[Dixielandjazz] Trumpet Mouthpieces Questions

[Elazar Brandt]

Hello Bill,

I'm no expert, not yet at least. But as a lifetime bone player who has branched
out in both directions in recent years and now plays tuba and trumpet, I can
share my experience with you. I found the 7C like trying to play the business
end of a good sized nail. Couldn't get much tone or range out of it, and it hurt
my lips rather quickly. Then I "discovered" the larger mouthpieces for trumpet.
BIG difference! I found anything bigger than 3C to be much more comfortable, I
mean MUCH more. I have several horns, including a couple pocket trumpets and a
cornet. I use 1 or 1 1/2 C on most of them. I think I have a 3C on one. From
what I can feel when playing, the larger mouthpieces don't demand more air.
You're still blowing into the same pipes. They just let you get more of your lip
into the hole so you can function in there. I have not tried different depths,
but I've been told the more shallow ones are better for playing high notes.
Well, it took me a couple years of work, but I can play the whole usual range of
the horn (G below middle C to C 2 octaves higher) with the 1C mouthpiece, though
I rarely play higher than the high G or A in actual playing. I also find I can
switch between trumpet, bone and tuba in the same performance, and even in the
same song, if I warm up properly and if I don't overblow and wear out my chops.

Good luck,

Elazar
Misrad HaJazz
Doctor Jazz Band
Jerusalem, Israel
<www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz>
Tel: +972-2-679-2537



> -----Original Message-----
> From: william crist [mailto:mensa-1 at webtv.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2003 4:30 AM
> To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Trumpet Mouthpieces Questions
>
>
> Some dumb questions.
>
> I recently bought on Olds Pinto trumpet
> that came with no mouthpiece.  I am no trumpet player , but wanted to
> try to play a little.  I played trombone for several years , from the
> 40's to the 70's but haven't played in several years.
> I have a Holton mouthpiece that I tried but it seemed to take too much
> air to blow.    I picked up a Bach 3 C which is much easier to blow.
> My question is : what is the differences in the designations on the Bach
> mouthpieces ?  I know they run from 1 to 20 and A thru F. I think the
> numbers designate rim size and the letters cup depth. I want one that
> doesn't take a lot of lung capacity to blow since 50 years of smoking
> have reduced mine.
>
> TIA
> Bill Crist