Return to Tips for Band Intonation Tendencies of Wind Instruments Brass and Percussion	by Mr. Fred J. Allen Director of Bands SFA School of Music [email protected]
	Flute  | Oboe  | Bassoon  | Clarinet  | Saxophone  | Brass & Percussion

Brass

Quick-reference guides 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!