How to Play Trumpet Fingerings
The trumpet is a brass instrument that produces sound as a musician buzzes his lips against a mouthpiece. The trumpet has three valves, which are like buttons. Holding down the valves changes the length of the tubing of the instrument, which changes the pitch. Although the trumpet has only three valves, the instrument is capable of playing all the notes of a chromatic scale. The trumpet is a popular instrument, and learning its fingerings opens the door to playing a variety of musical styles.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Hold the trumpet in your left hand. Grasp the middle of the valves between the top and bottom tubing that runs horizontally. Your grip should be firm but not tense.
-
2
Place your right-hand index finger on top of the first valve, which is the one closest to the mouthpiece. Put your middle finger on the second valve and ring finger on the third valve. Rest your pinky on top of the hook after the last valve. Keep your fingers relaxed.
-
-
3
Print or purchase a fingering chart. These charts will have the note that is produced and either the finger numbers you use or a picture of three circles, with colored circles showing you which valves to push down. Your index finger might be referred to as your first finger, middle finger is second, and ring finger is third.
-
4
Play a note in the middle of the trumpet range. For example, start with a G on the second line of the treble clef staff. Refer to your fingering chart; you play this note open, meaning you will not push down on any valves. Play a long tone and vary your dynamic (volume) from soft to loud and back to soft. Use a tuner to ensure you are playing a G and keeping the note in tune while you change the dynamic.
-
5
Continue with notes up the chromatic scale; play long tones for each note and keep the note in tune. Check your fingering chart for preferred or alternate fingerings. For trumpet, you may play any combination of one or two valves, and you may play notes with no valves closed or with all three closed. For example, the fingering chart might color the first two circles; you push down fingers one and two to play this note. More than one note may have the same fingering, so using the tuner is important.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
