French Horn Basics

Jason Lively

Parts of the Horn

Starter Double Horns

Holton H379
Yamaha YHR-567
Conn 6D Artist

Mouthpieces
Yamaha 30C4
Schilke 30

Types of Horns
Single Horn (F Horn)- This is most used in
orchestral settings. It is pitched in F and has
fingerings similar to trumpet.
Double Horn- Pitched in F but has a trigger
that changes it to Bb which causes the
fingerings to change. There is a set of slides
for the F and Bb.

Posture
Bring the horn to you.
Sit tall, off the back of the chair.
The horn should be held at a slight downward
angle.
The mouthpiece should be 2/3 upper lip and
1/3 lower lip.
Left hand should be on the valves, right hand
should be in the bell (back of the hand on the
far side of the bell.

Valve and Slide Maintenance

http://ultrapureoils.blogspot.com/2012/10/h
ow-to-oil-rotary-valves-of-french-horn.html

Sound Production
Say M and keep your lips together in that
shape.
Keep the corners of your lips firm.
Exhale until your lips vibrate.

Articulation
Use a tu, ta, or tee syllable.
Use da or du for a legato tongue.
Double and triple tonguing can be taught at
the advanced level.
Double= Ta ka ta ka
Triple= Ta ta ka

Mutes
Horn players need two mutes: a straight mute
(usually made by Stonelined because they are
affordable) and a stop mute (Tom Crown
makes a good one). You can also use your
hand as a stop mute.
Mutes will affect tuning!
A stop mute will make the horn a half step
sharp and your students will have to transpose
the part down a half step.

Technique
Multiple Tonguing should be developed.
Tone quality should be focused on by critical
listening to oneself and by listening to better
players/ professionals.
Interval studies should be especially
emphasized.
Private lessons are important.

Technique Books
Anthony Baines, Brass Instruments
Bernhard Brchle, Horn Bibliographie I, II, III
Philip Farkas, The Art of French Horn Playing

Common Problems
Interval accuracy- This should be worked on
through practice. Most brass technique books
have interval studies.
Range- Also, this will be built up by playing more
often and there are many studies for building
range as well. (Such as a flow study)
Improper air support/loose corners- most
beginning problems can be solved by using more
air. Beginners also tend to leave their corners
loose which lets air leak out. Corners should be
tight and almost in a frown.

Works Cited
http://apps.texasbandmasters.org/archives/pdfs/bmr/
2003-01-ericson1.pdf
http://musicpartnership.com.au/wpcontent/uploads/2014/08/frenchhorn-diagramimage.jpg
http://ultrapureoils.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-oilrotary-valves-of-french-horn.html
http://www.vaniermusic.com/20-2/french-horn/
http://www.public.asu.edu/~jqerics/sug_hnmp.htm
http://www.hornplanet.com/hornpage/museum/histor
y/library.html