ForgotPassword?
Sign Up
Search this Topic:
Forum Jump
Posts: 2377
Aug 7 08 3:09 AM
Sev is correct about Mayn's arthritis being what dictated his grip. Sometimes he couldn't use his ring finger (right hand) so he would play his trumpet with just two fingers (index and middle). You'd think something like that would hold him back but then again, we are talking about Maynard. No matter how many fingers he had at his disposal, his solo were always the same, great. Sometimes, just to mess with us (I am assuming because he'd look over to see if we paying attention to his shinanigans haha) he'd play his solos with just one finger. Obviously the solos were more simple (you aint playing Cherokee with one finger lol) but they never lacked musicality. Pinky was always engaged as pressure was Mayn't friend and he used to his advantage.
Personally I have two grips. My usual grip is with the pinky and ring finger under the 3rd valve slide, middle finger in the 3rd valve ring (the ring digs in between the 1st and 2nd knuckle) and my index finger is on straight, on the side of the bell with the thumb securly wrapped around the first valve slide (I had to take off the first valve thumb ring to accomodate my big ol' thumb). My right pinky is securly in the octave key cuz there aint nothing wrong with that. Besides balancing the weight of the the horn on your face properly, it helps distribute the pressure evenly accross your face. Furthermore, if you have a quick page turn, the only way to play and still turn the page is with that pinky engaged. The only time that pinky comes out is when there is a fast passage that requires a little extra dexterity. I haven't come accross anything in the real world that requires that yet. My alternate grip is used for more subtle, soft playing. That grip is a traditional grip with the middle finger of the left hand in the 3rd valve ring (same ring placement as the other grip) and index finger wrapped around the third valve. The first grip I got from watching Piro Rodriguez playing (he's got big hands too). I tried it and it felt so comfortable that I neve looked back. Also, that grip allows me to angle the horn higher with my wrist as opposed to my shoulder, another comfort issue solved. As I play louder and higher my apperture dialates as a result of my lower jaw jutting out more which is why this grip is my main grip. My previous grip was Mayn's pistol grip of old which I learned from watching him playing on a video my friend copied off of the BET channel when we were freshmen H.S. The second grip points the horn lower (perpendicular to slightly lower than perpendicular to my teeth) which allows for more support of my lower lip by pinning it down to my lower left front tooth and keeps more lower lip in the MP as a result. Makes fast slurs and delicate passages a lot easier. Also double and triple tonguing is much easier this way as softer volumes.
Share This