Doubling on Trumpet

[CMelodyMan]

Wouldn't doubling on a brass instrument such as trumpet mess-up your sax embouchere?

[AbrahamFackle]

No.

[HC]

Low brass (tuba, euphonium) would definetly not screw up your embouschure). I have just picked up tuba and it hasn't screwed up my saxophone playing at all. High brass instruments could be debatable but as long as you balance your time between sax and brass, I couldn't see any reason how it would screw up your embouchure.

[gary]

I suggest you scroll down, past the quick reply window, and read some of the previous discussions there. It could save you a little time waiting for replies since I believe the answer is already there.

[CMelodyMan]

I suggest you scroll down, past the quick reply window, and read some of the previous discussions there. It could save you a little time waiting for replies since I believe the answer is already there.

Thanks Gary. :)

[Tim Price]

Wouldn't doubling on a brass instrument such as trumpet mess-up your sax embouchere?


It never hurt Benny Carter, Ira Sullivan, Miles Donahue,Howard Johnson Murry McEachern, Tom Malone ( on Letterman) or even Gene Roland.
Check it out :)

[Tom Goodrick]

I played trombone and trumpet for years before taking up the tenor sax. I found I could play all horns during a practice session - after a warm up on each - with no problems. Some people have said playing trumpet messes up you sax embouchure. I cannot understand that. If you have a well-formed embouchure on each instrument, there will be no interference. Indeed, switching horns on the job extends my trumpet/trombone playing time. By including a sax, I can play a four-hour gig as the solo instrument in a combo. That would be impossible for me on fust the brass instruments.

I notice now that you can get by playing tenor in a variety of ways including a very lazy way with a soft blowing method that passes for jazz. But on trumpet you have to blow and maintain a firm pressure within your body. After playing a piece on trumpet, my sax always improves because of the blowing.

I would say if trumpet messes up your sax embouchure, there is something wrong with your technique.

[paulwl]

I might add Scott Robinson doubles in brass (and well). Mostly cornet and a kooky German thing called a normophone. (http://www.usd.edu/smm/Normaphone.html)

Jimmy Dorsey could get around very nicely on cornet. So could Tommy. Their old man was a brass band master and started them in that direction as kids.

Spencer Clark, the bass sax legend, made it thru the 1930s as a 3rd trumpeter with various bands.

Finally, Larry Clinton played section clarinet, trumpet AND trombone with his big band.

Me, I still mess around on trombone and also fooled with cornet and tuba as a pup.

[Saxplaya179]

I've been playing sax for about 6 years and trumpet for going on2 and I play trumpet pretty well and sax better than ever so, in short...NO! 8-) :treble:

[mrjazz]

I always take my cornet with me on jobbingdates when I'm the only horn. It never messes up my chops. I usually carry more stuff then the drummer does like Bari, Tenor, Alto, Sop, Clarinet, Flute, Piccolo, Alto Flute, Irish flutes in various keys, Melodica, harmonica, train whistle, percussion toys and cornet. Makes for a nice variety when I need it. I like to have a harmon mute and a plunger along as well. And yes, I usually play them all at least once or twice. I've even taken a trombone along before.

[Martin Williams]

I picked up Brass because we have an all brass marching band at Ohio State. Ive been playing trumpet for 4 years now, with no negative effects to my sax playing

[trumpet1313]

A couple of weeks ago I 'accidentally' picked up an alto saxophone for the first time and must say I found it quite enjoyable. I haven't noticed anything strange going on with my trumpet embouchure. In fact I feel - physically, after half an hour ;) - that the saxophone requires different muscles to be developed.

I do however hope some of you might be able to give me some pointers to guide me through this development stage; I would like to know if there are some do's and dont's that could help me.
Tongue position for example; is it adviseable to (at least at first) try to keep your tongue flat or will using the tongue position now prove to be an advantage later on?

And then there's the altissimo ... how do I get started?
I ask this question knowing the first (and probably only sane) response is going to be I should wait for another year before trying, but hey ... ever met a not overconfident trumpet player? ;)