RODDY o-iii<O
Mouthpiece
Inner Rim Diameters
These measurements are to help you if you want to jump across makes/models of Mpc's. Sometimes a change of Mpc. make/style can help with certain problems, but it's always advisable to keep to an inner diameter that your comfortable with when jumping across.The measurements were taken from each individual maker's own brochure.
It's also worth mentioning that often when you make a change, you trade one problem for a different one. It just depends on which problem you decide to tackle with extra practice!! : )
Please bear in mind that the feel of a mpc. can drastically alter due to rim/cup shapes and that each maker listed has many more options than are shown here, these are the Mpc's that corellated across this set of measurements. The measurement in mm (to 3 decimal places) is to aid you in making an accurate decision when changing. Most manufacturers round up to 2 decimal places, and, if you so wish you only need to omit the last figure to achieve the same.
If you are new to the game a good starting point is the Schilke 12 series. This, in my opinion, is a good average starting point. I believe you need 3 Mpc's with the same rim but different cup depths to be able to play a variety of styles well with the correct tone colour. It is possible of course to affect tonal change by altering some physical aspects while playing, however I don't believe this is efficient over a long playing time as you will be not using the Mpc. at that point to it's full/efficient potential.
It has been said by some individuals that ''a good player only needs one Mpc.'' and this is true up to a point. This statement however I believe originated in the days gone by where the commercial player had less demanding style change parameters to cope with. Today to be a successful ''freelancer'' you are required to play over an ever increasing/developing set of styles/situations...
...and attempt to get as close as you can to the requirements that are being asked of you within those circumstances!!..
Lead Tpt. (with command) in many standard charts up to Double High 'C'...
"Nutville" / Rich [Dbl.Bb]...
"Beyond Category" / Bellson [Dbl. A]...
"Dancing Men" / Rich [95 High D's plus some other higher stuff!]....
I purposefully did'nt include Ferguson / Chase / Brisbois charts as these exceed normal lead playing.
You are likely to 'bump into' the charts listed above though (... there are many more like these!)
The Jazz/Commercial field is no less demanding - ''give me that intimate Chet Baker sound!/ in this theatre production lad we want a full 'Aaron Copland' type sound!''
...and then of course you need to be able to turn up to a Brass Ensemble and sound like Ron Romm / and in Orch. like Herseth or Murphy.
''A good player can play on one Mpc.'' --YEH RIGHT!!..
Bobby Shew uses more than one - that's good enough proof for me!!
Might I suggest as a starting point only, two stock Mpc's and one Custom model.....
Schilke 12A4a for Big Band Lead playing.
Schilke 12B4 for general Jazz/Commercial...
Schilke 12C4 (custom model) for Orchestral/Legit.
I don't recommend Bach as the copies of the same Mpc. are often wildly innaccurate.
If you are concentrating only on Legit......then might I suggest Yamaha, or for something really special see below!
Might I remind the reader that this is NOT my ideal set up for ANY of the styles I've mentioned...
...just a good starting point!
Inner Rim Diameter
Basically, a large diameter enables the lips to vibrate more freely. It will also aid in the production of a bigger tone but if too large, the tone will be too open (unfocussed). In some players a smaller diameter can sometimes lead to excess mpc. pressure in an effort to close the lip aperture. Excess mpc. pressure leads to inefficient endurance. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Mouthpiece Inner Rim Diameters
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R o-iii<O Inches .590 .595 .600 .605 .610 Inches .615 .620 .625 .630 .635 Inches .640 .645 .650 .655 .660 Inches .665 .670 .675 .680 .685 .690 |
R o-iii<O mm.3 dec 14.986 15.113 15.24 15.367 15.494 mm.3 dec 15.621 15.748 15.875 16.002 16.129 mm.3 dec 16.256 16.383 16.51 16.637 16.764 mm.3 dec 16.891 17.018 17.145 17.272 17.399 17.526 |
R o-iii<O Bach 20 18, 17 12 NA NA Bach 11 10 3/4 10 1/2 10, 9 8, 7, 6 Bach 5, 3 2 1/2 2 NA NA Bach NA 1X, 1 1/2 NA NA NA 1 |
R o-iii<O Schilke NA NA NA NA NA Schilke NA NA 5 6A4a 7 Schilke 8, 9 10 11 12 13 Schilke NA 14 15 16 17 18 |
R o-iii<O GR Tech. NA NA NA NA NA GR Tech. NA 62 NA 63 NA GR Tech. 64 NA 65 NA 66 GR Tech. NA 67 NA NA NA NA |
R o-iii<O D.Wick NA NA NA NA NA D.Wick NA NA NA 5B NA D.Wick NA NA 4B NA 3B D.Wick NA 2B NA NA NA NA |
R o-iii<O Giardinelli 17 NA NA NA 12 Giardinelli NA NA NA 10 NA Giardinelli NA NA 7 5 6 Giardinelli NA 3 NA NA NA 1 |
R o-iii<O Yamaha NA NA NA NA NA Yamaha NA 5 6 8 NA Yamaha 11 NA 13 NA 14 Yamaha 15 16 NA 17 NA 18 |
R o-iii<O Warburton NA NA 10 NA 9 Warburton NA 8 7 NA NA Warburton 6 NA 5 4 NA Warburton 3 2 NA NA NA 1 |
R o-iii<O YOURS ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- YOURS ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- YOURS ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- YOURS ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- |
o-iii<O email for help! RoddyTpt@aol.com o-iii<O
Inner Rim Diameter (Reprise)
Basically, a large diameter enables the lips to vibrate more freely. It will also aid in the production of a bigger tone but if too large, the tone will be too open (unfocussed). In some players a smaller diameter can sometimes lead to excess mpc. pressure in an effort to close the lip aperture. Excess mpc. pressure leads to inefficient endurance. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Cup Depth
Basically, the deeper the cup the darker the tone. A more shallow cup will give a brighter tone. For playing in the upper register a mpc. that is more shallow than average will give the tone and support required to perform in this register. Shallow cups (at the extreme end) will make the tone thin/edgy. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Cup Volume
The mouthpiece(s) of your choice need to suit the style/sound of the genre you are playing in. Using multiple mpcs. for multiple styles must result in extra practice on each particular mpc. to cope with the types of articulation/dynamics that you will meet within those particular styles. The larger the cup volume the fuller and louder the tone; the smaller the cup volume the softer and thinner the tone. If you choose a cup volume at either end of the extremes, control will be compromised. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Inner Rim Bite
The sharper the bite, the more grip is perceived. With a flatter or rounder rim, less grip is felt but more comfort acquired. Personal mpc. pressure plays a big part in choosing a mpc. which will aid performance. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Backbore
The backbore can affect pitch greatly. The diameter of the backbore also influences timbre and resistance. A narrow backbore results in increased resistance, brighter tone, and easier playing in the high register. A larger backbore decreases resistance and gives a darker tone and easier playing in the lower range. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.''U / ''V'' Shaped Cups
Most U shaped cups have a fairly sharp shoulder which results in an easy to play resistance and a well defined bright sound. V shaped cups have a smoother, rounder shoulder which produces low resistance and softer, darker tone. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Throat Diameter
The throat is the narrowest part of the mpc. bore. The diameter and length of this set the restrictions for playing resistance (back pressure). A narrow, long throat gives a high level of resistance which then in turn equates to fast response/brilliant tone and an aid to playing in the high register. A wide, short throat is more playable in the lower register and results in greater volume of tone but requires a great deal of air support from the player. Your choice needs to be a moderate/comfortable one for yourself alone.Model Numbering System
Most companies have their own way of numbering their Mpc's with the differences in Rim/Cup/Throat specifications.Mouthpiece Weight
Light weight mpcs. produce fast, flexible response while heavier mpcs. produce a more focussed tonal core. Much the same can be said for horns too!Mouthpiece Finish
Gold plating IMHO helps with lip flexibility and is more suited to the player who uses a wet embouchure but is not so suitable for the dry lipped player who requires more grip. Silver plating is generally preferred by dry lipped individuals.Rim Thickness
A thick rim provides greater lip contact resulting in extended endurance but lip movement is limited therefore in extreme cases you lose flexibility. A thin rim gives flexibility and control but provides less support for the lip thereby causing fatigue earlier than a mpc. rim of more average dimensions.MOUTHPIECE PRESSURE
An awful lot of trumpet players use too much mpc. pressure in all registers a lot of the time. This generally (depending on how much pressure is being used) results in lip swelling to a greater or lesser degree. Trying to avoid (or use less) is not easy as you need to learn to make lip compression your close friend.Pressure test / lip vibration indicator . . . . .
I guarantee you use TOO much mpc pressure already in ALL registers
...WE ALL DO!!!
WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT YOUR TEETH ALIGNMENT WHEN IN A NORMAL PLAYING POSITION IS MOSTLY ALIGNED EVENLY IN THE TEST TO FOLLOW.
OUT OF KILTER EITHER WAY BY A DEGREE WON'T UPSET THE TEST TO FOLLOW THAT MUCH, PROVIDED AS ALWAYS THE EXTREMETIES OF JAW POSITION ARE AT A MINIMUM.
Try this little test.....
1. Free lip buzz a second line G, and, roll a pencil slowly down from under your nose until it comes into contact with your Top lip. [note what happens to the buzz]
2. Next buzz the second line G again and whilst doing so roll the pencil up from the chin until it it comes into contact with your lower lip [note what happens]
A number of scenarios are possible.....
.....there are a number of known 'people variations'...
[and some unknown I've no doubt]
Mostly......
1. the top lip is the vibrator [bottom lip/jaw compression] -the commonest form.
2. the bottom lip is the vibrator [top lip compression ] -not very unusual, however as the top jaw is fixed, the top lip compression is achieved [in my opinion] by top lip tissue compression [not much]...and or lip stretch / facial / corner compression [contortion.]
3. Bottom and top lip vibration [Ideal]
...you would think would'nt you that number 3 would be the most desirable and it is
I suppose...but...it is only a small [but nonetheless significant] part of the 'chops set up'... you have to consider amongst many things, TENSION [facial / corner / compression or lip curl] mentioned above, as it's all linked up....
A Strobosopic Analysis of Lip Function by Robert D. Weast [1962] and amongst the proportion of trumpet players who took part it was found that a very high percentage [if not all] of them had the top lip as the primary vibrator.
MY WHOLE POINT TO THE ABOVE IS THIS.....
FIND WHICH IS YOUR PRIMARY VIBRATOR AND TRY AND KEEP A MIND TO MINIMISING THE PRESSURE ON THAT PARTICULAR LIP[S]!!!!!
Which lip do you consider to be YOUR primary vibrator?...
TOP / BOTTOM / BOTH EQUALLY?
STOP SQUASHING IT / THEM!!
You may want to try the mpc pressure device available from amongst others Osmun music [USA] ...beware that the device extends the playing length of the trumpet when added so you need to take into account a pitch variation. I would'nt recommend it for prolonged usage, but it is a useful 'personal pressure indicator'.
Exceptions to these Principles......
There will be people who contradict these principles, however their method of achieving their success may be SO specific to their individual physical makeup and/or highly individualised routine, that it may be impossible for another player to achieve the same results without the EXACT same circumstances / physiology [same teeth / oral cavity etc..]
REMEMBER.......
AIR + RELAXATION = FRIEND // ....EXAGERRATION = FOE (Don Jacoby)
DON'T EXAGGERATE YOUR ADJUSTMENTS TOO FAR!!!
LET THE SOUND BE YOUR GUIDE!!!
RELAX...ENJOY THE PUZZLE!!!
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