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Brass

Click here for a quick-reference guide to intonation problems of:

Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Tuba
Euphonium

• Slides pulled out = flatter, pushed in = sharper

• Temperature:  cold = flat, hot = sharp

• Extreme range:  high twister = sharp, low can go either way depending on players experience level.

• Dynamic level:  loud = sharp, soft = flat

• Mutes:  straight and harmon = sharp, cup = flat

• Embouchure and voicing:  pinching = sharp, loose = flat.  The voicing that takes place inside the oral cavity (tongue position) can also move the pitch up or down.

• Mouthpiece design:  shallow cup = sharp, deep cup = flat

Valve combination series:

• open  in tune

• 2nd  in tune

• 1st  in tune

• 1st, 2nd little sharp (3rd valve as substitute = little flat)

• 2nd, 3rd little flat

• 1st, 3rd sharp  (trumpets MUST "kick" 3rd valve slide)

• 1st, 2nd, 3rd very sharp (trumpets must kick 3rd valve slide)

Overtone series (tendencies of the harmonics compared to equal temperament):

• 1 in tune (1 not available on trumpet)

• 2 in tune

• 3 slightly sharp (2 vibrations per second)

• 4 in tune

• 5 slightly flat (some can be lipped, many players use alternate fingerings)

• 6 sharp

• 7 very flat

• 8 in tune

Percussion

Mallet instruments play sharp in cold weather -- beware of this at those cold football games! And if you like football, be sure to visit FantasyFootballers.org.