.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Warm up before every practice session. Common warmups include sustaining long notes to warm up your lungs and mouth and playing through scales to warm up your fingers.
Oil your valves frequently. To do this, unscrew each valve, pull each one out of its casing, oil the sides of each valve with instrument oil, then replace each one in its respective casing. This ensures that they don't stick in the casing when you press down or release them.
Practice using a beginning method book, available at musical instrument stores. This will guide you through learning scales, note values, rhythms and other fundamentals of playing an instrument.
Avoid over-tightening your mouthpiece. It should fit snugly in the bore, but you should still be able to easily remove it without force.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sheet music image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
