Horn Lore📯 #6 Physics Part 3 - Tuning It is VERY easy to play a horn out of tune. It’s a real challenge every horn player, or any wind or string instrumentalist, has to deal with. There are three ways to tune a horn. The first and most obvious are the tuning slides. Each horn a several and are designed to be approximately in tune when pulled out about a half inch. That way, you can push it in our pull it out a bit to lengthen or shorten the pipes to get to the right pitch. The 2nd way for more fine tuning is using the lip itself. You can bend the pitch higher, or sharp, by tightening the embouchure a bit. Conversely, you can very slightly relax the embouchure a bit to bend the pitch lower, or flat. This requires the musician to be constantly listening and lipping up or down your pitch to match the rest of the ensemble. If you find yourself constantly lipping the pitch up, you can do a more permanent fix by pushing a tuning slide in to shorting the pipes and bring the pitch up with less effort. The last way is unique only to the horn. No other instrument has this capability. As discussed in previously Horn Lore posts, it is tradition for horn players to place their right hand into the bell. This helps shape the sound of the instrument, but it can also bend the pitch a bit. Opening up the hand in the bell leads to a slightly higher pitch. Partially closing the bell (but not sealing it like the stopped method) results is a slightly lower pitch. See the attached photos. Good horn players have to learn to constantly listen to their pitch and compare to others, and then utilize all three of these tuning methods.

Hard at work

Eric of the Flooded Meadows More flood pics in comments.

If you’ve ever been to Wisconsin, this will make sense to you.

Horn Lore📯 #6 Physics Part 3 - Tuning It is VERY easy to play a horn out of tune. It’s a real challenge every horn player, or any wind or string instrumentalist, has to deal with. There are three ways to tune a horn. The first and most obvious are the tuning slides. Each horn a several and are designed to be approximately in tune when pulled out about a half inch. That way, you can push it in our pull it out a bit to lengthen or shorten the pipes to get to the right pitch. The 2nd way for more fine tuning is using the lip itself. You can bend the pitch higher, or sharp, by tightening the embouchure a bit. Conversely, you can very slightly relax the embouchure a bit to bend the pitch lower, or flat. This requires the musician to be constantly listening and lipping up or down your pitch to match the rest of the ensemble. If you find yourself constantly lipping the pitch up, you can do a more permanent fix by pushing a tuning slide in to shorting the pipes and bring the pitch up with less effort. The last way is unique only to the horn. No other instrument has this capability. As discussed in previously Horn Lore posts, it is tradition for horn players to place their right hand into the bell. This helps shape the sound of the instrument, but it can also bend the pitch a bit. Opening up the hand in the bell leads to a slightly higher pitch. Partially closing the bell (but not sealing it like the stopped method) results is a slightly lower pitch. See the attached photos. Good horn players have to learn to constantly listen to their pitch and compare to others, and then utilize all three of these tuning methods.

I know I can be sarcastic. I love “fake-arguing” with people over inconsequential things. I love getting roasted by you in return. Please know, however, that I have prayed for my friends on here. I pray for your happiness, health, success, and most importantly, that you can feel the love of our Father in Heaven. I have a testimony of Him, and in the atonement of Jesus Christ. The power is real. Whatever you are dealing with, I know you can find peace through Christ. I love you. I’m rooting for you. (Now go eat some Wisconsin cheese and Utah frybread while listening to French Horn music.)

Guys! My daughter and I were hired for our first gig together! I’ve been hired for gigs, my daughter has been hired. We’ve never been hired for the same gig. So excited!

This was me at 21

My mascot according to Grok. Ummm…

@EricCMeadows grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_2f04…

Ok enough with the scones for the evening. It’s rehearsal time.

Took the family out to an early dinner and are enjoying some Texas Roadhouse scones. (Did I do that right?)

Latter-day Saints are, on average, among the most religious Americans. For example, roughly seven-in-ten Latter-day Saints say that: 🔹Religion is very important in their lives. 🔹They pray daily 🔹They attend religious services in person at least weekly. #LatterDaySaints #ReligiousLife

Horn Lore📯 #6 Physics Part 2 - Conical bore. There are two types of brass instruments. Cylindrical bore, and Conical bore. Cylindrical bore instruments, such as trumpets, trombones, and baritones, have tubing that stays the same diameter though the instrument until the bell flair. Because of the consistent tubing, the sound in these instruments are very focused and piercing. That is the typical “brassy” sound brass are famous for. The horn, euphonium, tuba, and cornet, by contrast, are a conical bore. This means that the tubing of the instrument gradually gets larger throughout. This gradual expansion is less focused and piercing, and results in a darker, warmer sound. The horn, of all instruments, has the most extreme conical bore. The lead pipe where the airflow starts is extremely small, measuring only about 0.3 inches across. This flairs to an unusually large bell. This is key to extremely unique sound of a horn, which is described is being very dark, rich, and warm. Conical bore instruments tend to be a bit more challenging to hit notes cleanly as the sound is less focused and less “slotted”. This makes it easier to bend the pitch with your lips, and requires more precision in note placement.