Brass Band Tuning
- mdpmicahdominicpar
- Jul 25
- 7 min read
Brass Band Tuning:
Tuning - tuning means having the instrument set up so that each note naturally plays at the right pitch.
Intonation - intonation is the fine tuning of each note in relation to other players within the section and the band. This can also involve adjusting due to environmental factors such as heat or tired lips.
General Notes:
Each instrument has its own specific tuning and intonation issues.
An individual airflow can cause tuning and intonation issues so each player must ensure they are putting enough air into the instrument.
Other things that effect tuning include posture, embrochure
The same note will have a variety of pitches depending where it lies in the chord for a D on the forth line it will need to be sharpened as it is the tonic of D major but the same note will need to be flat if the third of Bb major.
Bear in mind that the temperature of a room will affect the tuning of an instrument.
Cornet Tuning:
Cornets have a main tuning slide trigger some cornets have an optional 1st or 3rd slide tuning trigger. (This configuration can change depending on brand of Cornet).
Notes to Tune - Bottom C#, Low D.
When To Use The Trigger:
Bottom C# - a little of main tuning trigger and 3rd slide trigger.
Bottom D - 3rd slide trigger.
E - main tuning trigger or
Top G - main turning slide.
Alternative Fingering:
Bottom A - 3rd valve instead of 1st and 2nd valve.
E on line - 3rd valve instead of 1st and 2nd valve.
F# in the space - all three valves instead of 2nd valve.
C - open or 2nd or 3rd valve.
E in the space - 1st and 2nd valve or 3rd valve or all three valves instead of open.
Eb - 2nd and 3rd valve instead of 2nd valve.
F# - all three valves or 2nd and 3rd valve instead of 2nd valve.
F - 1st and 3rd valve instead of 1st valve.
Top G - instead of open play on 1st and 3rd valve.
What To Identify:
Where are the triggers located on your instrument.
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.
Tenor Horn Tuning:
Most tenor horns come with a main tuning slide trigger however this is still not a common feature.
Brass instruments with three valves have compromised pitch accuracy.
The most common issues arise with any fingering combination that involve the third valve.
Bottom C#.
Bottom D.
Bottom E.
Bottom G#.
Questions To Ask:
When you play a middle G is it always sharp?
When you pull out the tuning slide are your middle G's then in tune?
Are they intune every time once you have pulled out the tuning slide?
Are they are always in tune go through the alternate valve tests and adjust your slides as necessary.
G - open - 1/3
A - 1/2 - 3
B - 2 - 1/3
C - open - 2/3
E (above tuning note) open - 1/2 - 3
What To Identify:
Does your Tenor Horn have a trigger?
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.
Baritone Tuning:
Baritones have started to come with a main tuning slide however this is not common. Please bear in mind that compensating Baritones with a 4th valve will need to be tuned like a Euphonium.
The Baritone is an underdeveloped instrument and often made with a thinner metal (most Baritone bells will bend with a bit of finger pressure). This means that intonation can become an obvious problem when playing at louder dynamics as the thinner bell metal cannot absorb the air and vibration going through the instrument.
As with the Tenor Horn, the Baritone suffers with pitch accuracy due to only having three valves.
The most common issues arise with any fingering combination that involve the third valve.
Bottom C#.
Bottom D.
Bottom E.
Bottom G#.
Questions To Ask:
When you play a middle G is it always sharp?
When you pull out the tuning slide are your middle G's then in tune?
Are they intune every time once you have pulled out the tuning slide?
Are they are always in tune go through the alternate valve tests and adjust your slides as necessary.
G - open - 1/3
A - 1/2 - 3
B - 2 - 1/3
C - open - 2/3
E (above tuning note) open - 1/2 - 3
What To Identify:
Does your Tenor Horn have a trigger?
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.
Euphonium Tuning:
The Euphonium is an instrument which is often in different ranges supporting other instruments in the band and intonation issues often arise due to lip adjustments to playing in different ranges of the instrument.
The innovative Euphonium trigger system is featured on most instruments.
The trigger system should be used for the following notes.
Top E - slight use of trigger.
Top F - slight use of trigger.
Top G - full use of trigger.
Top C - full use of trigger.
Alternative Fingerings:
Bottom C# - second and forth valve.
Bottom D - 4th valve.
Top D - open valves.
Top E - second valve.
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.
Trombone Tuning:
The Trombone has the benefit of a slide which can provide micro adjustments to tuning.
Despite popular belief there are around 76 different slide positions which take into account the micro adjustments for tuning and sound.
Tuning on a Trombone is not as simple as other brass instrument hence the shorter post.
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Tune open slide position and adjust main tuning slide.
Eb Bass Tuning:
Eb Basses are not equipped with a main tuning trigger.
The Eb Bass requires a lot of air to keep in tune as well as produce notes.
The Eb Bass always has to get the air flowing to get the note started before anyone else in the band.
The main issues arise with first and third valve fingering and first, second and third valve fingerings.
Good air flow will resolve the majority of issues.
If the Eb bass is playing a fifth of the chord the note should be slightly sharper if the Eb bass is playing the third of the chord then the note should be flatter.
Playing with earplugs can enable an Eb bass player to hear their sound better.
Alternative Fingerings:
Bottom C# - second and forth valve.
Bottom D - 4th valve.
G - first and third valve instead of open valves.
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.
Bb Bass:
Bb Basses are not equipped with a main tuning trigger.
The Bb Bass requires a lot of air to keep in tune as well as produce notes.
The Bb Bass always has to get the air flowing to get the note started before anyone else in the band.
The main issues arise with first and third valve fingering and first, second and third valve fingerings.
Good air flow will resolve the majority of issues.
If the Bb bass is playing a fifth of the chord the note should be slightly sharper if the Bb bass is playing the third of the chord then the note should be flatter.
Playing with earplugs can enable an Bb bass player to hear their sound better.
Alternative Fingerings:
Bottom C# - second and forth valve.
Bottom D - 4th valve.
G - first and third valve instead of open valves.
Push all slides in to their maximum point.
Ensure your tuner is set to 442.
Ensure that you are warmed up.
Play a middle C.
Adjust the main tuning slide to the optimal position. Pulling the tuning slide out will flatten the instrument and pushing the tuning slide in will sharpen an instrument.
Check all open valve notes.
Repeat the process for 1st, 2nd and 3rd valve notes and adjust the slides accordingly.The
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