Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 12:39:20 -0400
From: Chase Sanborn <info@chasesanborn.com>
Subject: [TPIN] Pitch
Tendencies (drones)
Integrating drones into your practice session will improve your ability
to hear and control fine gradations of pitch and will reveal the pitch
tendencies of your instrument. Drones are the single most significant
practice aid I have ever discovered, for all levels from absolute
beginner to seasoned (and sometimes jaded) professionals. I cannot
stress enough the benefits that come from the use of drones.
I like a pure tuned root & fifth drone. The two notes act as
'magnetic goalposts', exerting a powerful harmonic gravitational
influence. Playing the root or the fifth, the drone guides you to a
perfect unison by listening for and eliminating beats. Playing
the major third, the drone pulls you down towards the the root as your
ear naturally gravitates toward the lowered third. A minor third pulls
you up towards the fifth, though the raised minor third may take some
practice to hear, and is more difficult to achieve on the trumpet as we
have more mechanisms for lowering pitch than raising it. (A complete
chart of pitch adjustments for every interval can be found in Tuning
Tactics.)
You can learn about general pitch tendencies from a chart, but better
yet is to let your ear teach you where your notes actually lie when you
and the horn are both warmed up. Over time, the pitch tendencies of
your instrument become clear and embedded in your subconscious. You'll
become more diligent about the use of slides and will take full
advantage of alternate fingerings. For example: Third space C, when
played as the third of an Ab chord, may slot better with 2/3 fingering.
Likewise, 1/3 for F above that and the open Bb partial when it
functions as the third of a Gb chord. Eventually you develop an
unconscious instinct for moving your notes in the right direction.
Tips For Working With Drones:
* You don’t have to make time specifically to work on intonation.
Simply integrate drones into your daily practice routine. The
heightened mental focus trains your ear and increases the overall
effectiveness of your practice session.
* If you are not sure where to place your note, tune it purposely flat,
then bring the pitch up slowly until you feel you have gone past the
optimum point. Go back and forth, zeroing-in on the spot where it
sounds most in tune.
* When buzzing your mouthpiece, a drone keeps you on pitch and
encourages accurate buzzing. When playing the horn, lower the volume of
the drone to a subliminal level, so that it does not interfere with the
connection between you and the instrument, yet still guides your ear.
Focus on the tone quality and look for the resonant center (slot) for
each note, then adjust pitch.
* Utilize slides or alternate fingerings to shift the pitch of the
horn, rather than bending the note too far away from the resonant
center.
* Listen to the drone while playing a lyrical etude. Place each
interval as accurately as possible.
* Practice finger patterns with the drone playing in the background. As
you concentrate on your fingers, your ear connects the digital patterns
to a key center.
* When you first start working with drones, your embouchure may feel
tired, as you are adjusting many more notes than you are used to.
Eventually you will settle into it, and the drones become a reassuring
presence during the practice session. Like a metronome, used
occasionally, drones are your enemy. Used regularly, they are an ally.
** http://www.tuningtactics.com
