As a self-taught 69-year-old French Horn player, I’ve got to the point I can play scales and simple melodies after only three months, and have seen this great video at least three times, like many, skewing the view count. If you are waiting on me to catch up so I can intelligently understand Part 2, thank you for your enduring patience as I think I’m there.
Something that really helped me when I was learning brass instruments was putting every essence of my being into feeling a certain pitch. You then make your body produce that note through the instrument. This can also be achieved with just the mouthpiece, buzzing during your warm up. Horn players have to do this much more than any other brass instrument because of the harmonic series they are inflicted with. This can be helped with a mouthpiece that fits the player, and of course with how you hold your hand. That's not even really a requirement anymore, because of how well horns are made. But, in the end, all of the horn player's suffering is all worth is, because (in my opinion) horn is the best sounding musical instrument.
Okay, if you haven't listened to the intro with headphones you need to right now! It's sounds so good, and the sound travels from the left to the right and it's amazing!
is called french horn worldwide, even though its modern iteration is mainly german in design. Piston valves have never been a determining factor in the name of the insrument. If one were to get precise and nit pick about proper terminology, the instrument I own would be called a japanese german american french horn.
As a horn player, I appreciate you doing this finally. It is a very misunderstood instrument and I think it's nice somebody that's not a horn player typically is doing this.
Watching this makes me think that the French horn must be the hardest of all the brass instruments to play, even Trent was struggling to play in tune. Love the sound of it.
I only ever faffed about briefly on a single French horn in my school orchestra, which would have been about 3 billion years ago. I was also learning the tenor horn at the time and would eventually switch just to the trombone. I found the (undoubtably cheap) French horn mouthpiece very sharp on my lips when compared with the flabby sofa of a trombone mouthpiece and that's what put me off the most. It wrecked my embouchure for weeks. I would imagine it's challenging to be someone that switches between French horn and either lower or higher brass regularly. More so than alternating between just lower and higher brass. This left me viewing the French horn as an intestines-style coil of medieval torture and the trombone as a sluice pump. Perhaps that is just an outsider's perspective though.
I heard that the instrument isn't actually called a French horn and that that was a misunderstanding of an article wrote about some horn players that were French, yet people read that as the instrument being a "French horn" instead of the musicians, lol Nice to learn how the horn evolved over time to become what it is today and the tidbit on the Wagner tuba as well.
It originated as a hunting horn in the Germany/France/Belgium etc. area. They definitely did play it a lot in France, but it's kind of like French fries. We know they came from that area, but we call it french anyways.
The way I was tought to play the proper pitches and to avoid playing the wrong note was to play the notes as if you were singing them. This sounds strange, but if you think about it when you are singing you arent concisely changing the pitch by thinking about how you move your body to produce the notes. It just comes naturally. if you apply this to your playing and trust in your instincts it helps, at least in my case. maybe it would be worth giving that a try. also another important thing is to practice recognizing the intervals of the notes when you play so that in a peice of music it is already in your mind what the note should sound like. based on the last note you played. Anyway im excited to see more videos on the french horn on your channel and i hope you get the repairs for your double horn funded.
Ian Stahl This is what I've done for ~3 years of playing horn, and while it has been very helpful, I've developed a bad habit of actually singing while playing. Basically, I often find myself playing a multiphonic with myself in unison, though very quietly.
I got one of the small ones ( 1:17 ) but in my country its called a "hunting horn" because they are used to signal the hunters when you have to begin, when you have to stop, what kind of animals have been shot and so on
Delighted to find out about the fist insertion in french horns Always good to hear a kiwi F too UK F = Eff NZ F = Eiuffh (is nicer accent than much of UK)
2 mistakes: (1) the next harmonic isn't doubling the frequency of the previous one. (2) the French horn playing an octave higher doesn't mean that the harmonics are an octave higher, but that it uses higher rank harmonics (hence closer harmonics).
@@rodrigosierra4322 2:59 he in fact says "is double the frequency of the 'interval' before it", which is even more wrong. But yes, his example after that is correct.
I think many band directors (at least in my area) move beginners to double horn far too soon. The more you fiddle with valving, the less attention you have available for sound, breath, note placement, and pitch.
Robert Groover yeah but they tell most beginners to not use the Bb horn till you go too high or low. Plus some of the lowest octave is unattainable unless you got a double
Mexican Mayo - don't think your low notes point is right. All the notes are there on the f-side. It's the b-flat side (or a b-flat single) that is potentially missing some of the bass notes - but realistically these notes don't come up much (if at all in a beginner situation)
As a double horn player, I am thankful for this video (although its a single horn) Because no one remembers french horn in the brass family. About time some light has shine apon the french horns
French horn pro tip- Don't press the mouthpiece so hard onto your lips. The horn makes a delicate sound thus you need to play gently. And when you press it up hard against your lips it takes more room in the mouthpiece. P.S. Super excited for more horn videos.
The French Horn is my favourite instrument. I was introduced to it by my music teacher Lt. Col. Sam Rhodes, who had been Director of Music of the Scots Guards. He was a pretty mean brass player. Sadly my parents couldn't afford to buy me an instrument, and in those days it was the only way I would ever get to play one. I'm now nearly 70 and just have to listen.
When I picked up the Horn it came natural to me (hahaha JOKES are great!). Even now I still fumble a little, but when I play I feel different vibrations and tension on my lips. Because of that I'm able to fine tune myself because I know how it feels no matter the octave. Like you said, you HAVE to be aware, even your hand position in the bell could screw up that gorgeous solo. So much to it and beautiful instrument. It's a very intense, but emotional instrument. It gets the message across in any form perfectly and it's great when you finally hit that G in Bass Clef or that horn stop you've worked hard to perfect!
I've been watching you for over a year and I don't understand why I haven't subscribed to you for such a long time. Great content, Trent. I wish I could help you with the fund raiser, but I'm tight on money myself.
This may be well out of your area of expertise but I was wondering if you had any experience with very old and no longer common instruments like the cornett (with two Ts) or the serpent? They're interesting instruments as they're part of the brass family but made of wood, and use finger holes like a recorder rather than valves or keys.
Thanks for this video. I think my old pitted student conn is the same model - I’m just getting back to playing and it’s refreshing to hear an accomplished brass player pretty much getting the same tone out of that horn that I do. I’m playing mine Easter morning with some hymns along with my fifth grader on his trumpet and my eighth grader on the pipe organ! A craigslist “frumpet” ad led me to a search that landed me on tour enjoyable videos. Cheers.
1) Still waiting on Part II - Is it still on the schedule as of Sep 21, 2020? 2) Why does the French horn have so many alternative fingerings? 3) It is counter-intuitive to me why putting ones hand in the bell further would lower the frequency with a shorter wave path, can you explain why? 4) Would there be any utility in building a 2-stroke motorcycle expansion chamber based on musical horns and valves? 5) I live at an altitude of some 1700 meters. How should this affect the tuning? 6) I practice with a tuner. It seems like my horn goes sharp as I warm up. Is it me or the horn? Thanks!
It was quite fun switching from Tuba to Horn for my concert season in band. It was really a challenge, the only way you can get those notes right is to practice harmonic slurring. A lot. I had my first solo and it was awful.
In lots of french horn parts, you actually play on those lower harmonics and even lower, I understand that they are difficult to play though if you're not accustomed to playing low notes with a relatively small embouchure...
MeeGustaaaa Yep, lots of 2nd and 4th horn parts as well as solos will ask you to go way down there. Lowest I've ever seen was the second Ab below treble (though it was actually written as the first space in bass clef). Rather than puffing out my bottom lip, my lips tend to puff out the sides of the mouthpiece when I get below an F
I played the French Horn in my 8th grade advance band, its my favorite brass instrument. But now I play the bass guitar. F H will always be special to me!
Lovely video! Was coincidentally at a french horn recital this very evening where they "demonstrated" the natural horn with a homemade one made out of a long garden hose to play a part of one of Mozarts horn concertos. What looked like a normal garden hose fitting acted as a mouth piece holder for the french horn mouthpiece and a metal funnel as a bell, so that he could just use his finger to manipulate the pitch. It actually played in tune aswell, albeit sounded a bit thin. Anyway, great video as always!
Schmoege Good to have some hoseophone playing - impressive to hear they got the extra notes out of it! I do wonder though if they are more like natural trumpets, which would have a brighter (or if unkind, thinner) sound.
"Rummaging up the backside of the instrument" - Ha haaa! I love your British choice of words. Accidentally discovered your videos tonite. Comments from an amateur horn player. Subscribing!
@Drillkicker Yes, I found that out while watching another of his videos and wrote him an apology, which he graciously accepted. (I think it was the double-bell euphonium video) Thanks! ( :^)
I used to play this in band I loved it so much and I completely forgot about how much I over it and actually lots about it this has gotten me to love it again and interest me again
In high school band, I tried to be the guy that could play all the brass instruments. It turned out to be all except french horn, which I never got. I'm mainly a string player now, but 35 years after high school I got a renaissance cornetto and a solid 2 months of work and I could just barely play a badly-out-of-tune scale, and it took me back to trying to to learn French horn in the 80s. It all comes down to an incredible embouchure, I think. All other brass players just pretend to have good embouchure.
I play the double French horn, ive been playing French horn since 5th grade, I was the first person to learn my scales in my whole band class, and I was the first person to transition from a different instrument.
I tried (as trumpet player) a double French Horn too and I like something sounding like in LOTR or so. But in reality the instrument was rather stuffy and singing a slow tune on it was possible but so it just didn't sound like I wanted. Yet a horn is expensive. I get by now the impression that the Conn 8D gives more that majestic open and dark sound.
When I saw this i clicked right away. I play French horn and all of my French horn friends call it the impossible instrument, my director included. I just realised he had a single horn not a double so it didn't have a trigger key.
Whoa there! "Not designed" to play the lower notes? As an orchestral French horn player I know first hand that we have to play those low notes and even lower all the time.
This guy is nice but he really doesn't know much about the horn -- not the use of the right hand, not the harmonic series, not orchestral music, or the trigger which is especially useful in both high AND low music. It's too bad he doesn't read up on the instrument first. There are a lot of good books on the horn.
But how did you change the notes in the harmonic series, or how did you change notes at all, without using the valves or pressing anything? Just the pitch of your hum?
Hello trent, I have been playing trombone, trumpet and alto saxophone for about 2 and 1/2 years . I have recently picked up a French horn. However it has not been going so good, do you have any tips? It would help a lot!
@@jeffthememeslayer5096 😂 Because French horns didn't used to come with valves, that tuning method was invented. Even *with* valves, the more experienced, more skilled French hornists do it *to this day!* And because that used to be the only way to tune, that joke became a thing when they got valves.
How difficult/costly is it to put a new water key on a mellophone (F.E. Olds)? I want to play in the marching band but my only option is one missing a water key.
I’m actually a guitar player, not a brass player. However, I was given a French horn by a friend of mine, since I’m fascinated by its lack of usage in rock ‘n’ roll. Since a guitar player does all of the note fingering in the left hand, the position of the valves is not so unusual to me. If only I could produce musical tones that are affected by touching the valves. When I blow into the horn and work the valves, one isn’t affected by the other.
Hi Trent, I was wondering what your opinion is of the Mendini, Allora, Ravel, Schiller and other Chinese brand horns (no disrespect to the Chinese, of course)? I had a very nice silver double (F/Bb) horn with a detachable bell that I absolutely loved, but I had to sell it. It was a Chinese horn, but I forget what the name was. I would love to get another one, but I can't afford the big name horns. Thanks, Rachelle
Hi, Chinese instruments exist on a spectrum from utter rubbish to very good. Those different brands all implement different testing and quality control programs, so some might provide a more consistent level of product. When comparing Chinese brands it's all about the warranty and quality checking that makes the difference.
Jesse Mallen The Horn is more conical than many other brass instruments, and the bell is just part of that. In many ways, this is the opposite of the Trombone, which is necessarily cylindrical, leading to a very different tone despite very similar tubing lengths.
Well, on principle i'd have to disagree with that. French horn and trombone are both straight bore instruments, so they're as cylindrical or conical as each other. On the other hand, Euphonium family instruments like the, well, euphonium and tuba, are conical bore and do grow throughout the instrument. But a horn bell is about the size of a euphonium bell. They flare so fast and so large to flat, and have the largest instrument to bell ratio of any instrument. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I'm pretty sure that the French Horn is a straight bore instrument that in structure is no different to a Trombone in that way.
Jesse Mallen The horn does get longer along almost the entire length. The only exception to this is the section containing valves (or in the past, the crooks), but this exception applies to all valved brass instruments, including the ones you mention. If you look at the leadpipe of a horn, that probably doubles in diameter - it just starts smaller than any other brass instrument, and the bell section is gradually increasing all the way from the valve section.
@Trent - If the horn were redesigned from the ground up, ignoring the history, could the instrument be made far easier to play and still produce that lovely golden tone?
I tried one and there's a whole lot of partials down in there. At a local semi-legit music place/pawn shop/place for "bandies" to hang out between gigs. I think the mouthpiece than handed me was from shortly after WWII. Maybe one of Dennis Brain's old ones. Good hornists, for that is what they are called, are in demand. You could do worse in life to learn it. But like any horn, you have to have a good "internal ear" because as I like to say, if you don't know just where you're going, you might end up somewhere else.
I played the horn at one time and liked to call it "The Coil of Toil". Many years later I heard a trumpet instructor call the trumpet that. I said "not hardly as compared to the horn."
Wow, I learned more about the French horn in 11 minutes than I did in the entire school year I played this in 7th grade! I thought I just sucked at it, but turns out it is a difficult instrument to master (and also the one I used in school needed major repairs, a fact I was unaware of at the time) As I was coming from playing clarinet, I didn’t think anything about playing within the left hand, cuz that’s what I was used to anyway. If anything, that was the only thing that was easy to adjust to.
Ive spent near to three years on a French horn w/ a double horn though but I still have to figure out some little tweaks it is a interesting instrument I do say
Would a French horn be worth using? Like, was it fun to play, because I may try that. (A tuba player like me might have trouble). Would I be able to play easily?
you really started late in the history of the Waldhorn. I like how you mention three of the Horn family: first the Posthorn you showed, then the Waldhorn, and then the Wagner tuba. might I also point out that the Horn was actually designed for both low and high registers, you just need more control in your face than bumbling around on trumpets and trombones gives you ;) (much love to fellow brassians)
Great video as always. My 7-year-old daughter decided (with a little nudge from dad) that she wanted to play the French horn, since her 9-year-old brother plays the cornet. After researching a lot of opinions we settled on getting her a single Bb. So far it seems to be the right decision. We bought the F horn book from the same intro-to-band-instrument series that my son's school is using, and it's teaching the F horn songs in the exact same concert key as it teaches them on trumpet. Having a child, even an older one, focusing on the middle of the staff on a single F horn sounds mind-bogglingly difficult. (The first note it teaches is A.) In fact, for double horns the book seems to encourage using the Bb side only. I would love to hear your opinion on which type of horn a student should start out with, and whether it would change based on age and/or experience with other brass instruments.
According to Farkas, the correct tone is made by starting on the single horn in F. He advocates changing to the double horn by high school, but you do have to relearn your fingerings because they are different. That is why a few teachers start their students on the heavier double horn. In Europe, some high horn players used to play on a single Bb horn or use a compensating instrument. That's pretty old-fashioned now, though.
I have a question. I purchased a baritone off eBay about 2 months ago. It is a 1910 Buescher with U.S.N on the bell (United States Navy) The only problem is it has a high pitch tuning slide. Is there any way I could somehow aquire a longer tuning slide without modifying the instrument?
Normally, if you were playing a part for an F horn on a double horn, you would use the F half and if you were playing one for a Bb horn, you would use the Bb half. However, you can also switch if, in a particular situation, that made the fingering easier. With a double horn, you have more possible combinations of valves for some notes. For example, if we imagined a "double trumpet" with a normal half in Bb, the lowest note would be E (with all three valves pushed down -- as it sounds, not as it's notated). If the other half was in F, a perfect fifth down, you could play that same E with the second valve, lowering the sound by a semi-tone. This would be with 99.999% certainty much easier and more reliable. The same applies further up, of course. It's all about the partials of the fundamental tone. For example, C is the fifth of F and the third of Ab, so, assuming you're playing a C that's high enough, you could play it using the F half with no valves or on the Bb half with the first valve down (with Ab as the fundamental tone). I use the trumpet as an example because of what Trent said about the difficulty of playing the French horn in the lower register. I just ordered a French horn today, so I don't have personal experience of it. However, that is the principle. To the best of my knowledge, a triple horn would normally be in F - Bb and F alto or low Bb, F and Bb alto or some other combination of these keys. I don't believe it would be in F, Eb and Bb. However, I may be wrong about this. Perhaps there are crooks available to make an F horn into an Eb horn with the modern horn. There certainly were in the days of the natural horn (and also for D). Hope this helps.
could you do a video of you reviewing "off" brand euphoniums like jinbao or schiller. im looking to buy one but i dont want something that has tuneing problems
Jaylon Sanders double horn is horn in F over Ab, it’s two completely different horns (F and Ab) it’s not a double in F it’s a single in F and a single in Ab
Please explain how you play all these brass instruments without messing up your embouchure. I've played trombone for 4 years I bought a horn and my teacher didn't let me play it cause he said it would mess up my embouchure
Abel Cecchi Then your teacher must not like you. I myself can play all of the brass instruments and my embouchure has only gotten better. Your teacher probably just doesn't want you to get too used to the horn.
The French horn. The only brass instrument that gets lumped together with the woodwinds.
rogermwilcox *cough cough* Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium=Bassoon/Contrabassoon/ Bari. Sax./Contrabass clarinet/
Also trombone euphonium trumpet tuba alto horn and cornet.
kinda like the Bari sax with low brass.
rogermwilcox I agree
FUN FACT: The horn is the only brass instrument in modern woodwind quintets.
Welcome to the year 2020, we're in a pandemic, half the world's on fire, and we're all still waiting for part 2 of Trent's French horn series.
WE GOT IT WE GOT IT
Bruh 😂
all about french horn - part 2 - Year 2056
Alyssa Breaklight, lol to that.
Still waiting...
In that time you’ll probably have a band playing garage band instead of real instruments
Trent, please!
@@ilikepezles2436 Still Waiting
By taking our hand and R U M M A G I N G up the back side of an instrument.
Indeed
As a self-taught 69-year-old French Horn player, I’ve got to the point I can play scales and simple melodies after only three months, and have seen this great video at least three times, like many, skewing the view count. If you are waiting on me to catch up so I can intelligently understand Part 2, thank you for your enduring patience as I think I’m there.
Something that really helped me when I was learning brass instruments was putting every essence of my being into feeling a certain pitch. You then make your body produce that note through the instrument. This can also be achieved with just the mouthpiece, buzzing during your warm up. Horn players have to do this much more than any other brass instrument because of the harmonic series they are inflicted with. This can be helped with a mouthpiece that fits the player, and of course with how you hold your hand. That's not even really a requirement anymore, because of how well horns are made. But, in the end, all of the horn player's suffering is all worth is, because (in my opinion) horn is the best sounding musical instrument.
It sounds great when played correctly, but the second you fuck up it sounds horrendous.
That Contra Guy frr😂😂
Yep fingers one place, mind/lip another = a clam.
I don't think you've ever head a euphonium my friend
Okay, if you haven't listened to the intro with headphones you need to right now! It's sounds so good, and the sound travels from the left to the right and it's amazing!
Trumpet JoJo I hate it. Especially when one side of my headphones didn't work
Trumpet JoJo I also get a little scare that my headphones are broken on one side every time I hear it
Yeah ikr!!! I noticed after hearing the intro like 3 times... then i tossed on earbuds.... ah... satisfying.,
Trumpet JoJo I know it is amazing
Pretty cool.
Finally Trent! I've been waiting for you to do the French horn as it is my primary instrument
Mel Held same
Mel Held you play the German horn, not French horn. French horns have piston valves like trumpets
is called french horn worldwide, even though its modern iteration is mainly german in design. Piston valves have never been a determining factor in the name of the insrument. If one were to get precise and nit pick about proper terminology, the instrument I own would be called a japanese german american french horn.
Rickstery nerd :)
Me too, the French horn is always forgotten
For a composer who never blew into a French horn, this is very valuable info. Thanks for sharing!
As a horn player, I appreciate you doing this finally. It is a very misunderstood instrument and I think it's nice somebody that's not a horn player typically is doing this.
Watching this makes me think that the French horn must be the hardest of all the brass instruments to play, even Trent was struggling to play in tune. Love the sound of it.
6:04 I'm glad French Horn players can contribute to society. LOL
Ya know what else is French? A baguette like me
The Baguette It was actually made in Germany
Hank__ Bk *originally
there is a French one he's just not showing it.
I agree
I only ever faffed about briefly on a single French horn in my school orchestra, which would have been about 3 billion years ago. I was also learning the tenor horn at the time and would eventually switch just to the trombone. I found the (undoubtably cheap) French horn mouthpiece very sharp on my lips when compared with the flabby sofa of a trombone mouthpiece and that's what put me off the most. It wrecked my embouchure for weeks. I would imagine it's challenging to be someone that switches between French horn and either lower or higher brass regularly. More so than alternating between just lower and higher brass. This left me viewing the French horn as an intestines-style coil of medieval torture and the trombone as a sluice pump. Perhaps that is just an outsider's perspective though.
I heard that the instrument isn't actually called a French horn and that that was a misunderstanding of an article wrote about some horn players that were French, yet people read that as the instrument being a "French horn" instead of the musicians, lol
Nice to learn how the horn evolved over time to become what it is today and the tidbit on the Wagner tuba as well.
Cysubtor yeah its german
We call it : "cor d'harmonie" in french.
It originated as a hunting horn in the Germany/France/Belgium etc. area. They definitely did play it a lot in France, but it's kind of like French fries. We know they came from that area, but we call it french anyways.
And the English Horn isn't English.
The horn is in F so people so some people refer to it as F horn, not short for French but it’s the hormonic tuning of the instrument.
The way I was tought to play the proper pitches and to avoid playing the wrong note was to play the notes as if you were singing them. This sounds strange, but if you think about it when you are singing you arent concisely changing the pitch by thinking about how you move your body to produce the notes. It just comes naturally. if you apply this to your playing and trust in your instincts it helps, at least in my case. maybe it would be worth giving that a try. also another important thing is to practice recognizing the intervals of the notes when you play so that in a peice of music it is already in your mind what the note should sound like. based on the last note you played. Anyway im excited to see more videos on the french horn on your channel and i hope you get the repairs for your double horn funded.
Ian Stahl This is what I've done for ~3 years of playing horn, and while it has been very helpful, I've developed a bad habit of actually singing while playing. Basically, I often find myself playing a multiphonic with myself in unison, though very quietly.
My teacher also taught me to do this! It really helps...
5:18 he has such a way of explaining things
😳
I got one of the small ones ( 1:17 ) but in my country its called a "hunting horn" because they are used to signal the hunters when you have to begin, when you have to stop, what kind of animals have been shot and so on
Delighted to find out about the fist insertion in french horns
Always good to hear a kiwi F too
UK F = Eff
NZ F = Eiuffh (is nicer accent than much of UK)
I’m Uk and I agree lmao
2 mistakes: (1) the next harmonic isn't doubling the frequency of the previous one. (2) the French horn playing an octave higher doesn't mean that the harmonics are an octave higher, but that it uses higher rank harmonics (hence closer harmonics).
He literally said "the first one may bge 100 hz, then 200, 300, 400..." that's not doubling. He didn't say that lmao
@@rodrigosierra4322 2:59
he in fact says "is double the frequency of the 'interval' before it", which is even more wrong. But yes, his example after that is correct.
my ears are very satisfied by your intro
When is part 2 coming?
John Douglas mm
Never
it isnt
In the year e-48319494920230201040392939291919204960^32
Came out today!
Watching this video to celebrate part 2's release, It only took three and a half years guys calm down!
You need to make sure you mention stopping the horn, as well double horns, of course, and TRIPLE HORNS, as well as a stopping valve
(I play f horn)
Kevin Saum true so do I
I think many band directors (at least in my area) move beginners to double horn far too soon. The more you fiddle with valving, the less attention you have available for sound, breath, note placement, and pitch.
Robert Groover yeah but they tell most beginners to not use the Bb horn till you go too high or low. Plus some of the lowest octave is unattainable unless you got a double
Mexican Mayo - don't think your low notes point is right. All the notes are there on the f-side. It's the b-flat side (or a b-flat single) that is potentially missing some of the bass notes - but realistically these notes don't come up much (if at all in a beginner situation)
Same
As a double horn player, I am thankful for this video (although its a single horn) Because no one remembers french horn in the brass family. About time some light has shine apon the french horns
Could you make a part 2?
French horn pro tip- Don't press the mouthpiece so hard onto your lips. The horn makes a delicate sound thus you need to play gently. And when you press it up hard against your lips it takes more room in the mouthpiece. P.S. Super excited for more horn videos.
I like this video, makes learning about French horn an interesting subject.
The French Horn is my favourite instrument. I was introduced to it by my music teacher Lt. Col. Sam Rhodes, who had been Director of Music of the Scots Guards. He was a pretty mean brass player. Sadly my parents couldn't afford to buy me an instrument, and in those days it was the only way I would ever get to play one. I'm now nearly 70 and just have to listen.
When I picked up the Horn it came natural to me (hahaha JOKES are great!). Even now I still fumble a little, but when I play I feel different vibrations and tension on my lips. Because of that I'm able to fine tune myself because I know how it feels no matter the octave. Like you said, you HAVE to be aware, even your hand position in the bell could screw up that gorgeous solo. So much to it and beautiful instrument. It's a very intense, but emotional instrument. It gets the message across in any form perfectly and it's great when you finally hit that G in Bass Clef or that horn stop you've worked hard to perfect!
yay finnaly you did the french horn!
"Sit down shut up and let's get on with it" I love this guy XD
I play the French horn :) good to know its history
Richard XN Watch the US bands and explain it ,it goes more in depth
The US Army Band videos are great. When we're not carpet-bombing weddings and shit, we make great band videos. Very educational.
Richard XN same
I've been watching you for over a year and I don't understand why I haven't subscribed to you for such a long time. Great content, Trent. I wish I could help you with the fund raiser, but I'm tight on money myself.
This may be well out of your area of expertise but I was wondering if you had any experience with very old and no longer common instruments like the cornett (with two Ts) or the serpent? They're interesting instruments as they're part of the brass family but made of wood, and use finger holes like a recorder rather than valves or keys.
Played French Horn in school, Flugelhorn in the Air Force. Two of my favorite instruments.
I’m an F horn player wanting to start flugelhorn. Any advice?
Just discovered your channel and I love it! Just the right amount of wit and sarcasm for me :)
"so sit down and shut up and let's get on with it" 😂😂
Thanks for this video. I think my old pitted student conn is the same model - I’m just getting back to playing and it’s refreshing to hear an accomplished brass player pretty much getting the same tone out of that horn that I do.
I’m playing mine Easter morning with some hymns along with my fifth grader on his trumpet and my eighth grader on the pipe organ!
A craigslist “frumpet” ad led me to a search that landed me on tour enjoyable videos. Cheers.
1) Still waiting on Part II - Is it still on the schedule as of Sep 21, 2020?
2) Why does the French horn have so many alternative fingerings?
3) It is counter-intuitive to me why putting ones hand in the bell further would lower the frequency with a shorter wave path, can you explain why?
4) Would there be any utility in building a 2-stroke motorcycle expansion chamber based on musical horns and valves?
5) I live at an altitude of some 1700 meters. How should this affect the tuning?
6) I practice with a tuner. It seems like my horn goes sharp as I warm up. Is it me or the horn?
Thanks!
It was quite fun switching from Tuba to Horn for my concert season in band. It was really a challenge, the only way you can get those notes right is to practice harmonic slurring. A lot. I had my first solo and it was awful.
I live for the day you do a 1:1 discussion with some guy with a deep-Southern US accent. "Valves" "Vavs" etc.
Do a part two, please, Mr. Hamilton.
In lots of french horn parts, you actually play on those lower harmonics and even lower, I understand that they are difficult to play though if you're not accustomed to playing low notes with a relatively small embouchure...
MeeGustaaaa Yep, lots of 2nd and 4th horn parts as well as solos will ask you to go way down there. Lowest I've ever seen was the second Ab below treble (though it was actually written as the first space in bass clef). Rather than puffing out my bottom lip, my lips tend to puff out the sides of the mouthpiece when I get below an F
Everyone has his own technique... Though I have to say you're certainly more experienced than me, I started playing about 8 months ago... :p
Jack G lowest I’ve ever seen in actual music was pedal a, so that means it’s the a below the base clef staff
I knew these horns were different but not in what sense. Thanks for educating me!
I played the French Horn in my 8th grade advance band, its my favorite brass instrument. But now I play the bass guitar. F H will always be special to me!
I doubt you play bass guitar
Lovely video! Was coincidentally at a french horn recital this very evening where they "demonstrated" the natural horn with a homemade one made out of a long garden hose to play a part of one of Mozarts horn concertos. What looked like a normal garden hose fitting acted as a mouth piece holder for the french horn mouthpiece and a metal funnel as a bell, so that he could just use his finger to manipulate the pitch. It actually played in tune aswell, albeit sounded a bit thin. Anyway, great video as always!
Schmoege Good to have some hoseophone playing - impressive to hear they got the extra notes out of it! I do wonder though if they are more like natural trumpets, which would have a brighter (or if unkind, thinner) sound.
I love watching these videos even though I don't have an instrument.
"Rummaging up the backside of the instrument" - Ha haaa! I love your British choice of words. Accidentally discovered your videos tonite. Comments from an amateur horn player. Subscribing!
@Drillkicker Yes, I found that out while watching another of his videos and wrote him an apology, which he graciously accepted. (I think it was the double-bell euphonium video) Thanks! ( :^)
Part 2? Please I play the French horn and want to know more
I used to play this in band I loved it so much and I completely forgot about how much I over it and actually lots about it this has gotten me to love it again and interest me again
8:40 Slidey sounds are fantastic when they’re intentional - I’d love to hear some jazz with slidey French Horn 😎
Trent, I’m learning how to play the trumpet, can you give me some tips plz
YES, FINALLY!
In high school band, I tried to be the guy that could play all the brass instruments. It turned out to be all except french horn, which I never got. I'm mainly a string player now, but 35 years after high school I got a renaissance cornetto and a solid 2 months of work and I could just barely play a badly-out-of-tune scale, and it took me back to trying to to learn French horn in the 80s. It all comes down to an incredible embouchure, I think. All other brass players just pretend to have good embouchure.
I play the double French horn, ive been playing French horn since 5th grade, I was the first person to learn my scales in my whole band class, and I was the first person to transition from a different instrument.
Heck yeah I'll support that horn!
I tried (as trumpet player) a double French Horn too and I like something sounding like in LOTR or so. But in reality the instrument was rather stuffy and singing a slow tune on it was possible but so it just didn't sound like I wanted. Yet a horn is expensive. I get by now the impression that the Conn 8D gives more that majestic open and dark sound.
When I saw this i clicked right away. I play French horn and all of my French horn friends call it the impossible instrument, my director included. I just realised he had a single horn not a double so it didn't have a trigger key.
0:21 when you you get to band class and you walking around talking to you freinds then yhe bell rings and the teacher says...
SR-71 Blackbird. I see you're a man of culture!
Whoa there! "Not designed" to play the lower notes? As an orchestral French horn player I know first hand that we have to play those low notes and even lower all the time.
This guy is nice but he really doesn't know much about the horn -- not the use of the right hand, not the harmonic series, not orchestral music, or the trigger which is especially useful in both high AND low music. It's too bad he doesn't read up on the instrument first. There are a lot of good books on the horn.
But how did you change the notes in the harmonic series, or how did you change notes at all, without using the valves or pressing anything? Just the pitch of your hum?
Hello trent, I have been playing trombone, trumpet and alto saxophone for about 2 and 1/2 years . I have recently picked up a French horn. However it has not been going so good, do you have any tips? It would help a lot!
you just gotta shove your hand in the bell( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
@@jeffthememeslayer5096 😂 Because French horns didn't used to come with valves, that tuning method was invented. Even *with* valves, the more experienced, more skilled French hornists do it *to this day!* And because that used to be the only way to tune, that joke became a thing when they got valves.
How difficult/costly is it to put a new water key on a mellophone (F.E. Olds)? I want to play in the marching band but my only option is one missing a water key.
Have you done Part 2 yet? do you still have a plan to do a part 2?
I’m actually a guitar player, not a brass player. However, I was given a French horn by a friend of mine, since I’m fascinated by its lack of usage in rock ‘n’ roll. Since a guitar player does all of the note fingering in the left hand, the position of the valves is not so unusual to me.
If only I could produce musical tones that are affected by touching the valves. When I blow into the horn and work the valves, one isn’t affected by the other.
What is that wonderful giant Flugelhorn in Eb you are playing called?
Why do you suppose Franz Strauss couldn't play his son's horn concerto?
Is there a part 2 to this series?
Not yet, sorry.
I would like to mic a double fhorn, and line that into an amplifier with distortion.
Like if you play french horn
I play it too
I actually play trumpet but I have a friend who plays so I liked anyway
Very Pickle same
French horns for life!
Thanks for the information! I'll send my studio French Horn students this way!
Hi Trent,
I was wondering what your opinion is of the Mendini, Allora, Ravel, Schiller and other Chinese brand horns (no disrespect to the Chinese, of course)? I had a very nice silver double (F/Bb) horn with a detachable bell that I absolutely loved, but I had to sell it. It was a Chinese horn, but I forget what the name was. I would love to get another one, but I can't afford the big name horns.
Thanks,
Rachelle
Hi, Chinese instruments exist on a spectrum from utter rubbish to very good. Those different brands all implement different testing and quality control programs, so some might provide a more consistent level of product. When comparing Chinese brands it's all about the warranty and quality checking that makes the difference.
Why such the huge proportion bell? Is that what gives it it's distinctive cutting and soaring tone? If not then what else?
Jesse Mallen The Horn is more conical than many other brass instruments, and the bell is just part of that. In many ways, this is the opposite of the Trombone, which is necessarily cylindrical, leading to a very different tone despite very similar tubing lengths.
Well, on principle i'd have to disagree with that. French horn and trombone are both straight bore instruments, so they're as cylindrical or conical as each other. On the other hand, Euphonium family instruments like the, well, euphonium and tuba, are conical bore and do grow throughout the instrument.
But a horn bell is about the size of a euphonium bell. They flare so fast and so large to flat, and have the largest instrument to bell ratio of any instrument.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I'm pretty sure that the French Horn is a straight bore instrument that in structure is no different to a Trombone in that way.
Jesse Mallen The horn does get longer along almost the entire length. The only exception to this is the section containing valves (or in the past, the crooks), but this exception applies to all valved brass instruments, including the ones you mention. If you look at the leadpipe of a horn, that probably doubles in diameter - it just starts smaller than any other brass instrument, and the bell section is gradually increasing all the way from the valve section.
@Trent - If the horn were redesigned from the ground up, ignoring the history, could the instrument be made far easier to play and still produce that lovely golden tone?
I tried one and there's a whole lot of partials down in there. At a local semi-legit music place/pawn shop/place for "bandies" to hang out between gigs. I think the mouthpiece than handed me was from shortly after WWII. Maybe one of Dennis Brain's old ones.
Good hornists, for that is what they are called, are in demand. You could do worse in life to learn it.
But like any horn, you have to have a good "internal ear" because as I like to say, if you don't know just where you're going, you might end up somewhere else.
I played the horn at one time and liked to call it "The Coil of Toil". Many years later I heard a trumpet instructor call the trumpet that. I said "not hardly as compared to the horn."
Wow, I learned more about the French horn in 11 minutes than I did in the entire school year I played this in 7th grade! I thought I just sucked at it, but turns out it is a difficult instrument to master (and also the one I used in school needed major repairs, a fact I was unaware of at the time)
As I was coming from playing clarinet, I didn’t think anything about playing within the left hand, cuz that’s what I was used to anyway. If anything, that was the only thing that was easy to adjust to.
Fun fact, modern horn is more of a German Horn than the French Horn.
First instrument i learned to play... i feel special
Thanks for this amazing lessons. I have one question: What are the pedal tones in Bb and F divisions on Double horn?
Ive spent near to three years on a French horn w/ a double horn though but I still have to figure out some little tweaks it is a interesting instrument I do say
In 9th grade I rode my bike 19 miles just to kiss the cute little blonde french horn player. WORTH IT.
Lets agree with the statement that the 2-valve soprano bugle is the 2-valve sopranino tuba.
Are you going to be doing this for more brass instruments? Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba etc.?
Would a French horn be worth using? Like, was it fun to play, because I may try that. (A tuba player like me might have trouble). Would I be able to play easily?
I switched from the trumpet 3 years ago and I am still struggling. But when you get it right once in a while -- what a beautiful sound.
you really started late in the history of the Waldhorn. I like how you mention three of the Horn family: first the Posthorn you showed, then the Waldhorn, and then the Wagner tuba. might I also point out that the Horn was actually designed for both low and high registers, you just need more control in your face than bumbling around on trumpets and trombones gives you ;) (much love to fellow brassians)
3:26 area OMG THAT WAS AN EPIPHANY FOR ME THANKS TRENT
Great video as always. My 7-year-old daughter decided (with a little nudge from dad) that she wanted to play the French horn, since her 9-year-old brother plays the cornet. After researching a lot of opinions we settled on getting her a single Bb. So far it seems to be the right decision. We bought the F horn book from the same intro-to-band-instrument series that my son's school is using, and it's teaching the F horn songs in the exact same concert key as it teaches them on trumpet. Having a child, even an older one, focusing on the middle of the staff on a single F horn sounds mind-bogglingly difficult. (The first note it teaches is A.) In fact, for double horns the book seems to encourage using the Bb side only.
I would love to hear your opinion on which type of horn a student should start out with, and whether it would change based on age and/or experience with other brass instruments.
Andrew Weir F is the most common and useful
Andrew Weir I started on a double horn when I was 11
According to Farkas, the correct tone is made by starting on the single horn in F. He advocates changing to the double horn by high school, but you do have to relearn your fingerings because they are different. That is why a few teachers start their students on the heavier double horn. In Europe, some high horn players used to play on a single Bb horn or use a compensating instrument. That's pretty old-fashioned now, though.
Will we ever get part two?
So whats the difference between french horns in f and ones in eff?
I have a question.
I purchased a baritone off eBay about 2 months ago.
It is a 1910 Buescher with U.S.N on the bell (United States Navy)
The only problem is it has a high pitch tuning slide.
Is there any way I could somehow aquire a longer tuning slide without modifying the instrument?
when do you switch from f to e flat and b flat on a double or triple horn?
Normally, if you were playing a part for an F horn on a double horn, you would use the F half and if you were playing one for a Bb horn, you would use the Bb half. However, you can also switch if, in a particular situation, that made the fingering easier. With a double horn, you have more possible combinations of valves for some notes. For example, if we imagined a "double trumpet" with a normal half in Bb, the lowest note would be E (with all three valves pushed down -- as it sounds, not as it's notated). If the other half was in F, a perfect fifth down, you could play that same E with the second valve, lowering the sound by a semi-tone. This would be with 99.999% certainty much easier and more reliable. The same applies further up, of course. It's all about the partials of the fundamental tone. For example, C is the fifth of F and the third of Ab, so, assuming you're playing a C that's high enough, you could play it using the F half with no valves or on the Bb half with the first valve down (with Ab as the fundamental tone).
I use the trumpet as an example because of what Trent said about the difficulty of playing the French horn in the lower register. I just ordered a French horn today, so I don't have personal experience of it. However, that is the principle.
To the best of my knowledge, a triple horn would normally be in F - Bb and F alto or low Bb, F and Bb alto or some other combination of these keys. I don't believe it would be in F, Eb and Bb. However, I may be wrong about this. Perhaps there are crooks available to make an F horn into an Eb horn with the modern horn. There certainly were in the days of the natural horn (and also for D).
Hope this helps.
1:16 may I ask, where did you get that infantry horn?
could you do a video of you reviewing "off" brand euphoniums like jinbao or schiller. im looking to buy one but i dont want something that has tuneing problems
Wow! Good job, but can you go over a horn with a thumb key(trigger)(double horn in F)
Jaylon Sanders double horn is horn in F over Ab, it’s two completely different horns (F and Ab) it’s not a double in F it’s a single in F and a single in Ab
@@panicinthestudio3978 CORRECTION: The double horn is in F and Bb.
If you still have that tenor sax I have been playing for over a year now and a giveaway would be quite nice👍.
Should I switch to French horn km on trumpet but I don’t know if I should switch
Can you please do a side-by-side of a French Horn and a Piccolo French Horn??
Please explain how you play all these brass instruments without messing up your embouchure. I've played trombone for 4 years I bought a horn and my teacher didn't let me play it cause he said it would mess up my embouchure
Abel Cecchi Then your teacher must not like you. I myself can play all of the brass instruments and my embouchure has only gotten better. Your teacher probably just doesn't want you to get too used to the horn.