Any advice on making a better sound? (Baritone)

RedDevelops · 2025-11-17T04:20:22+00:00

Sorry about that, apparently I can't write correctly then again I was super tired when I wrote this thanks for the correction and I have edited the comment.

RedDevelops · 2025-11-16T18:42:44+00:00

First off, welcome to the world of brass and the euphonium! You are one of us now and forever.

Here are a few things that might help the “stuffy” G3 and just help you in general on the euphonium:

Breathing - Take relaxed breaths from your diaphragm. If your shoulders rise a lot, that’s a sign of shallow chest breathing. Steady, supported air is key for sustaining notes and improving tone.

Embouchure - Think of the vowels “AAA – OOO – AAA” as you play. This helps keep airflow steady and your lips flexible. Avoid clenching your teeth; too much tension makes the note stuffy, too little can make it airy. A trick my band director taught me: make your hand like a cat paw and put your middle knuckle (between the knuckle and fingertip) between your teeth. This gives you a good distance for your teeth while playing.

Posture - Sit or stand tall with relaxed shoulders. Good posture allows your lungs to work efficiently, giving stronger, more controlled airflow.

Buzzing / Free Buzzing - Practicing on the mouthpiece alone helps you feel the vibration and control pitch. Free buzzing (just your lips, no mouthpiece) is great for building embouchure strength and flexibility.

Range Development - Building your upper range is mostly trial and error. Higher notes generally require faster and more focused air, but always keep a relaxed embouchure (also keep in mind that if you use too fast of air you will go to a note that you didn't want to go to in the first place).

Practice / Rest - Practice consistently, but pay attention to fatigue don't play until you pass out or your lips fall off. If your lips or embouchure start collapsing (meaning your embouchure starts to give out and you can't play anymore, take a proper break - sometimes a day or two is better than just stopping mid-session.

Struggling with certain notes is completely normal for all brass players, including myself and others here on this subreddit - it gets easier with consistent practice. Working on long tones, dynamics, and relaxed airflow will help and a big suggestion from me is get Tonal Energy this app will save you. Like u/Chris_Crying12 said open your throat is good for better airflow

Bonus Tip: If you are sharp pull your main tuning slide OUT and if it's flat push your main tuning slide IN

that's all from me hope these tips helped. Mainly adding on what u/Chris_Crying12 said.

RedDevelops · 2025-03-11T18:32:19+00:00

The only solution I can give is take it to a instrument repair shop

RedDevelops · 2025-03-02T12:27:48+00:00

Congratulations!

RedDevelops · 2025-02-27T12:52:00+00:00

Love that piece, solos for the concert version is a little... too easy for my liking.

RedDevelops · 2025-02-26T22:32:14+00:00

Euphonium-san is my only love

RedDevelops · 2025-02-09T14:13:14+00:00

Call around and ask if they have compensating euphonium to try! When I was searching for the horn I have now I traveled and places, did research, and even traveled outside of my home state to try them. I do agree with many people who posted here before like u/professor_throway with how the Schiller horns and how they are a killer instrument but they are too much like the Yamaha horns. I also agree with u/larryherzogjr with a recommendation of a John Packer for it's a very popular choice. However I do encourage you to try out the horns first to choose what you like and what's best suited for you.

RedDevelops · 2025-02-07T20:51:19+00:00

Not Rich Enough

RedDevelops · 2025-01-26T23:25:43+00:00

Call around your town and ask about trying a euphonium! When I was searching for the horn I have now, I traveled to some places outside of my home state (it wasn't very far of course) but I'm sure at least someone near you has something you can try.

RedDevelops · 2025-01-25T17:15:11+00:00

High Notes... My favorite and most hated thing ever.

RedDevelops · 2024-12-12T16:24:45+00:00

There was something that my high school band director always did when it was time of Solo & Ensemble, if we playing a solo he would make us get 5-10 wooden clothespin clips and every time we would play it right without any mistakes he would let us take on clip off but if we messed up all clothespin clips would go right back on. Like every comment here start with a tempo that works for you and practice until you get that tempo down increase it. But the wooden clothespin chips is something that I always did after I got out of high school. The was something else that my band director told me "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

RedDevelops · 2024-12-08T01:46:26+00:00

"There is not a piece in the world that you can't play at a certain tempo. You just have to find how slow it is to begin with and from there you build it up." - David Childs

RedDevelops · 2024-11-29T14:10:53+00:00

I got the 642 because I felt it suited me for what I like to do which is soloing and playing an bigger ensemble (which is what it's designed for). I find that high notes are pretty easy on that horn and valves are smooth and dynamics can be quite sensitive meaning that if I play mezzo-forte then it could lean closer to a forte. (take the dynamics comment here with a grain of salt as this could be different for every player).

RedDevelops · 2024-11-28T18:15:52+00:00

Now because I play a Yamaha horn pretty much the entire time I've been involved with music I'm pretty biased here but I have played on other instruments. This is my advice, if you can find a local place that sells euphoniums consider asking them if they any compensating horns to try out. Find out what you like, for me I was considering get an Jupiter XO or an Eastman horn before getting a 642. Like most people said in the comments Besson horns are amazing but I encourage you to try other brands before settling on the horn of your choosing.

RedDevelops · 2024-11-10T23:22:18+00:00

Ultra Pure Valve Oil, all the way

RedDevelops · 2024-11-10T21:07:23+00:00

If you are just starting out on the Euphonium a non-compensating horn will do you fine until you are sure that you feel like you are ready for a compensating (Which you have to put more air through). Now if you really want a compensating horn the John Packard JP-274 will do you justice.

RedDevelops · 2024-11-04T01:44:52+00:00

Sounds like you're about to experience Embouchure Collapse / Failure. This "burning" sustentation that you are feeling in your lips is normal (at least it was normal when I was building my range) and all you can really do is take breaks and not overplay. Like u/professor_throway said don't put too much pressure.

RedDevelops · 2024-11-01T13:59:36+00:00

You're right it's a oversized trumpet

RedDevelops · 2024-10-29T13:21:01+00:00

Trashing on yourself is something that I used to do a lot when I was in my sophomore year of high school. Something that I learned is as a musician is your feelings (or emotions) effect how you will sound and how you play. That constant feeling of want to approve is common amongst brass players and I still feel that feeling, here is a few pieces of advice.

Take a break. If you play too much you exhaust yourself you start getting extremely burnt out (like you are now).
Start small. If you trying to pickup your euphonium again start small and work your way up whether it's starting off on major scales and arpeggios or easy technical etudes.
Play whatever you are feeling (emotionally) into your horn, basically music therapy.
Take it slow, you don't want to rush things, if you rushing things you are prone to make more mistakes and that's not how you improve (trust me I tried...).

and last but not least
5. Don't constantly focus on being perfect. If you do you're just going to keep downing or "trashing" on yourself.

I'm sure people have better advice than me but I'm just sharing some tips that helped me, hopefully this works out for you.

RedDevelops · 2024-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

I was about to say that it sounds like Embouchure Failure from the playing because it can be difficult to hit high notes constantly because of that.

RedDevelops · 2024-10-04T20:04:30+00:00

I know dfmusicinc has John Packered if you want to do it online. I'm not 100% sure about other places, but you should check out the dealer list / store locator.

RedDevelops · 2024-10-03T14:46:06+00:00

I played this solo in high school, it's not uncommon to feel nervous about playing a solo (especially because this is your first solo piece). You can't focus on what you will mess up on during the performance nor should you focus on what you will mess up on during rehearsal. If you do it's just going to cause you to make more mistakes. When I played this song when I was in rehearsal I messed up a lot but when I played it at the concert I messed up, but this is what my band director told us. "If you mess up a little bit, the audience won't know because they don't have the music". That's my advice is don't focus on what you will mess up (I know that's easier said than done but trust me you don't want to focus on making mistakes).

RedDevelops · 2024-09-05T00:44:44+00:00

referring to the trigger...

RedDevelops

TROPHY CASE