Hi. Your video is fantastic. I think it is wonderful that you are so precise (for example when you say it is not precise enough for you to say put your lips in the M sound position). That is how I learn things--by being very analytical--and I find that most music teachers aren't quite that way. So, I was happy to find you. Despite that, I could not seem to get the buzz. It was easier for me (though not quite easy) to get what you call the trombone buzz but I couldn't seem to get that clear note you do. The answer you gave to Malcom Chambers below actually is helping me though. I now can fleetingly get the note in my buzz but not consistently. Is there something I can do to get it more consistent other than keep trying? The main reason for my comment is that I want to let you know that video is reaching others who really appreciate it. And also perhaps to let you know that it is important to mention how to keep the lips close to the teeth. And also, I think it is important to align the lower teeth with the upper teeth (I guess I mean to bring the jaw forward to align them) as Doc Severson made me do by describing biting into celery in his video. That helped me and I didn't get it on my own and needed reading your interchange with Malcom.
Hello F Cohen, Thank you for your comment. I'm glad the video is helping you and other people. That's what it's here for, and it makes me feel good to know that it's making a difference. You asked "Is there something I can do to get it more consistent other than keep trying?" Really, my answer to that question may surprise you. I still do the lip buzz exercises every day. If I look at my experience with lip buzz from the context of your question, then I would have to say that I am still "trying". Right? See, I don't see it that way. The problem is that explaining how I DO see it is a bit complicated. Yes, I do want to improve whatever can be improved. Even at this stage. I've been doing the lip buzz exercises for decades... I STILL want to improve them. However, improvement is NOT the point of doing the exercises. I do not do the lip buzz exercises to improve my lip buzz. I do them to improve my trumpet playing. I do them because doing them regularly benefits my playing. As an analogy, consider what sit-ups, pull-ups or push-ups do for an athlete. When they are doing these exercises, is the objective to do them better???? Or is the objective to improve at their sport? Of course, you can always improve the form of those exercise, or the procedure, or do something to make them better. And I would think that any great athlete who learns about something they can do to make their exercises better would do that??? But that is not the objective for doing those exercises. So it really doesn't matter how good or bad the lip buzz is. Even a trombone buzz is beneficial to a certain degree. An actual trumpet buzz is better, of course, but when we get so close to the trees, we lose sight of the forest. The point is to do them every day. Not just "keep trying". :-) I hope that makes sense. Keep trying makes it sound like there's some end point along the way. With lip buzz, there's no end point. If doing them makes you a better player, then you keep doing them...just like an athlete keeps doing push-ups, etc. I know the philosophy of all of this is a bit deep. It's not just a straight ahead "do this" or "do that". The more you watch my videos, the more a lot of what I just wrote will begin to make sense. here is a play list with most of my instructional stuff in it: ruclips.net/p/PLkTz_STFBZcF6-XrR-2zVqFBllDg2yi1S If you spend time on this play list, a lot of what I'm saying here will begin to fall in place. Thanks again for your comments. I appreciate you reaching out! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Eddie
You're welcome. Please let me know if you ever have any questions. We have a semi-regular live stream Q and A where you can ask questions live. Or you can leave comments or send me emails from my websites.
I think the point you made about not making an ‘M’ is the most important part of your tutorial. I have been doing that up to now but just trying your method has opened up a new avenue of experimentation for me as I try to perfect an embouchure. Thanks!
Yeah, the "M" thing has been a problem with some people over the years. I don't think it's a problem for everyone. It really has to do with our own personal experiences leading up to that point in time. But that's why I don't like it, not because it doesn't work. It does work for some. But it's not accurate enough. Even for the people it does work for, the "M" thing doesn't really communicate in a meaningful way. It may "work" for some people, but does it add value? From my perspective, I don't think it does. Well I'm glad the info in this video is working for you.
Wow Eddie. That was a fantastic video. I didn't grow up in the USA so was self-taught on the trumpet and I have heard players say how important it is to learn to buzz but never taught HOW to do it. It's not complicated, but I learned from this video I was more "spit-buzzing" than normal buzzing. Thanks so much! I will check out your website as I live in South Texas.
Well, only kind of. It’s not mandatory to buzz. Many trumpet players learn fine without ever trying to buzz. But for those who attempt the buzz because of the benefits, then, YES, it can be one of the most difficult things that we do.
Hi Eddie, I found your video to be more helpful to me with regards to basic lip buzzing than anything that I've listened to and/or watched so far. The part about slowly closing the lips while blowing out - in order to get a basic beginning lip buzz was especially helpful to me. Thank you very much for sharing this video!
You are welcome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! I'm glad you liked the video and that it helped you with the lip buzz. That's what it's here for. No point in posting the trumpet help videos if they don't help! It means a lot when people let us know that it's helping because it plays a part in how we decide which trumpet help videos to do next. So thank you! I will respond to your other comment (on the off center mouthpiece placement) now, too
**Hello again Eddie, I have been practicing my (free) lip buzz for a short while now, but I seem to have quite a bit of trouble with varying the tone (the notes) when I'm free lip buzzing (*without* using a mouthpiece). (I seem to be able to get the first note [i.e. the first note that *you* lip buzz] pretty well, but then [without using a mouthpiece] I cant seem to get another tone out of my lips when I [free] lip buzz.) Would you please explain to me (once again) how you vary the tones (i.e. the notes) when you (free) lip buzz? Also, (and this is on another topic) I seem to be having basic embouchure problems with my cornet (and also, with my flugelhorn). As you probably recall, I am learning to play the trumpet (i.e. the cornet/flugelhorn - in my case) all over again - after a time lapse of many years - and also, I play *strictly by ear*. (Incidentally, my flugelhorn and my cornet are both inexpensive instruments [my flugelhorn was made in India, and my cornet was made in China].) But *both *of my instruments have a "spitty sound" coming out of them after just a very short time of playing. I then clear them out through the "spit valves," but the "spitty sound" soon returns after only a short time of playing (either instrument). I wondered if perhaps my instruments might both be defective, but that seems rather unlikely to me - because the problem is happening with *both* instruments - then my having a problem with somehow blowing too much spit into each one of the instruments when I play. I keep on trying to correct my basic embouchure (and my basic air flow), but the problem with the "spitty sound" continues - with both instruments - - over and over again. I really haven't been playing either instrument for that long of a time now, and my practice sessions are relatively short, easy and informal, so I doubt that I have somehow "blown my chops out." (But I'm not really sure about this...) Do you have any ideas of what may be going wrong for me? Any thoughts or suggestions from you would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help! Take care, and my best wishes to you and your family, Lar Tes
Hello Lar, I have seen videos, here on RUclips, that teach changing pitch on a lip buzz differently from what I teach. I use a rolling of the lips. I roll them in for higher notes and roll them out for lower notes. I will try to make a video demonstrating this, but it may be a while before I can get published here. As for the spitty sound, I can't be 100% sure about this, without meeting you and working with you, but it sure sounds like fatigue to me. I do not think it's your instrument. I have seen this before. Now, what it could be is your mouthpiece causing you to become fatigued. But even if it is, I don't suggest changing equipment for reasons of fatigue. Fatigue can be conquered. Other equipment issues usually cannot be. It breaks my heart sometimes when someone will come to a gig with a new horn, beautiful sound, great flexibility, etc... but then two weeks later I will see them and ask "What happened to that wonderful horn????" When they say that the horn made them tired, I just shake my head (mentally that is - because it's really none of my business what they choose to play on). We can overcome fatigue issues if they are "caused" by our equipment, so in my opinion, that should never be the reason we change instruments or mouthpieces. So, I have a question for you.... very important question: How much lip buzz are you doing? In terms of time? One minute? Five minutes? Ten minutes? And after you lip buzz, how much time are you practicing on the horn?
Hi Eddy, thanks for getting back to me. In answer to your first question, I only spend about one minute with my lip buzzing. (I quit so soon because I am so frustrated that my lip buzzing isn't more workable for me, and also, because I can't change notes when I [free] lip buzz.) I *can* change notes a little bit when I buzz through the mouthpiece. As for your second question, I usually practice playing my horn for about 1 1/2 to 3 hours or so. But I must admit that I do not have a very good (or realistic) warm-up time on my cornet. I can't read music, so I just follow the fingering chart for the notes in my beginner's trumpet/cornet instruction book. I play up and down at first in the lowest shown notes in the fingering chart, and then I play slowly up and down from low C to middle C and back again. At this point in time, what I'm trying most to do is to get nice clear note tones for each of the notes - *without* the "spitty sound" sounding as I play. But day after day, it just seems to be a losing battle for me, and I rarely get clear-sounding note tones. Suffice to say, I'm very frustrated at this point in time! Thanks for reading this. -- Lar Tes
This video is helpful. I've been trying to do a lip buzzing exercise and this has helped me to better understand the steps I'm still not getting the long notes but the buzz is cleaner and I am a little better in terms of air stream control.
That requires a great degree of self control. All body movements, even the most subtle movements, will cause a change in the tone of your buzz. Part of the objective of the exercise is to hold it as steady as possible. If you can do that, then you have made huge steps towards getting a great sound on the trumpet.
Eddie thanks for your advice since I watched your video 0n buzzing is brilliant. I think my lips just don't buzz air or blocked if I bring lips slowly together and air stream comes out no buzz until shut off. Lips pulled in toward teeth. I think it hinders any real progress in starting notes and plying coherent music. My I have dead lips not sure they can be resurrected. I practice every day just would like it as a hobby don't want it to take control of my life. Thanks Eddie you take care. Michael
Thank you for the video and the instructions. I´ve seen and heard a lot of videos and instructions about lip buzzing. But your video is the best. Now I finally understand how to work with it. Greetings Eje Åhlander, Gothenburg, Sweden
Hi Eddie, thank you for teaching these beneficial informations for us. I have a question, I'm trying to catch a pitch with buzzing but all I get is just a low ranged sound. How can I get high pitches with buzzing ?
Have you checked the pitch you are getting with a piano or something? How high are you buzzing now? My answer depends on where you are at this point so far.
I have a problem with my teeth also,mainly lost bottom set,,I can a type of buzz etc,please could tell me do both lips have vibrate,I can vibrate the top at a low level,the bottom lip covers most of the sound created, it's ok to a limit not very high but the tones ok ISH.I am only just starting out with the trumpet, so a different mind set,started saxophone 12mth ago and manage fairly well,so needed a extra challenge,the only note I could reckonise at the begin was a bank note.studing everyday,and practice.But as you say comfortable really the better way for each person you have been a great help getting me going,at 65 with COPD,PTSD don't think I am doing to bad,,take care god bless stay safe,Tommy
Thank you, Tommy. The most important thing about the lip buzz is that it's not a necessary prerequisite to playing the trumpet. Experimenting with lip buzz helps you learn and gives your mind tings to play with... but that is separate from your journey to learn how to play the trumpet. For that reason, it's important to NOT take theses lip buzz exercises too seriously. Play with it and see what happens, but learning how to play trumpet doesn't have to only happen after you learn to make a good buzz.
This could be a strength issue. I have had students who, when they first begin, they have very short endurance. After trying for a while, they have less difficulty with the longer endurance.
Great videos. I am from south Louisiana and recently retired. I took up trumpet recently and have trouble lip buzzing. Your technique is a great help but I'm still finding it difficult to buzz. Any suggestion? Thanks.
Without hearing/seeing you play, my best suggestion is to keep trying different ideas until you find what works. Don't just try to buzz the way you play the trumpet. I don't know if that's what you're doing, but if so, you will not get the full benefits of the buzz. In my system, we want the embouchure on the horn to match the embouchure of the buzz. Not the other way around. So you experiment until you find what makes the buzz work better, THEN you try to apply that to the trumpet. For some people, what I just described becomes a full-fledged embouchure change, which may or may not be worth the effort. For others, it's not as difficult to implement because they were almost playing like that to begin with. As with everyone else I talk to about this. Always keep in mind that it is not necessary to be able to buzz to play the trumpet well. I have had literally hundreds of trumpet students who "stressed" over the quality of their buzz, and that's the last thing I want for them. Buzzing is time spent experimenting. That's all. When we buzz, we learn about how the embouchure works. I tell my students that the benefit comes from DOING the buzz, not by mastering it. You do not have to master the buzz before it adds benefit to your playing. Just buzzing and experimenting helps, with or without mastering it.
"Very informative video! However, there are still two questions bothering me. About a week ago, I resumed playing the trumpet after a six-year hiatus. This time, my focus is on improving sound quality and range efficiently. In the past, I developed a habit of pressing too hard on the mouthpiece when playing in the upper register. I'm gradually learning to use my abdominal air support to reach higher notes, but so far, I've only managed to extend by one octave. My first question is, at what point should I consider changing my jaw/tongue position? (By this, I mean the sounds for saying 'aaa' or 'eee.') Secondly, in the upper register, do I need to move my lips, or should they remain in the same position as when playing a low C?" Feel free to let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to discuss further or if you have additional questions!
Hi Eddie, I enjoy you help, my questiion, why do I spit so much. My lips are always dry but i get a lot of 'spit when I try buzzing., is this normal? fran 88 year old trying to learn the trumpet.
fran piraino yes, I have heard of this. I don’t think it’s a serious issue. I can’t tell you for certain “why” it happens. If there are any doctors reading this, maybe they can explain it. If the saliva is too much of an inconvenience, I would suggest not doing the buzzing exercises. They are not that important. They are good as a way to help you progress, but many great players have done well without doing them. That said, I would like to congratulate you on your efforts. Keep up the good work.
hello, thank you for your videos, after I graduated in 97 I stopped playing and now after more than 20 years the desire has returned to me, but I'm a little confused with the mouthpiece .... with the lower lip , I can't find the right position with respect to the teeth ... a video of yours on this could be very useful, the correct position and height of the lips on the teeth ....
Hi Eddie, great video. Im a total beginner and of course I find lipsbuzzing hard, my lower lip vibrates better than the upper one, should it be the other way around?
That kind of stuff doesn't really matter. I think what you describe is normal, but even if it wasn't, it wouldn't matter. The lip buzz is just an opportunity for you to experience the raw mechanics of trumpet playing without the trumpet. It gives your mind more data to work with. So, whether you get it right or wrong, both will enhance your playing. I recently published a video that I call Trumpet Monte Carlo that talks about how I see this working (when wrong ways and right ways both contribute to your progress). Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/Vo_z279XZ4M/видео.html
Thanks for your video on free buzz, it helps me to produce a trumpet range pitch on lip buzzing. Do you play with the arch of your tongue for pitch change ?
You're welcome! I don't think of it as changing pitch but changing registers. But that said, maybe pitch too, just less perceptively so. The difference in tongue position within registers is a lot more subtle and less perceptible. This would be something that falls under the heading of subconscious control as opposed to being something we do with our conscious minds. But there is a LOT about trumpet playing that falls in that same category.
I am having a problem getting the buzzing sound. I’ve done the instructions you said I just can’t get the consistant buzzing sound. My sound is more like a farting noise. I think I might have to make my lips more firm. Thanks if you can help!
I hadn't meant to not respond to this comment. I did answer your question in my Trumpet Q & A last week. Here's the link to that video: ruclips.net/video/1cqh2IJkwEw/видео.html
Thank you very much for the explanation. I struggled with all of these M-approaches. Blowing through the mouthpiece reverse made me understand the necessary airflow, for which I never got any hint by my other "coaches" (I am an autodidact unfortunately). I can reach the pitch of your first buzz and hold it steadily now, but I dont seem to get any higher, just lower. I need to practice getting higher now I guess. Any tips on that?
This is how most people begin. So it's not uncommon. Part of it can be strength. To gain more strength, you want to check out my Strength Formula video and also my Three Levels of Rest video. These will help you grow your strength to get the higher notes. But there is also the issue of familiarity. So, on the days when you are pushing your endurance, you can spend time doing more of the buzzing. Not too much, but more than just a few minutes. This is far more valuable than strength building.
I have a large center part of my upper lip, hanging down like a beak. When I close my lips slowly that part touches first while there are still large spaces both left and right sides. It is impossible to buzz at the center. I can do it at one of the half sides. I wonder if Louis Armstrong had the same problem. When I see him playing in video or pictures of his playing, it looks like he was only using his right half of his of lips.
I answered you in our live stream Trumpet Q and A today. I think yours was the last question I answered. Here's the link: ruclips.net/user/liveoAfkf3sANQ8?feature=share
It doesn't really matter where the lips vibrate. We are more concerned with the posture of the lips. Once you place the mouthpiece on the embouchure, then the lips will vibrate where you need them to.
hello, great video. I am just starting to learn to play the trumpet and have started without lip buzzing. My sound has hit a plateau and I think it's my embouchure so I have looked at some embouchure and lip buzz videos. Watching your video was very clear, I can get a buzz easier when my lower lip is slightly to the left of centre, but when I use a visualizer (as suggested in some other videos) I can not get a good seal when I have the lower lip to the left a bit...when my lips are central I have a slight heart shape rather than a line aperture, using the visualizer, whereas other videos show a very flat aperture... will the ability to have parallel lips in the aperture come with practice or can I do an exercise or something to help? would lip buzzing be a good thing for that?
Hello Zarena, my advice is to not stress over what shape the aperture is. I know some great players who also have heart shaped apertures. That is just the shape your lips and musculature. My understanding is that the heart shaped aperture is actually a better aperture. I seem to remember this from a high note guru. Instead of stressing over the shape and visuals, pay more attention to the sound. Specifically, pay attention to the sound of your trumpet. In my system, the purpose of the lip buzz is to give your mind data to work with. We do NOT need to somehow "perfect" the buzz. There are a lot of people who see the lip buzz a prerequisite that must happen before they can play the trumpet correctly. But this simply is NOT true. Lip buzz is nothing more than a tool to help us understand how playing the trumpet works.
Please when buzzing the lips I could do it perfectly from watching your video but when I take my mouth piece to pitch I’m not able to produce the right sound any help please
Hello Cindy, I can't know for sure, but my first guess is that your mouthpiece is probably too small. Either that, or you are not placing it in an appropriate position on the lips. Have you tried placing it on different parts of the lip?
Dear Eddie, I can buzz my lips, but my lip buzz is too broad, like buzzing on a large trombone mouthpiece. That asks for a lot of air. How can I buzz with only the centre of my lips?
I have been asked this question before, but for other reasons. My answer was always that it doesn't matter if the vibrating surface is different from where we place the mouthpiece. You present it from a different standpoint. You're correct. If the aperture is too wide, then it can take too much air, and you end up not finishing the exercises in one breath. I still don't think this is a major problem, but I see your point. Remember that the primary importance is getting the correct lip posture. If you are buzzing and it sounds in the correct octave, then you will have proper posture. With time it should focus more on a more narrow spot. But it might never match your mouthpiece placement exactly.
@@eltigredo Thank you for this clear answer. I have already solved the problem myself: I place both tops of the indexes on my lips at the place where the mouthpiece must be placed very lightly without any pressure and blow between these fingers. Now I have a narrower spot to buzz. For now it works.
Sir I have no teeth, in your tutorial you said to get your lips tight on the teeth, I don't have that advantage and I refuse to wear my dentures. Can I still create a good buzz?
Hello Ramon, My advice to you is to bypass the lip buzz. There are some trumpet players who have played at a professional level without teeth. Chet Baker and Red Rodney are probably the two most famous of them. I say at the beginning of the video (if I remember correctly) that lip buzz is NOT a prerequisite to playing the trumpet. To find an embouchure that works without teeth is going to take a lot more experimentation. Through trial and error you can find what works for you. However, while trial and error with buzzing without the mouthpiece COULD be part of that experimentation, the primary focus should be on trying to get a sound on the horn. The way I teach lip buzz is as a beneficial supplement to the other exercises. I do NOT see it as a precursor to playing the horn. So, if you were my student, we would begin with the horn first. We would experiment with different positions and postures and different mouthpieces to see what happens. I don't know if there are videos of Red Rodney playing without teeth, but there are some of Chet Baker. I think it's worth while to watch some of those and see what that looks like. What is the angle of the instrument? Which muscles in the face look tight and which muscles look relaxed? This is not for the purposes of copying them, but for mere observation. I hope that at least helps a little. I don't have any experience working with students who have no teeth, so I can't offer any information based on such experience. All I have to offer here is based on theoretical diagnostics. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
@@eltigredo thanks man. I most definitely gonna look them up and observe how they make it what it do with no grill🤣 my most sincere thanks for taking the time to answer✊🏽
I also want to tell you that out of all the trumpet teachers here on RUclips that I asked advice you was the only one that actually took the time to give me a good answer. One asked me why I'm not wearing my dentures?? And that was it🤷🏽♂️ anyways thanks sir
I just cannot get a proper sound out of the trumpet. I feel stressed out trying to get a clean sound from my trumpet. I bought a trumpet but have not had any lessons. I’m thinking I made a mistake buying this trumpet as I cannot play it. Any advice?
My best advice is to be patient. I tell people all the time that getting a great tone of the trumpet is 99% mental. Because it is mental, it is also fragile. By that I mean, what we think can really screw it up. Getting "stressed out" doesn't make it better... it almost certainly makes it worse. So exercise patience. Anything more than that, I would have to see or hear what you are doing. But just based on your comment, that's all I have is be patient.
That's normal and it's a major reason why we do the exercises. When you learn, through experimentation, how to change pitch more easily, then that will spill over into your playing the horn.
That's the plan for now. I've never been to one of the conventions before. I've always either had gigs or they were too far away. This time, I'm planning to go, but don't know yet under what capacity. I would love to have a booth, but I'm hesitant to go as a "merchant" my first time. So we'll see. But yes, that's the plan for now. If I end up getting a really great gig for that time, I may end up taking the gig.
Hello Eddie! So when i buzz it is ok without mouthpiece or trumpet. But when i take trumpet or mouthpiece there is nothing or some terrible sound, not even any pitch. How to deal with that? Mouthpiece is 7C
Hello Zarc. I can't know 100% for certain without seeing you myself, but it sounds to me as if your mouthpiece is too small. Another possibility is that the angle of the instrument is off. Too far tilted in one direction can put too much pressure on one side of the lips and prevent them from vibrating. But the fact that you say it happens on the mouthpiece too, not just the trumpet, suggests to me that you should experiment with a bigger mouthpiece. Try using a 1C if you can find one to try. I'm not saying to buy a 1C. Please don't misunderstand me in that regard. If you buy every mouthpiece you try, it can end up being very expensive. Find someone that will let you try the mouthpiece for a few minutes. That's all you need. Just to see what happens. If it is instantly better on a 1C, then you will know right away that the mouthpiece size is the problem. If you live somewhere that you have no access to mouthpieces, then you can experiment with other materials, tubing, pipes, rings, stuff like that...just to see what happens. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
I teach vocals unusual way. Your exercise pretty closely describes how the sound is born in trachea. Add the pipe of the throat (trumpet), amplify by its resonance... Now you have jazz, sorry, voice
Hello Eddie, I hope that it was OK for me to send you a comment (in my *other* grouping of comments to you) saying (in effect) "I want to explain something to you". I had felt that (in good conscience) I owed you an explanation of how "laid back" my cornet practice sessions are - (because you had been both surprised and [apparently] impressed that I sometimes spend a whole three hours practicing my cornet). -- Lar Tes
Hello Lar Tes, Of course it was okay. I just don't always have time to respond. I am a professional trumpet player, so my weekends tend to be a bit hectic. I typically don't respond to emails or anything like that over the weekends. I will try to find you other comment and respond to it now.
Hi again Eddie, I'm still trying to play my cornet and to get a good-sounding tone out of each note, but it seems like I'm rapidly loosing ground with this. For a while, I was able to play pretty good sounding notes (tones), but apparently, I have currently been making some sort of mistake with the way I make my lip buzz into the cornet mouthpiece. Lately I've been watching myself lip buzz (free buzz) in the mirror, and I discovered something... Even though I try to draw my lips firmly back over my upper and lower teeth, I've noticed that my lower lip appears to be overlapping my upper lip a little bit when I lip buzz (free buzz) - (and this seems to be particularly so on my right hand side). I've (basically) tried to get back to a basic good lip position (i.e.a good basic embouchure) but I am finding that I am unsuccessful with doing this. It seems like I have somehow picked up some bad habits along the way in my playing, and apparently, I have to unlearn/re-learn how to lip buzz correctly all over again. (It's almost like I've somehow weakened my lips by "blowing them out" - apparently in the earlier stages of my cornet practicing.) Do you have any thoughts to share with me on what I could perhaps do now?
Hello Lar Tes, Lip buzz is not a prerequisite to playing the instrument. The way I teach lip buzz is that it is something we do on a regular basis that helps us play the trumpet (cornet) better. Judging from what you describe in this last comment, it sounds like you think lip buzz is something you need to master before it will help your playing. I disagree with that concept. In the past, when I have had students who were too caught up in the lip buzz... so much so that it was affecting their playing, I just tell them to stop doing the lip buzz. Out of all the exercises I assign my students, lip buzz is the least important. If it helps the students, then I want them to have that. If lip buzz does NOT help, then I want them to avoid it completely. Do you have a smart phone or something that you could take a video of you playing your instrument? You could upload it and set it to unlisted if you don't want anyone else to see it. The you could go to my website and send me the link. Make sure I can see your embouchure in the video. I will take a look and tell you if I can see anything wrong with what you are doing physically. Aside from that, my biggest advice for you is to stop doing the lip buzz. Just for your information, only about 2/3 of my students are assigned lip buzz. The others are told to stay away from it.
Hi Eddie, sorry it took me a while to get back to you... I see your point about my overemphasizing the lip buzz; I guess that I *have* been placing too much emphasis on lip buzz with regards to my cornet playing. Actually , I also discovered that I may be breathing and blowing inwards and outwards improperly. (Part of the reason that I think this is that I seem to get out of breath so easily when I play.) Apparently, I'm not breathing in and out from my *diaphragm* when I play notes... All that I know for sure is that when I first got this cornet a few months ago, I seemed to be able to play good clear note tones on it, and now I can't seem to do that at all. Also, I seem to get fatigued really easily when I play. (i.e. fatigued both in my lips and also in my chest) In answer to your suggestion of my sending a video of me playing my cornet to you via phone, I don't presently happen to have a video cam for use on my computer, so at this point, I wouldn't be able to take videos to send you of me playing my cornet. (Plus, I don't have "Skype," or anything like that.) But thanks very much for your offer of help with regards to this. (I'll give it some more thought before I abandon the idea though.) Incidentally, you've really been a lot of help to me, Eddie, and I appreciate it very much. :) My best wishes to you and to your family. -- Lar Tes
No need to apologize. I often can't respond right away either. It depends on my teaching and performance schedule. Have you considered the possibility of there being a blockage inside the trumpet? Are you certain that the valves are facing the right direction? I remember one time my exwife thought it was funny to throw gum wrappers down my bell when I wasn't looking. When I picked it up to play again, I couldn't figure out why I was playing so badly. Turns out, the gum wrappers were clogging my horn and making it sound that way. If you have a trumpet snake brush, you can run it through the instrument to make sure that it's clear of all obstructions. Then, when you put the instrument back together, make 100% sure that the valves are lined up with the tubing. Sometimes the cheaper instruments will have valve guides that have too much play in them. If your valves will turn more than five degrees in either direction, then they are probably not lining up right inside the instrument. It's something to look at. My father always taught me to tune up my car before I do any major repairs, to rule out any minor causes before I spend the big money on major work. This is sort of like that. Your problem may be some sort of blockage inside the trumpet. Just something to consider.
I have had a consistent problem with a double buzz on the trumpet. As a result the tone becomes somewhat "dirty". When lip buzzing, it is evident that two streams of air emerge on either side of the center of my lips. I have tried a number of things including mouthpiece placement to no avail. It is not improving over time as it has been going on now for years. What do you think I should do to eliminate the problem.
I believe double buzz comes from a very specific type of fatigue. That's what I call it. Maybe technically it's not really fatigue, but the way I see it, it behaves like a form of fatigue. So whether I'm write about what its cause is or not, the usually solution is the be certain you are resting correctly. I strongly recommend my Three Levels of Rest video. You can check it out here: ruclips.net/video/jId5o7B4QcM/видео.html
I know. That's how it is for everyone. There are types of fatigue that don't go away with even a week's worth of rest. That's why I said in my response that maybe this is not REALLY fatigue. But what else do you call something that gets fixed with proper rest? I call it fatigue because doing all three levels of rest fixes it. Whether it really is fatigue or not is just semantics. And the reason so many trumpet players fail to associate double buzz with resting is because they don't "feel" tired. Maybe the better word for it is "damaged". Maybe there is damage to the tissues that can't be healed until you rest properly. If you watch that video I gave you the link for and come back to me and say, "I am doing all three levels of rest", then I can work with you to find a different solution. But as a diagnostic tool, it's important to address the most likely causes first. The three levels of rest are important whether you have a double buzz or not. There is one exception (for people with a certain type of embouchure) to this, but I won't go into that right now.
I had never tried to see how long I can do a lip buzz, so when I read this, I tested myself. On the first time trying I made it to 40 seconds. I could probably extend that to 50 seconds or even a minute if I worked on it. I don't think I will.... because I don't see the point in it. But the answer to your question is YES, you can buzz for 30 seconds.
@@TheTimothy8136 Right. Let me clarify what I meant. It helps SOME TRUMPET PLAYERS. It doesn't help all of them. Some trumpet players play on embouchures that don't use the muscles to get the high notes. They use, instead, tissue manipulation. The lip buzz is for people who use muscular embouchures, NOT for those who use tissue manilpulation. I hope that makes sense.
I can buzz the mouthpiece, but I can for the life of me get a free buzz that doesn’t sound like either blowing raspberries or a high pitched squeek mixed with a low pitch distorted rattle. :(
THat's normal. It's a control issue. Your aperture is either too open (blowing raspberries) or to closed (squeeking). Part of learning to play trumpet involved the MANY MANY gradients between those two extremes.
That sounds like a good topic for another video. The truth is, different trumpet players change the note different ways. I'll will put this on my video ideas list. Can't make any promises, but I will put it on the list. Other than that, you could join us in one of the live stream Q and A's and we could talk about it then, live, so you can ask questions for clarification, etc.
Do not need to buzz lips freely to be able to play trumpet in fact buzzing the lips sounds harsh through the trumpet, if you play a smooth nice tone through the instrument and then remove it your lips won’t be buzzing.
I agree with your first statement 100%. I mention this fact every time I talk about lip buzz. The rest of your comment summarizes the decades old argument against free lip buzzing. That argument fails when you don’t take a trumpet player’s motivation into account. You must first ask “why” is someone practicing free lip buzz. For me and the way I teach, the argument doesn’t even come close to negating my motivation to practice free lip buzz.
Hello Malcolm, Thanks for checking out my video. It really is an isometric thing. The muscles you use to pucker your lips need to oppose the muscles you would use to pull the corners of your lips towards your ears. The more you flex those opposing muscle groups, the more "firm" the lips will become. This will hold the lips against the teeth. If the lips are blowing apart for the specific lip buzz exercise I demonstrated in the video, then you are probably not flexing those muscles hard enough to balance against the air. Keep the same air pressure, but flex the opposing muscles (lip muscles vs cheek muscles) more than you were before. Something to keep in mind is that when you flex the opposing muscles more, there is a tendency to mash the lips together too much. The top lip should only barely touch the lower lip. The should only gently come together, even though you are tensing the muscles so much. If you push the lips to hard into each other, then the air pressure will just blow them back apart. But if you only barely touch the lips together, while opposing the cheek and lip muscles, then you should get a good buzz when the lips first touch. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. Eddie Lewis
![ARGENTINA vs. PERÚ [1-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 12](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xtI25ENDDSY/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi. Your video is fantastic. I think it is wonderful that you are so precise (for example when you say it is not precise enough for you to say put your lips in the M sound position). That is how I learn things--by being very analytical--and I find that most music teachers aren't quite that way. So, I was happy to find you.
Despite that, I could not seem to get the buzz. It was easier for me (though not quite easy) to get what you call the trombone buzz but I couldn't seem to get that clear note you do. The answer you gave to Malcom Chambers below actually is helping me though. I now can fleetingly get the note in my buzz but not consistently. Is there something I can do to get it more consistent other than keep trying?
The main reason for my comment is that I want to let you know that video is reaching others who really appreciate it. And also perhaps to let you know that it is important to mention how to keep the lips close to the teeth. And also, I think it is important to align the lower teeth with the upper teeth (I guess I mean to bring the jaw forward to align them) as Doc Severson made me do by describing biting into celery in his video. That helped me and I didn't get it on my own and needed reading your interchange with Malcom.
Hello F Cohen,
Thank you for your comment. I'm glad the video is helping you and other people. That's what it's here for, and it makes me feel good to know that it's making a difference.
You asked "Is there something I can do to get it more consistent other than keep trying?" Really, my answer to that question may surprise you. I still do the lip buzz exercises every day. If I look at my experience with lip buzz from the context of your question, then I would have to say that I am still "trying". Right?
See, I don't see it that way. The problem is that explaining how I DO see it is a bit complicated. Yes, I do want to improve whatever can be improved. Even at this stage. I've been doing the lip buzz exercises for decades... I STILL want to improve them.
However, improvement is NOT the point of doing the exercises. I do not do the lip buzz exercises to improve my lip buzz. I do them to improve my trumpet playing. I do them because doing them regularly benefits my playing.
As an analogy, consider what sit-ups, pull-ups or push-ups do for an athlete. When they are doing these exercises, is the objective to do them better???? Or is the objective to improve at their sport? Of course, you can always improve the form of those exercise, or the procedure, or do something to make them better. And I would think that any great athlete who learns about something they can do to make their exercises better would do that??? But that is not the objective for doing those exercises.
So it really doesn't matter how good or bad the lip buzz is. Even a trombone buzz is beneficial to a certain degree. An actual trumpet buzz is better, of course, but when we get so close to the trees, we lose sight of the forest. The point is to do them every day. Not just "keep trying". :-) I hope that makes sense. Keep trying makes it sound like there's some end point along the way. With lip buzz, there's no end point. If doing them makes you a better player, then you keep doing them...just like an athlete keeps doing push-ups, etc.
I know the philosophy of all of this is a bit deep. It's not just a straight ahead "do this" or "do that". The more you watch my videos, the more a lot of what I just wrote will begin to make sense. here is a play list with most of my instructional stuff in it:
ruclips.net/p/PLkTz_STFBZcF6-XrR-2zVqFBllDg2yi1S
If you spend time on this play list, a lot of what I'm saying here will begin to fall in place.
Thanks again for your comments. I appreciate you reaching out!
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Eddie
F Cohen u have the same last name as my friend Rose
@@calypsq It's actually a pretty common last name.
I've been struggeling a lot with buzzing, but your video has really helped me to finally be able to do it! Thank you so much!!
Wonderful!!! I'm so glad to hear it! Thanks for letting us know.
Awsome, the first tutorial i instantly understood, how to form my lips. Thank you for that.
Good. Let me know if you have any questions.
Just picking the Trumpet up again for the First time in more than 30 YEARS.. Thank you for these tips and techniques!
You're welcome. Please let me know if you ever have any questions. We have a semi-regular live stream Q and A where you can ask questions live. Or you can leave comments or send me emails from my websites.
I think the point you made about not making an ‘M’ is the most important part of your tutorial. I have been doing that up to now but just trying your method has opened up a new avenue of experimentation for me as I try to perfect an embouchure. Thanks!
Yeah, the "M" thing has been a problem with some people over the years. I don't think it's a problem for everyone. It really has to do with our own personal experiences leading up to that point in time. But that's why I don't like it, not because it doesn't work. It does work for some. But it's not accurate enough. Even for the people it does work for, the "M" thing doesn't really communicate in a meaningful way. It may "work" for some people, but does it add value? From my perspective, I don't think it does.
Well I'm glad the info in this video is working for you.
This is actually helping to get the sound
Good. I'm glad to hear that.
9:37 incorrect pitch
9:49 correct pitch
4:07 buzz
8:38 two tones
:-)
Wow Eddie. That was a fantastic video. I didn't grow up in the USA so was self-taught on the trumpet and I have heard players say how important it is to learn to buzz but never taught HOW to do it. It's not complicated, but I learned from this video I was more "spit-buzzing" than normal buzzing. Thanks so much! I will check out your website as I live in South Texas.
Good! I'm glad you got something from this video. Thanks for your comments on this and other videos and I'm sorry it took so long to respond.
Thank you! this is great information just the idea of bringing the lips in changed everything and made it easy!
Wonderful! I'm glad it helped.
Excellent discussion of the reasons for buzzing, enough to make one take the (difficult) James Stamp exercises seriously.
Hello Michael, thank you. I'm glad you like the video. You're right, James Stamp is part of the trumpet history that lead us to where we are today.
Thanks a lot. It is the hardest part of the trumpet.
Well, only kind of. It’s not mandatory to buzz. Many trumpet players learn fine without ever trying to buzz. But for those who attempt the buzz because of the benefits, then, YES, it can be one of the most difficult things that we do.
Hi Eddie, I found your video to be more helpful to me with regards to basic lip buzzing than anything that I've listened to and/or watched so far. The part about slowly closing the lips while blowing out - in order to get a basic beginning lip buzz was especially helpful to me. Thank you very much for sharing this video!
You are welcome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! I'm glad you liked the video and that it helped you with the lip buzz. That's what it's here for. No point in posting the trumpet help videos if they don't help! It means a lot when people let us know that it's helping because it plays a part in how we decide which trumpet help videos to do next. So thank you! I will respond to your other comment (on the off center mouthpiece placement) now, too
**Hello again Eddie, I have been practicing my (free) lip buzz for a short while now, but I seem to have quite a bit of trouble with varying the tone (the notes) when I'm free lip buzzing (*without* using a mouthpiece). (I seem to be able to get the first note [i.e. the first note that *you* lip buzz] pretty well, but then [without using a mouthpiece] I cant seem to get another tone out of my lips when I [free] lip buzz.) Would you please explain to me (once again) how you vary the tones (i.e. the notes) when you (free) lip buzz?
Also, (and this is on another topic) I seem to be having basic embouchure problems with my cornet (and also, with my flugelhorn). As you probably recall, I am learning to play the trumpet (i.e. the cornet/flugelhorn - in my case) all over again - after a time lapse of many years - and also, I play *strictly by ear*. (Incidentally, my flugelhorn and my cornet are both inexpensive instruments [my flugelhorn was made in India, and my cornet was made in China].) But *both *of my instruments have a "spitty sound" coming out of them after just a very short time of playing. I then clear them out through the "spit valves," but the "spitty sound" soon returns after only a short time of playing (either instrument). I wondered if perhaps my instruments might both be defective, but that seems rather unlikely to me - because the problem is happening with *both* instruments - then my having a problem with somehow blowing too much spit into each one of the instruments when I play. I keep on trying to correct my basic embouchure (and my basic air flow), but the problem with the "spitty sound" continues - with both instruments - - over and over again. I really haven't been playing either instrument for that long of a time now, and my practice sessions are relatively short, easy and informal, so I doubt that I have somehow "blown my chops out." (But I'm not really sure about this...)
Do you have any ideas of what may be going wrong for me? Any thoughts or suggestions from you would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
Take care, and my best wishes to you and your family,
Lar Tes
Hello Lar,
I have seen videos, here on RUclips, that teach changing pitch on a lip buzz differently from what I teach. I use a rolling of the lips. I roll them in for higher notes and roll them out for lower notes. I will try to make a video demonstrating this, but it may be a while before I can get published here.
As for the spitty sound, I can't be 100% sure about this, without meeting you and working with you, but it sure sounds like fatigue to me. I do not think it's your instrument. I have seen this before.
Now, what it could be is your mouthpiece causing you to become fatigued. But even if it is, I don't suggest changing equipment for reasons of fatigue. Fatigue can be conquered. Other equipment issues usually cannot be.
It breaks my heart sometimes when someone will come to a gig with a new horn, beautiful sound, great flexibility, etc... but then two weeks later I will see them and ask "What happened to that wonderful horn????" When they say that the horn made them tired, I just shake my head (mentally that is - because it's really none of my business what they choose to play on). We can overcome fatigue issues if they are "caused" by our equipment, so in my opinion, that should never be the reason we change instruments or mouthpieces.
So, I have a question for you.... very important question:
How much lip buzz are you doing? In terms of time? One minute? Five minutes? Ten minutes?
And after you lip buzz, how much time are you practicing on the horn?
Hi Eddy, thanks for getting back to me. In answer to your first question, I only spend about one minute with my lip buzzing. (I quit so soon because I am so frustrated that my lip buzzing isn't more workable for me, and also, because I can't change notes when I [free] lip buzz.) I *can* change notes a little bit when I buzz through the mouthpiece. As for your second question, I usually practice playing my horn for about 1 1/2 to 3 hours or so. But I must admit that I do not have a very good (or realistic) warm-up time on my cornet. I can't read music, so I just follow the fingering chart for the notes in my beginner's trumpet/cornet instruction book. I play up and down at first in the lowest shown notes in the fingering chart, and then I play slowly up and down from low C to middle C and back again. At this point in time, what I'm trying most to do is to get nice clear note tones for each of the notes - *without* the "spitty sound" sounding as I play. But day after day, it just seems to be a losing battle for me, and I rarely get clear-sounding note tones. Suffice to say, I'm very frustrated at this point in time!
Thanks for reading this.
-- Lar Tes
Are you taking a day off per week, at least? Or are you doing that much practice every day?
This video is helpful. I've been trying to do a lip buzzing exercise and this has helped me to better understand the steps I'm still not getting the long notes but the buzz is cleaner and I am a little better in terms of air stream control.
Congratulations. I assume this has improved since you posted this comment?
Thank you so much!! i've been trying and failing miserably for a while -- you gave me the secret handshake. THANK YOU!
Wonderful! I am glad this video helped you. I love the handshake metaphor!
Hi eddie...when i buzz...i can hear different sounds at different times .how can i make it stable
That requires a great degree of self control. All body movements, even the most subtle movements, will cause a change in the tone of your buzz. Part of the objective of the exercise is to hold it as steady as possible. If you can do that, then you have made huge steps towards getting a great sound on the trumpet.
Hello Eddie, thanks so much for your advice on lip buzzing.it always seems to come out air. Not any buzzing. Thanks very much for your help Michael
Hello Michael. If you give me more info I can try to help you work through this.
Eddie thanks for your advice since I watched your video 0n buzzing is brilliant. I think my lips just don't buzz air or blocked if I bring lips slowly together and air stream comes out no buzz until shut off. Lips pulled in toward teeth. I think it hinders any real progress in starting notes and plying coherent music. My I have dead lips not sure they can be resurrected. I practice every day just would like it as a hobby don't want it to take control of my life. Thanks Eddie you take care. Michael
Thank you for the video and the instructions. I´ve seen and heard a lot of videos and instructions about lip buzzing. But your video is the best. Now I finally understand how to work with it. Greetings Eje Åhlander, Gothenburg, Sweden
Thank you so much! I'm honored by your words!
Hi Eddie, thank you for teaching these beneficial informations for us. I have a question, I'm trying to catch a pitch with buzzing but all I get is just a low ranged sound. How can I get high pitches with buzzing ?
Have you checked the pitch you are getting with a piano or something? How high are you buzzing now? My answer depends on where you are at this point so far.
@@eltigredo Help I'm having the same issue my buzz is really low pitched and when I put it into my trumpet I sound like a dying elaphant
I have seen several Videos of this. Thank you this Is great.
Thank you Jose!
I have a problem with my teeth also,mainly lost bottom set,,I can a type of buzz etc,please could tell me do both lips have vibrate,I can vibrate the top at a low level,the bottom lip covers most of the sound created, it's ok to a limit not very high but the tones ok ISH.I am only just starting out with the trumpet, so a different mind set,started saxophone 12mth ago and manage fairly well,so needed a extra challenge,the only note I could reckonise at the begin was a bank note.studing everyday,and practice.But as you say comfortable really the better way for each person you have been a great help getting me going,at 65 with COPD,PTSD don't think I am doing to bad,,take care god bless stay safe,Tommy
Thank you, Tommy. The most important thing about the lip buzz is that it's not a necessary prerequisite to playing the trumpet. Experimenting with lip buzz helps you learn and gives your mind tings to play with... but that is separate from your journey to learn how to play the trumpet. For that reason, it's important to NOT take theses lip buzz exercises too seriously. Play with it and see what happens, but learning how to play trumpet doesn't have to only happen after you learn to make a good buzz.
Hi, I'm new to learning the trumpet. your video is very good thanks for the technique But I have one problem that I can't buzzing for a long time
This could be a strength issue. I have had students who, when they first begin, they have very short endurance. After trying for a while, they have less difficulty with the longer endurance.
Great videos. I am from south Louisiana and recently retired. I took up trumpet recently and have trouble lip buzzing. Your technique is a great help but I'm still finding it difficult to buzz. Any suggestion? Thanks.
Without hearing/seeing you play, my best suggestion is to keep trying different ideas until you find what works. Don't just try to buzz the way you play the trumpet. I don't know if that's what you're doing, but if so, you will not get the full benefits of the buzz. In my system, we want the embouchure on the horn to match the embouchure of the buzz. Not the other way around. So you experiment until you find what makes the buzz work better, THEN you try to apply that to the trumpet.
For some people, what I just described becomes a full-fledged embouchure change, which may or may not be worth the effort. For others, it's not as difficult to implement because they were almost playing like that to begin with.
As with everyone else I talk to about this. Always keep in mind that it is not necessary to be able to buzz to play the trumpet well. I have had literally hundreds of trumpet students who "stressed" over the quality of their buzz, and that's the last thing I want for them.
Buzzing is time spent experimenting. That's all. When we buzz, we learn about how the embouchure works. I tell my students that the benefit comes from DOING the buzz, not by mastering it. You do not have to master the buzz before it adds benefit to your playing. Just buzzing and experimenting helps, with or without mastering it.
Hi Eddie .Great video I couldn't buzz because of the lip tension but your video really helped me.
That's wonderful! I'm glad to hear it.
Following your video and the intructions on the lip buzz, but failing to get a decent sound. I will persevere though. Nice video sir
Thank you. I hope you make great strides in your trumpet playing!
"Very informative video!
However, there are still two questions bothering me.
About a week ago, I resumed playing the trumpet after a six-year hiatus. This time, my focus is on improving sound quality and range efficiently. In the past, I developed a habit of pressing too hard on the mouthpiece when playing in the upper register. I'm gradually learning to use my abdominal air support to reach higher notes, but so far, I've only managed to extend by one octave.
My first question is, at what point should I consider changing my jaw/tongue position? (By this, I mean the sounds for saying 'aaa' or 'eee.')
Secondly, in the upper register, do I need to move my lips, or should they remain in the same position as when playing a low C?"
Feel free to let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to discuss further or if you have additional questions!
I will try to remember to answer your questions in our next QandA.
Hi Eddie,
Thanks I am just learning the Trumpet I would need more tips on lip buzzing.
What kind of tips are you looking for? What problems are you running into?
Hi Eddie, I enjoy you help, my questiion, why do I spit so much. My lips are always dry but i get a lot of 'spit when I try buzzing., is this normal?
fran 88 year old trying to learn the trumpet.
fran piraino yes, I have heard of this. I don’t think it’s a serious issue. I can’t tell you for certain “why” it happens. If there are any doctors reading this, maybe they can explain it.
If the saliva is too much of an inconvenience, I would suggest not doing the buzzing exercises. They are not that important. They are good as a way to help you progress, but many great players have done well without doing them.
That said, I would like to congratulate you on your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Great tips, thanks man!
You’re welcome.
Thanks Eddie. Hope you have a great 2021.
Thank you. Yes, a wonderful 2021 is greatly anticipated. I hope things go well for you too.
hello, thank you for your videos, after I graduated in 97 I stopped playing and now after more than 20 years the desire has returned to me, but I'm a little confused with the mouthpiece .... with the lower lip , I can't find the right position with respect to the teeth ... a video of yours on this could be very useful, the correct position and height of the lips on the teeth ....
Hello Alessio, I got your email and just responded.
Thank you so much. You explained it very well.
Thank you! I'm glad it helped.
What is the music played at the end? It's catchy!
I'm glad you like it! It's a trumpet ensemble I wrote called Good Shepherd Shuffle. Here's the full video: ruclips.net/video/kme_blQ_q1A/видео.html
Thank you very much. You really help me out with this.
You're welcome. I'm glad the video helped.
Hi Eddie, great video. Im a total beginner and of course I find lipsbuzzing hard, my lower lip vibrates better than the upper one, should it be the other way around?
That kind of stuff doesn't really matter. I think what you describe is normal, but even if it wasn't, it wouldn't matter. The lip buzz is just an opportunity for you to experience the raw mechanics of trumpet playing without the trumpet. It gives your mind more data to work with. So, whether you get it right or wrong, both will enhance your playing.
I recently published a video that I call Trumpet Monte Carlo that talks about how I see this working (when wrong ways and right ways both contribute to your progress). Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/Vo_z279XZ4M/видео.html
Thank you
You're welcome
Exactly the video I was looking for
Good. I'm glad it helped.
Great tutorial!
Thank you!
Harika bilgiler teşekkür ederim ❤
You're welcome.
Thanks for your video on free buzz, it helps me to produce a trumpet range pitch on lip buzzing. Do you play with the arch of your tongue for pitch change ?
You're welcome! I don't think of it as changing pitch but changing registers. But that said, maybe pitch too, just less perceptively so. The difference in tongue position within registers is a lot more subtle and less perceptible. This would be something that falls under the heading of subconscious control as opposed to being something we do with our conscious minds. But there is a LOT about trumpet playing that falls in that same category.
RIGHT AWAY I GOT IT THANKS VID 100%
That's wonderful! I'm glad you could make it work.
I am having a problem getting the buzzing sound. I’ve done the instructions you said I just can’t get the consistant buzzing sound. My sound is more like a farting noise. I think I might have to make my lips more firm. Thanks if you can help!
I hadn't meant to not respond to this comment. I did answer your question in my Trumpet Q & A last week. Here's the link to that video: ruclips.net/video/1cqh2IJkwEw/видео.html
Thank you very much for the explanation. I struggled with all of these M-approaches. Blowing through the mouthpiece reverse made me understand the necessary airflow, for which I never got any hint by my other "coaches" (I am an autodidact unfortunately). I can reach the pitch of your first buzz and hold it steadily now, but I dont seem to get any higher, just lower. I need to practice getting higher now I guess. Any tips on that?
This is how most people begin. So it's not uncommon. Part of it can be strength. To gain more strength, you want to check out my Strength Formula video and also my Three Levels of Rest video. These will help you grow your strength to get the higher notes.
But there is also the issue of familiarity. So, on the days when you are pushing your endurance, you can spend time doing more of the buzzing. Not too much, but more than just a few minutes. This is far more valuable than strength building.
Hi Eddie, great video but could you give more pointers about how to lower / straighten the jaw
If you can clarify what you mean, maybe I can help you.
Thanks alot sir❤
You’re welcome.
I have a large center part of my upper lip, hanging down like a beak. When I close my lips slowly that part touches first while there are still large spaces both left and right sides. It is impossible to buzz at the center. I can do it at one of the half sides. I wonder if Louis Armstrong had the same problem. When I see him playing in video or pictures of his playing, it looks like he was only using his right half of his of lips.
I answered you in our live stream Trumpet Q and A today. I think yours was the last question I answered. Here's the link: ruclips.net/user/liveoAfkf3sANQ8?feature=share
Im only able to do it with side of my lips. Really struggling with center of the lips. Any tips?
It doesn't really matter where the lips vibrate. We are more concerned with the posture of the lips. Once you place the mouthpiece on the embouchure, then the lips will vibrate where you need them to.
hello, great video. I am just starting to learn to play the trumpet and have started without lip buzzing. My sound has hit a plateau and I think it's my embouchure so I have looked at some embouchure and lip buzz videos. Watching your video was very clear, I can get a buzz easier when my lower lip is slightly to the left of centre, but when I use a visualizer (as suggested in some other videos) I can not get a good seal when I have the lower lip to the left a bit...when my lips are central I have a slight heart shape rather than a line aperture, using the visualizer, whereas other videos show a very flat aperture... will the ability to have parallel lips in the aperture come with practice or can I do an exercise or something to help? would lip buzzing be a good thing for that?
Hello Zarena, my advice is to not stress over what shape the aperture is. I know some great players who also have heart shaped apertures. That is just the shape your lips and musculature. My understanding is that the heart shaped aperture is actually a better aperture. I seem to remember this from a high note guru.
Instead of stressing over the shape and visuals, pay more attention to the sound. Specifically, pay attention to the sound of your trumpet.
In my system, the purpose of the lip buzz is to give your mind data to work with. We do NOT need to somehow "perfect" the buzz. There are a lot of people who see the lip buzz a prerequisite that must happen before they can play the trumpet correctly. But this simply is NOT true. Lip buzz is nothing more than a tool to help us understand how playing the trumpet works.
I got it! Thx for the vid
You're welcome!
Please when buzzing the lips I could do it perfectly from watching your video but when I take my mouth piece to pitch I’m not able to produce the right sound any help please
Hello Cindy, I can't know for sure, but my first guess is that your mouthpiece is probably too small. Either that, or you are not placing it in an appropriate position on the lips. Have you tried placing it on different parts of the lip?
@@eltigredo I always place the mouth piece at the middle of my lips. 7C mouth piece
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Dear Eddie, I can buzz my lips, but my lip buzz is too broad, like buzzing on a large trombone mouthpiece. That asks for a lot of air. How can I buzz with only the centre of my lips?
I have been asked this question before, but for other reasons. My answer was always that it doesn't matter if the vibrating surface is different from where we place the mouthpiece. You present it from a different standpoint. You're correct. If the aperture is too wide, then it can take too much air, and you end up not finishing the exercises in one breath. I still don't think this is a major problem, but I see your point. Remember that the primary importance is getting the correct lip posture. If you are buzzing and it sounds in the correct octave, then you will have proper posture. With time it should focus more on a more narrow spot. But it might never match your mouthpiece placement exactly.
@@eltigredo Thank you for this clear answer. I have already solved the problem myself: I place both tops of the indexes on my lips at the place where the mouthpiece must be placed very lightly without any pressure and blow between these fingers. Now I have a narrower spot to buzz. For now it works.
Sir I have no teeth, in your tutorial you said to get your lips tight on the teeth, I don't have that advantage and I refuse to wear my dentures. Can I still create a good buzz?
Hello Ramon,
My advice to you is to bypass the lip buzz.
There are some trumpet players who have played at a professional level without teeth. Chet Baker and Red Rodney are probably the two most famous of them.
I say at the beginning of the video (if I remember correctly) that lip buzz is NOT a prerequisite to playing the trumpet. To find an embouchure that works without teeth is going to take a lot more experimentation. Through trial and error you can find what works for you.
However, while trial and error with buzzing without the mouthpiece COULD be part of that experimentation, the primary focus should be on trying to get a sound on the horn.
The way I teach lip buzz is as a beneficial supplement to the other exercises. I do NOT see it as a precursor to playing the horn. So, if you were my student, we would begin with the horn first. We would experiment with different positions and postures and different mouthpieces to see what happens.
I don't know if there are videos of Red Rodney playing without teeth, but there are some of Chet Baker. I think it's worth while to watch some of those and see what that looks like. What is the angle of the instrument? Which muscles in the face look tight and which muscles look relaxed? This is not for the purposes of copying them, but for mere observation.
I hope that at least helps a little. I don't have any experience working with students who have no teeth, so I can't offer any information based on such experience. All I have to offer here is based on theoretical diagnostics.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
@@eltigredo thanks man. I most definitely gonna look them up and observe how they make it what it do with no grill🤣 my most sincere thanks for taking the time to answer✊🏽
I also want to tell you that out of all the trumpet teachers here on RUclips that I asked advice you was the only one that actually took the time to give me a good answer. One asked me why I'm not wearing my dentures?? And that was it🤷🏽♂️ anyways thanks sir
I just cannot get a proper sound out of the trumpet. I feel stressed out trying to get a clean sound from my trumpet. I bought a trumpet but have not had any lessons. I’m thinking I made a mistake buying this trumpet as I cannot play it. Any advice?
My best advice is to be patient. I tell people all the time that getting a great tone of the trumpet is 99% mental. Because it is mental, it is also fragile. By that I mean, what we think can really screw it up. Getting "stressed out" doesn't make it better... it almost certainly makes it worse. So exercise patience. Anything more than that, I would have to see or hear what you are doing. But just based on your comment, that's all I have is be patient.
I have difficulty changing pitches when lip buzzing for trumpet
That's normal and it's a major reason why we do the exercises. When you learn, through experimentation, how to change pitch more easily, then that will spill over into your playing the horn.
Are you going to be at ITG in San Antonio 2018
That's the plan for now. I've never been to one of the conventions before. I've always either had gigs or they were too far away. This time, I'm planning to go, but don't know yet under what capacity. I would love to have a booth, but I'm hesitant to go as a "merchant" my first time. So we'll see. But yes, that's the plan for now. If I end up getting a really great gig for that time, I may end up taking the gig.
Just thought I would let you know that I got my tickets and I'll be at ITG this year.
Hello Eddie! So when i buzz it is ok without mouthpiece or trumpet. But when i take trumpet or mouthpiece there is nothing or some terrible sound, not even any pitch. How to deal with that? Mouthpiece is 7C
Hello Zarc. I can't know 100% for certain without seeing you myself, but it sounds to me as if your mouthpiece is too small. Another possibility is that the angle of the instrument is off. Too far tilted in one direction can put too much pressure on one side of the lips and prevent them from vibrating. But the fact that you say it happens on the mouthpiece too, not just the trumpet, suggests to me that you should experiment with a bigger mouthpiece.
Try using a 1C if you can find one to try. I'm not saying to buy a 1C. Please don't misunderstand me in that regard. If you buy every mouthpiece you try, it can end up being very expensive. Find someone that will let you try the mouthpiece for a few minutes. That's all you need. Just to see what happens. If it is instantly better on a 1C, then you will know right away that the mouthpiece size is the problem.
If you live somewhere that you have no access to mouthpieces, then you can experiment with other materials, tubing, pipes, rings, stuff like that...just to see what happens.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
@@eltigredo ok Eddie thanks for advise i will try to experiment with this. Thanks
I teach vocals unusual way. Your exercise pretty closely describes how the sound is born in trachea. Add the pipe of the throat (trumpet), amplify by its resonance... Now you have jazz, sorry, voice
I can see that working a lot like what I teach. Thanks for pointing out the similarity.
Hello Eddie, I hope that it was OK for me to send you a comment (in my *other* grouping of comments to you) saying (in effect) "I want to explain something to you". I had felt that (in good conscience) I owed you an explanation of how "laid back" my cornet practice sessions are - (because you had been both surprised and [apparently] impressed that I sometimes spend a whole three hours practicing my cornet). -- Lar Tes
Hello Lar Tes,
Of course it was okay. I just don't always have time to respond. I am a professional trumpet player, so my weekends tend to be a bit hectic. I typically don't respond to emails or anything like that over the weekends. I will try to find you other comment and respond to it now.
Hi again Eddie, I'm still trying to play my cornet and to get a good-sounding tone out of each note, but it seems like I'm rapidly loosing ground with this. For a while, I was able to play pretty good sounding notes (tones), but apparently, I have currently been making some sort of mistake with the way I make my lip buzz into the cornet mouthpiece. Lately I've been watching myself lip buzz (free buzz) in the mirror, and I discovered something... Even though I try to draw my lips firmly back over my upper and lower teeth, I've noticed that my lower lip appears to be overlapping my upper lip a little bit when I lip buzz (free buzz) - (and this seems to be particularly so on my right hand side). I've (basically) tried to get back to a basic good lip position (i.e.a good basic embouchure) but I am finding that I am unsuccessful with doing this. It seems like I have somehow picked up some bad habits along the way in my playing, and apparently, I have to unlearn/re-learn how to lip buzz correctly all over again. (It's almost like I've somehow weakened my lips by "blowing them out" - apparently in the earlier stages of my cornet practicing.) Do you have any thoughts to share with me on what I could perhaps do now?
Hello Lar Tes,
Lip buzz is not a prerequisite to playing the instrument. The way I teach lip buzz is that it is something we do on a regular basis that helps us play the trumpet (cornet) better.
Judging from what you describe in this last comment, it sounds like you think lip buzz is something you need to master before it will help your playing. I disagree with that concept.
In the past, when I have had students who were too caught up in the lip buzz... so much so that it was affecting their playing, I just tell them to stop doing the lip buzz.
Out of all the exercises I assign my students, lip buzz is the least important. If it helps the students, then I want them to have that. If lip buzz does NOT help, then I want them to avoid it completely.
Do you have a smart phone or something that you could take a video of you playing your instrument? You could upload it and set it to unlisted if you don't want anyone else to see it. The you could go to my website and send me the link. Make sure I can see your embouchure in the video. I will take a look and tell you if I can see anything wrong with what you are doing physically.
Aside from that, my biggest advice for you is to stop doing the lip buzz.
Just for your information, only about 2/3 of my students are assigned lip buzz. The others are told to stay away from it.
Hi Eddie, sorry it took me a while to get back to you... I see your point about my overemphasizing the lip buzz; I guess that I *have* been placing too much emphasis on lip buzz with regards to my cornet playing. Actually , I also discovered that I may be breathing and blowing inwards and outwards improperly. (Part of the reason that I think this is that I seem to get out of breath so easily when I play.) Apparently, I'm not breathing in and out from my *diaphragm* when I play notes... All that I know for sure is that when I first got this cornet a few months ago, I seemed to be able to play good clear note tones on it, and now I can't seem to do that at all. Also, I seem to get fatigued really easily when I play. (i.e. fatigued both in my lips and also in my chest)
In answer to your suggestion of my sending a video of me playing my cornet to you via phone, I don't presently happen to have a video cam for use on my computer, so at this point, I wouldn't be able to take videos to send you of me playing my cornet. (Plus, I don't have "Skype," or anything like that.) But thanks very much for your offer of help with regards to this. (I'll give it some more thought before I abandon the idea though.) Incidentally, you've really been a lot of help to me, Eddie, and I appreciate it very much. :)
My best wishes to you and to your family. -- Lar Tes
No need to apologize. I often can't respond right away either. It depends on my teaching and performance schedule.
Have you considered the possibility of there being a blockage inside the trumpet? Are you certain that the valves are facing the right direction?
I remember one time my exwife thought it was funny to throw gum wrappers down my bell when I wasn't looking. When I picked it up to play again, I couldn't figure out why I was playing so badly. Turns out, the gum wrappers were clogging my horn and making it sound that way.
If you have a trumpet snake brush, you can run it through the instrument to make sure that it's clear of all obstructions. Then, when you put the instrument back together, make 100% sure that the valves are lined up with the tubing. Sometimes the cheaper instruments will have valve guides that have too much play in them. If your valves will turn more than five degrees in either direction, then they are probably not lining up right inside the instrument.
It's something to look at. My father always taught me to tune up my car before I do any major repairs, to rule out any minor causes before I spend the big money on major work. This is sort of like that. Your problem may be some sort of blockage inside the trumpet.
Just something to consider.
I need your help
What can I do for you?
Hi! Ive been strugling with lip buzzing it keeps on buzzing slightly on the side, not actually on the center
We will talk about this in the live stream Trumpet Q and A today. Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/sXTpJKpzZ78/видео.html
I have had a consistent problem with a double buzz on the trumpet. As a result the tone becomes somewhat "dirty". When lip buzzing, it is evident that two streams of air emerge on either side of the center of my lips. I have tried a number of things including mouthpiece placement to no avail. It is not improving over time as it has been going on now for years. What do you think I should do to eliminate the problem.
I believe double buzz comes from a very specific type of fatigue. That's what I call it. Maybe technically it's not really fatigue, but the way I see it, it behaves like a form of fatigue. So whether I'm write about what its cause is or not, the usually solution is the be certain you are resting correctly. I strongly recommend my Three Levels of Rest video. You can check it out here: ruclips.net/video/jId5o7B4QcM/видео.html
@@eltigredo I understand the fatigue and rest theory but my double buzz may occur even during warmup.
I know. That's how it is for everyone.
There are types of fatigue that don't go away with even a week's worth of rest. That's why I said in my response that maybe this is not REALLY fatigue. But what else do you call something that gets fixed with proper rest? I call it fatigue because doing all three levels of rest fixes it. Whether it really is fatigue or not is just semantics.
And the reason so many trumpet players fail to associate double buzz with resting is because they don't "feel" tired. Maybe the better word for it is "damaged". Maybe there is damage to the tissues that can't be healed until you rest properly.
If you watch that video I gave you the link for and come back to me and say, "I am doing all three levels of rest", then I can work with you to find a different solution. But as a diagnostic tool, it's important to address the most likely causes first.
The three levels of rest are important whether you have a double buzz or not. There is one exception (for people with a certain type of embouchure) to this, but I won't go into that right now.
Can you build up enough breath to last 30 seconds?
I had never tried to see how long I can do a lip buzz, so when I read this, I tested myself. On the first time trying I made it to 40 seconds. I could probably extend that to 50 seconds or even a minute if I worked on it. I don't think I will.... because I don't see the point in it. But the answer to your question is YES, you can buzz for 30 seconds.
How will I do lipp well
I'm not sure what you are asking.
Awesome,thought that you have to do the stupid lip buzz to play the trumpet or any brass instrument!!
No, it's not necessary. It helps. But there are a lot of great trumpet players who don't do "stupid lip buzz." Ha ha ha...
Eddie Lewis yeah,right it helps,it doesn’t help at all!!
@@TheTimothy8136 Right. Let me clarify what I meant. It helps SOME TRUMPET PLAYERS. It doesn't help all of them. Some trumpet players play on embouchures that don't use the muscles to get the high notes. They use, instead, tissue manipulation. The lip buzz is for people who use muscular embouchures, NOT for those who use tissue manilpulation. I hope that makes sense.
Eddie Lewis do you have any advice on how I can get the lip buzz PERFECTLY?
ilk denemelerde hiç ses çıkaramıyor olmam normal mi ?
Yes, it is normal. Maybe normal is the wrong word. It is common. There’s nothing “normal” about doing lip buzz for anyone. Haha!
How do I change the pitch
We're going to talk about this in the live stream Trumpet Q and A today.
Great video! Thank you very much!
Thank you, Michiel.
Please am struggling with the buzzing
Let me know what I can do for you.
Is the everyone buzzing sound is same or different?????
And sry my english too bad
I will answer this in tomorrow's live Trumpet Q & A. Thank you for the question!
I can buzz the mouthpiece, but I can for the life of me get a free buzz that doesn’t sound like either blowing raspberries or a high pitched squeek mixed with a low pitch distorted rattle. :(
THat's normal. It's a control issue. Your aperture is either too open (blowing raspberries) or to closed (squeeking). Part of learning to play trumpet involved the MANY MANY gradients between those two extremes.
This guy looks related to the GOW4 creator.
Ha ha!
You did not explain at any moment how to change the note of of the lip buzz
That sounds like a good topic for another video. The truth is, different trumpet players change the note different ways. I'll will put this on my video ideas list. Can't make any promises, but I will put it on the list. Other than that, you could join us in one of the live stream Q and A's and we could talk about it then, live, so you can ask questions for clarification, etc.
Do not need to buzz lips freely to be able to play trumpet in fact buzzing the lips sounds harsh through the trumpet, if you play a smooth nice tone through the instrument and then remove it your lips won’t be buzzing.
I agree with your first statement 100%. I mention this fact every time I talk about lip buzz. The rest of your comment summarizes the decades old argument against free lip buzzing. That argument fails when you don’t take a trumpet player’s motivation into account. You must first ask “why” is someone practicing free lip buzz. For me and the way I teach, the argument doesn’t even come close to negating my motivation to practice free lip buzz.
Hello, how do u keep your lips against your teeth?
Hello Malcolm,
Thanks for checking out my video.
It really is an isometric thing. The muscles you use to pucker your lips need to oppose the muscles you would use to pull the corners of your lips towards your ears. The more you flex those opposing muscle groups, the more "firm" the lips will become. This will hold the lips against the teeth.
If the lips are blowing apart for the specific lip buzz exercise I demonstrated in the video, then you are probably not flexing those muscles hard enough to balance against the air. Keep the same air pressure, but flex the opposing muscles (lip muscles vs cheek muscles) more than you were before.
Something to keep in mind is that when you flex the opposing muscles more, there is a tendency to mash the lips together too much. The top lip should only barely touch the lower lip. The should only gently come together, even though you are tensing the muscles so much. If you push the lips to hard into each other, then the air pressure will just blow them back apart. But if you only barely touch the lips together, while opposing the cheek and lip muscles, then you should get a good buzz when the lips first touch.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Eddie Lewis
Eddie,
Many thanks I'm workin on it now it reminds me of Doc Severinsen's illustration on embouchure ruclips.net/video/mjjSq81EALo/видео.htmlm10s
Thanks for the link. I like it.
Hi . Pleaaecan you help me ?I want to any books for you , but i dont have credit card , please help me i am love you and love books ...
saimbers which books of mine are you interested in?
Why doing this…
Hello Siegfried, I have a video about why we lip buzz that you can watch here: ruclips.net/video/85IwjwMkHcY/видео.html
Anyone else spit all over their screen
Ha ha ha!!!!