Why and How To Lip Buzz! | "L for Lip Buzzing" | Trumpet A-Z, S01E12
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 кві 2018
- In this latest episode of #TrumpetAtoZ, "L for Lip Buzzing", Bryan Davis explains why he likes to free buzz or lip buzz, and how to do it correctly. He also explains his slightly unorthodox approach to the register you should lip buzz in! If you're interested in a fresh take on this most controversial and polarizing of brass playing topics, then you're in the right place. Bryan hopes you will watch this with an open mind and comment your feedback, whether you're for or against lip buzzing!
Catch up on the entire Trumpet A-Z series, so far, at: • Trumpet A-Z with Bryan... . New episodes are added every Friday.
If you have questions or comments about this video, we want to hear them! We're particularly interested to know what topics are in your Trumpet A-Z? Please comment a full or partial list below - your suggestion could be the topic of a future video!
Trumpet A-Z with Bryan Davis is presented by Airflow Music. For information on all our products, please visit AirflowMusic.com/
If you've found this or any of our videos helpful, please share with your friends, and consider supporting us by making a purchase from the Airflow Music store.
Buy "Combination Drills: Developed Scales in Odd Meters" by Bryan Davis. PDF eBooks and Printed Books are available for each edition:
Trumpet Edition, Volume 1 - airflowmusic.com/product/comb...
Trombone Edition, Volume 1 - airflowmusic.com/product/comb...
Trumpet Edition, Volume 2 - airflowmusic.com/product/comb...
Trombone Edition, Volume 2 - airflowmusic.com/product/comb...
Trumpet Lessons with Bryan Davis are available in-person, if you're in the New York City area, or via Skype if you live elsewhere. For more information, please visit: bryandav.is/teaching
Follow Airflow Music on Social Media:
/ airflowmusicnyc
/ airflowmusicnyc
/ airflowmusicnyc
Questions and feedback welcome as always!
(I know this is posted from the wrong account, this time, but I haven’t had time to get to the computer today!)
I figured out how to switch accounts in the iOS app! No more comments from the wrong account!
It’s hard to say for sure, without seeing you play. It shouldn’t necessarily be a problem. There are plenty of people who play off-center.
I only started lip buzzing recently and I'm glad I did! My routine is as follows: 1. Play low G on the horn to get the pitch in my head; 2. Lip buzz this pitch and then play a siren down an octave, hold it there, and then go down another octave. 3. Take a breath, start at the ending pitch from step 2, and then slowly play a smooth siren back up to low G. 4. Repeat starting at step 1 by going up a half step as high as you comfortably can. Do not over do! After doing this awhile, I can now squeek out a lip buzz on a G on top of the staff! Go very slowly, DO NOT over do it, and rest often. For me, the benefits having included better range, flexibility, endurance, and confidence in my playing. Good luck.
Thank you, this is very helpful!
You hit the nail right on the head right off the bat when you said it's a controversial subject. And the reason it is, is that it can be very destructive. And there are many, many players who are splendid, amazing trumpet players who can't free buzz at all, they're lucky if they can just free buzz one note. I think it's a pointless waste of time. Conversely, I know a guy who isn't even a trumpet player who can free buzz entire songs unbelievably demonstrating incredible free buzzing range, but he can't even produce a decent sound when he attempts to play the trumpet.
You’re entitled to your opinion, of course. Did you watch the entire video and try my alternate approach to setting up the buzz? You may find it changes how you think about the topic.
¡Gracias!
Managed to achieve it with your explanation. Thanks.
Yes yes yes, bloody brilliant stuff
Thanks Bryan! These videos are really helping me.
I’m glad they’re still proving useful! Thanks for watching.
This has helped really much!
Thank you!
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching.
Great as always Bryan, contentious and unorthodox? I am a lip and mouthpiece buzzer and find especially you're stuck in traffic it's a great way to warm up en route to a gig! I tell all my students to never ever dismiss any idea that may improve your capabilities. I'm hoping V for Velocity may be a winner when we get to that stage of the alphabet... excellent content as always.
Thanks, Jan. I think it makes sense too but in researching, some folks are really anti-buzzing!
V for Velocity is a good suggestion. If it doesn’t fit when I get there, I could always do it under “Z for Zawada’s Choice”! ;-)
I was convinced by arguments years ago that lip buzzing is not helpful for playing trumpet because it can give the wrong impression about what actually creates sound when playing the trumpet and it can therefore create too much tension in the embrouchure for beginning players. But I've since been adding it to my routine and now have a new understanding how it can help hone the fundamentals of a good embrouchure and the use of tongue level etc. I get it now why it can be helpful. It's also something you can do anytime away from trumpet, which is a good thing sometimes.
great video! game changing! go airflow!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this. I've returned to playing again nearly 30 years since I last blew. Picking up the baritone ok but trying to learn the French Horn from scratch too. I watched this video shortly after getting my French horn in June and could not buzz. Making some progress now and I am able to buzz albeit with little control and requiring much effort. Having revisited this video today I think I missed the point about not overdoing it! Wondered why my chops were aching!
Good video. Tank you
You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching.
Great video! When I play and buzz I use the "Maggio version" that you showed in the video. I find this way I engage a much longer passage in the lips that gives me a more "fat" sound in all registers, especially upper register.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. Getting a good sound in all registers is always the goal!
ua-cam.com/video/ETR2mu_iYBw/v-deo.html
Hey Bryan. I've revisited free buzzing after watching your video. I've NEVER had much luck with free buzzing until watching this. I've always had a relatively good setup and believe I've been over doing it before. Excellent work sir. Thank you.
Hey Cameron. I’m glad it was helpful. Free buzzing is rarely explained properly, so it can be a bit of a dark art if not approached correctly. It’s VERY easy to overdo it.
@@AirflowMusicNYC yup, I concur on the overdoing. I'm not sure if it's a symptom of tension but I can barely descend an octave as of yet. It's early days yet, I may come back to you with some more in depth questions. Are you still doing lessons?
Absolutely. I’m here when/if you need me.
@@AirflowMusicNYC Thanks Bryan, still working through your advice. I'll see how it goes and will probably get back to you in January.
Hello Mr. Davis first and foremost thank you tremendously for sharing your knowledge on being a better trumpeter. Quick question, is there another way you can describe hugging the corners vertically?
I’m not familiar with the expression ‘hugging the corners vertically’ - the grip of the corners which turns the gentle airstream into a buzz pushes the lips together (vertically - up and down) at the corners and also forward (away from your teeth) and slightly towards the center. Does that make it clearer?
Hi Bryan, great video series!! Thanks a bunch for these!
For starting lip buzzing, is it more important to keep a sustained note even if it's lower than low C, or should I work on getting up to low C first?
Thanks for watching.
Those are both worthwhile goals. I would work on maintaining a steady pitch first, then figuring out bringing up the airspeed to raise the pitch.
ua-cam.com/video/ETR2mu_iYBw/v-deo.html
Thank you for the video. I am new to lip buzzing, so I am sometimes concerned I am not doing it properly as I go through tones. I have noticed I start moving my lower jaw in order to achieve a higher tone, but I assume the jaw is not supposed to move- but only the muscles of our mouth. Is this correct? And do you have any advice on what to look out for when practising? Thank you again for this video- I have just recently started playing trumpet again and your videos have been a great motivational tool!
Thanks for watching. It’s hard to say for sure without watching you buzz but, generally, if the jaw is moving forward or back a little (i.e. your chin pushes forward or back) that’s probably ok. If the jaw/chin is raising or lowering that may be more problematic. However, since the rim of the mouthpiece is not involved, any motion is less important than when it is!
Essentially lip buzzing, especially the low register version I prefer, works on engaging and building the corners while maintaining minimal tension yet good response at the center. The main thing to watch for us that you’re not pressing the lips together in the center. The grip comes from the corners only.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for the very helpful videos. May I ask.. do recommend a dry or wet embouchure?
Hi Ray. I don’t really “recommend” either. Personally, I find that if my lips are too dry they stick and can’t move. If they’re too wet, my mouthpiece is in danger of slipping. I’m somewhere in the middle - lightly moistened.
I'd like to see more instruction on position of the tongue, especially in the upper register
Thanks for the suggestion. On the list.
I don’t know how to lip buzz. When I try I make a farting noise and spit. I don’t know if i need to change the position of my jaw or make my lips more firm. I’ve followed the instructions and would appreciate if you would help. Thanks
Record a short video of you trying it, so I can see what you're doing. You can upload to UA-cam as 'Unlisted' so it won't be publicly viewable. Email me the link and I'll check it out and see what you need to address to make it work.
I just started lip buzzing and it seems like the upper lip hardly buzzes at all while the lower lip buzzes quite easily. I thought maybe I should practice buzzing the upper lip. What do you think?
I've spent years relying on applying pressure on my lips to change the pitch and I'm finally trying to change it and it really feels like starting again. I was actually quite happy with my tone and endurance, it was mainly flexibility that I felt held back in. As I'm "starting again" with minimal pressure from the mouthpiece I'm finding lots of air is leaking out of the side of my lips? Is that something that will fix itself as the muscles develop or should I just be applying enough pressure to hold my lips in place?
It’s the latter. While we may want to minimize pressure, we do need contact enough to seal. Focus instead on developing proper breath support, which will allow you to not blow so hard, and therefore reduce the pressure by reestablishing a proper pressure balance.
I'm in a similar situation. 20years of playing cornet/flughelhorn. comfortable endurance and normal to lower high range.But i can't hit very high notes, nor "play for hours" and applying too much pressure. So i decided to start with the basics and i notice i keep going back to bad habits. This will be a long frustrating journey. I wish you good luck with yours!
I’ve tried many times to use lip buzzing to help improve my playing. But I’ve never had it explained to me like you did in this video. When I first tried to do it after viewing this video I had a very shaky low C buzz. I guess my question is how long do I buzz? 30 seconds a day, for a week? Longer, shorter? Thank you for your time
Don’t do much more than 30 seconds a day to begin with. It probably will be shaky, starting out, but it’ll improve day by day. Give it a week or two, so you can notice the progress.
Really enjoy your videos. Bryan, I'm having difficulty buzzing my lips. I can't seem to get any sound no matter how hard I pinch the corners of my mouth/lips. I have been trying for a couple of weeks now and still get nothing but air. Any thoughts?
Sorry to hear you’re struggling with it. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about lip buzzing, if it seems to be such a challenge. While there are certain benefits, I know several excellent, top-level pros who swear against it anyway. Avoiding it certainly hasn’t hurt them. Just enjoy playing and devote your time to practicing on the horn.
Sorry to hear you’re struggling with it. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry too much about lip buzzing, if it seems to be such a challenge. While there are certain benefits, I know several excellent, top-level pros who swear against it anyway. Avoiding it certainly hasn’t hurt them. Just enjoy playing and devote your time to practicing on the horn.
Bryan, your thoughts on Lynn Nicholson's rim buzzing, that has really helped. Especially upper register
I don’t believe I’ve shared any thoughts about Mr Nicholson’s rim buzzing. Or am I misunderstanding you?
Bryan Davis - Airflow Music you haven’t Just wondered if you were familiar with it. Really opened my throat
I’ve done it occasionally. I prefer to use my visualizer, rather than just a rim. Basically as open, but you can still hold it by the end of the shank, like I prefer when mouthpiece buzzing, to keep the pressure down.
Bryan Davis - Airflow Music Thanks for writing. You have a great approach and best of the best. I share all I can. Time to gig in Mpls
ua-cam.com/video/ETR2mu_iYBw/v-deo.html
I've been really struggling with consistency recently. Whenever I'm not playing well whenever I play on a mouthpiece I get little to no buzz with lots of effort. It almost feel like the air I'm blowing isn't being used to play. Whenever I end up playing well which can be after I've played for about an hour or sometimes off the start all the notes feel easy and effortless like I'm a a whole new player. Whenever I just buzz on the mouthpiece I can get full sounding buzzes and it feels like all the air I'm blowing is being used. I can't figure out what it is that I'm changing or doing. Any advice?
I think the issue is not all of the needed area of my lip is vibrating because whenever I buzz this there's a sound, but still a lot of air is coming threw and whenever I'm playing better I some how fix this.
Do u add tongue?
I've just started learning trumpet as adult beginner and I'm now confused about buzzing. The first few youtube trumpet teaching videos I watched said you must buzz, then I started to see ones which said it is unnecessary. I can make reasonably sounding notes by simply blowing without any conscious buzzing. So my question is WHY do trumpet players buzz? Is it purely to strengthen your lip and facial muscles. OR are there some trumpet players who actually buzz while they are playing. I'm confused!!
Buzzing either the lips alone or with the mouthpiece can be useful, but aren’t essential. There are number of reasons why it can be helpful, all rooted in the fact that it’s a little more work than playing with the trumpet attached and requires more precision with the airstream, without the instrument to “auto-correct” you to the nearest pitch - you get both embouchure and ear training. However, it’s important to remember that playing with the instrument attached should be less effort than playing without. When we sound our best, and are playing with good resonance, we don’t buzz into the instrument. Instead, the instrument causes our lips to vibrate in response to the movement of air.
When buzzing my lips not only the small center of the lips trill (say 1 cm) but a larger part of the lips (say 4 cm). I cannot buzz with only the center of the lips. How can I manage that?
Try measuring the diameter of your mouthpiece with your fingers, placing them on your lips where the the rim would be when playing, then buzzing. That can help you feel where you need to focus in on.
That's a greaaat video, thank you!! I'm just not sure why you keep saying not to buzz for too long periods of time... is it bad for your muscles or anything?
As I explain in the video, it’s a lot more effort than playing and it’s very easy to overdo it and get out of balance.
Bryan, I don't understand how we are supposed to buzz the notes, chromatically. Do we need to do it with a tuner in front of us?
I'm really interested in your approach to buzzing and would like it to work for me as I believe it would help me.
Thanks, Peter
Hi Peter. I usually check pitches on the trumpet and then buzz the same. Play the pitches (shift into a different octave on the trumpet, if you’re buzzing very low) and try to buzz the same as you hear.
@@AirflowMusicNYC Bryan, thanks and got it. I'm working through your videos and am finding everyone an inspiration and of great help. Please keep up the good work. Peter
Brilliant video. I can get some lip buzz.
I'm really interested in the trumpet. I have never played one before. Unfortunately I had to have all of my teeth removed last year. Is it still possible to learn the trumpet with no teeth? Thank you.
Nothing’s impossible, but I suspect it might be extra challenging to play trumpet without teeth. Do you really have none at all? No dentures or implants to replace them?
@@AirflowMusicNYC I have no teeth at all. Unfortunately I also have a rare condition that causes boney grows on my gums and I cannot have dentures. I also cannot afford implants. :)
Sorry to hear that.
Is it ok if you feel the airflow going downward of your lips
It’s most probably fine. Testing right now, feel that my own air goes at a downward angle of about 30 degrees, while lip buzzing. Perhaps if it’s going down to your chin, that might be an indication of poor positioning, but a reasonable up or down angle shouldn’t be a problem.
Why am I not able to lip buzz though I follow the steps mentioned ? Could it be because of my teeth which protrude ?
Hard to say without seeing you try.
I need help. It is my second year playing, and I consider myself a noob but decent. I have one problem though. I cant buzz like u. Whenever i buzz, itz like a fart. I can hit high g although im not using the proper form. Pls Help!
Keep at it. Just a little, everyday, so you don’t overwork your embouchure. Deep breath and engage your breath support to stabilize the airstream.
I’ve been developing my buzz over 25 years of doing it. It didn’t sound this way the first day.
Thanks!
how do people change the pitch when lip buzzing?
There are a variety of factors, and the way they balance for you will not be exactly the same as it is for me.
How do you change the pitch when you're playing on the trumpet? *Just* moving the valves will get it done in a certain way, but how about if you want to control it to play a particular melody? I'm guessing you don't think about it too much while you're doing it. Instead, you focus on whether the right note comes out. Once something becomes familiar and comfortable enough that you're reasonably in control of it, you just do it. If you're not there yet, then you practice until you are.
If you're new to lip buzzing, then just try and get a single note to sustain for a few seconds. If you can do that, then you have the tools you need to change the note too. Try it and please let me know if you figure it out.
I want to play trumpet and flugelhorn but can only “buzz” my lips (medium beefiness, definitely not “thin” lips) for a second or two when they’re wet. As soon as they dry I can’t buzz.
Can you play longer than a second or two on the trumpet? If so, don’t worry! Lip buzzing can be a useful exercise, but it is NOT a prerequisite for playing.
@@AirflowMusicNYC Thanks so much for your reply. After believing for decades that being able to buzz was a requirement for playing the trumpet I recently discovered some videos explaining that, despite my years-long frustration about having trouble buzzing, it’s actually not even necessary to buzz when playing. I have a couple of trumpets and a plastic Tromba flugelhorn and just ordered some Blue Juice because the valves on the Tromba are completely seized from not being touched for years. I’m going to get them unstuck and try playing without buzzing. By the way, I’m a big Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass fan which led me to wanting to play the trumpet. Thanks again for your feedback!
When I try the buzz my air goes down & flows over my chin rather than straight forward, is this something I should be trying to correct? The buzz is not working when I direct the air forwards. Thanks
Sorry for the slow reply. Typically, a large change in air direction when forming the buzz in the way I described in the video is a sign that you're pressing your lips together in the middle. Focus on the corner grip I talked about.
I’m new to trumpet playing. I’m not able to buzz high, I’m scared I won’t be able to play the Trumpet
I’m not able to buzz high either. I do just fine. Make music and enjoy it.
@@AirflowMusicNYC Hi Bryan, I think that's a critical point. Some people can't lip buzz at all, or only up to a 2nd line G, yet on the horn have a fantastic range. Others can squeak out mosquito pitch buzzes but can end up with a tiny mosquito sound on the horn. I absolutely marvel at the late Clark Terry's ability to high pitch lip buzz and convert that to the mouthpiece, then of course to his legendary jazz technique on trumpet and flugel horn. It seems 98% of players and teachers these days are entirely against the concept Clark demonstrates on his method video, ua-cam.com/video/eU3DxbNjLV4/v-deo.html , but it certainly worked for him. Different approaches, for different faces, and different styles of playing. For anyone who hasn't experienced out of this world control of mouthpiece buzzing, I suggest checking out this famous 1957 recording by Clark Terry refer ua-cam.com/video/I8-8CFZmT-A/v-deo.html . That's extraordinary trumpet/mouthpiece playing in an improvised style.
ua-cam.com/video/ETR2mu_iYBw/v-deo.html
do you do lessons online?
Yessir. Been teaching via Skype for something like 15 years. Details at bryandav.is/teaching/
@@AirflowMusicNYC hey, the link is not working for me :(
Please help my buzz sounds more like a fart and is really low pitch
I think I'm not able to do that :( I try many times without sucess T-T
Did you ever try by following my instructions before? You may find it makes a difference.
If not, it doesn’t matter. It’s something I’ve found useful over the years, which is why I shared it, but it’s perfectly possible to play at a high level without ever buzzing your lips.
Have you seen my current series #30DaysOfLongTones? That’s providing some similar results for me, so far, and ANYBODY can play those!
@@AirflowMusicNYC I'm gonna try the #30DaysOfLongTones then !
I still can’t lip buzz
Don’t worry. No big thing.
After 2 weeks of trying to intentionally buzz ... Nothing..... so so sad ... 😭
Are you on Instagram? If so, DM me @airflowmusicnyc with a video of you trying to lip buzz and I’ll give you some pointers.
It's impossible to buzz for me. I've watched and listened to multiple different trumpet channels and can't get anything but an ugly scratch.
Buzzing can be useful, but it’s not a necessity. Don’t worry about it.
@Bryan Davis - Airflow Music ok. I appreciate you replying to a comment on a video that is older than my trumpeting carrer.
You’re welcome. Especially since you’re still fairly new at this, just play. Revisit buzzing a year from now, and you’ll probably find it easier, with a little more experience under your belt.
@@AirflowMusicNYC I LEARNED HOW TO DO IT!!
Good for you. Well done.
why does mine sound like a dirt bike
Corners are probably a little loose. Keep at it, just a little everyday. It’ll come with practice.
Do you use your tongue?
Just to start notes, like this, I’m breath starting. No tongue. I can tongue while lip buzzing but I’m not doing so here.
? Go Practice? are you my mom...
That would be a feat of biology, to say the least... 😜