Charlie Porter is such a kickass name for a jazz trumpeter.

I followed your advice, and in less than a week I have no longer suffered headaches when playing high notes. Thanks. (I hope my english is clear)

The "playing softly" aspect is truly invaluable. Less than a week and I'm already reaching two semitones above my previous range. Couldn't be more grateful, feel like I'm actually making progress now!

im 80 years old been playing trumpet for 70 years i just really learned from you how to play high notes thanks trumpet bob key west florida

You make that look so easy.

I'd just like to point out to everyone who watches this video, that the setting, or position of the mouthpiece on the lips, doesn't change. Yes, the muscles of the face will change around and inside the mouthpiece and this should be kept to a minimum to maximize efficiency but the contact point of where the lips meet the mouthpiece stays the same. There has been some confusion about my having said that the setting doesn't change when obviously something is changing, but it is not the setting. The contact of the mouthpiece to the lips stays in the same place, just as the reed of a sax mouthpiece stays in the same place. I hope this is clear. I am not contradicting myself...the setting of the mouthpiece on the lips is different from the movement of the outside/inside the mouthpiece. I think the majority of you watching understood this, but for those of you who did not, I hope this is more clear now. Higher notes require faster air...louder notes require more air. If you follow this philosophy, trumpet playing will become easier. Best of luck!

Dude! I struggled to play high C's tonight. We had a jazz band Concert at Mars Hill University and I did exactly what you said most trumpet players do. I Would use too much air and blow my lips out and put on pressure to bring them back in. I will be practicing this since I'm going to be the lead trumpet soon. I'm only a Sophomore in college but I'm convinced I can only get better from here! I hope to hear from you!

Holy shit your playing is phenomenal

This is a great explanation and demonstration. In just over 10 minutes, Charlie Porter provides both the theory and the practice of how to improve your range. When it comes to playing high notes, far too many teachers recycle and rehash the same old "conventional" wisdom of blowing harder, not using too much pressure, keeping the air stream going, and so forth, without fully explaining what the tendencies are as you start playing higher. Charlie is a serious pro who knows what he's talking about and can back it up in his playing. Well done!

Charlie, your numerous videos are so helpful and articulate. Thanks for what you do. I’m a 70-year-old man who just started playing again after a 50 years respite. Thanks for being my teacher.

i sometimes can play high easily for seconds before the feeling of playing highs are easy goes away

These were the crucial chunks of information I was never taught in lessons, just told to “do drills.” As if doing drills will increase my range in and of themselves.

I thought I had hit a wall about how high I can play, but after this video, not even a week after implementing his technique, my tone and range is far better than before, and I have been playing for like 7 years. This video is seriously so good!

41 years old and I've had a trumpet for week. I've learned so much from you already that makes me not sound like a beginner. Thank you so much

Where have you been all my trumpet career in middleschool/highschool? my teachers have never taught me this!

I keep getting light headed from straining to reach the third octave. I really need to practice. Everything above a certain point just becomes noise.

Another tip. I switched to tuba in jr. high from trumpet. After playing tuba for a while I found when I picked up the trumpet I could hit notes way higher than I ever could playing trumpet alone. I think the embouchure for the large mouthpiece strengthened the right muscles to help on the smaller.

This was so useful! I've been playing trumpet for 6/7 years and I've always pushed out loads of air when trying to do the high notes..but with your method it's so much easier to reach the notes and make them sound better too. I don't know how I never found this out, Thank you!

Paying close attention to his embouchure training and this lesson I'm playing G above double high C (on a Cornet with a Curry 5C no less). It only took me a few days once I corrected things. Before that I would only get the highest notes randomly or I would get up to the correct range but couldn't nail the correct note because my aperture kept breaking up. I think the shape of your embouchure and aperture become super critical the higher you go. Give yourself time and patience and keep reinforcing correct embouchure until it becomes second nature. Thank you Charlie Porter.

Great job debunking these myths. Bent mouthpieces are a lifesaver.

Holy crap this really works! I have been learnin La Vie En Rose, the Louis Armstrong version. The second solo ends on a high D which I haven't been able to reach despite trying for weeks. I followed these instructions and just blew a high D. Thanks so much for posting this Charlie.

I'm a 9th grader doing marching band throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and the junior who usually plays the top divided part on our 1st trumpet pieces will not be participating this year so I have to increase my range to a D above the scale in a few weeks time. So thanks for this exercise!

Thanks for posting, Charlie. It's very generous of you to share your experience. I've been playing for over 40 years, and your videos have helped me tremendously!

Thanks for your videos. It really helped me. I know hitting high notes isn't everything there is to playing, but it opens up the number of songs I like to play along with. I followed your tips and just last week I couldn't hit anything higher than a D without turning red. Now I am gradually improving my range and can hit a high A without hurting myself.

yep... everything you described I can relate to in things I have done and things I still do. Thank you for sharing these tips

Thank you for your lessons. This is great- really demystified the way to high notes. Thank you very much!

Finally i understood. Finally someone who explained in tge way its understanble. Thank u sir. I d needed so much

hi charlie, i need to thank you again. i've been practicing for about a month now and it has definitely improved my range. much easier to hit those high notes without killing myself. cheers for this :)

This video was such a help! I now its about two or three years after you posted the vid, but thank you so much for posting it! Here I was sitting down in my practice session angered about a note I couldnt hit. Then I looked at this vid and it was so much easier! Thank you so much! -Brandon

Well this has helped a lot. I was already consistently hitting high C, but I'm now hitting a double F#. I'm yet to manage a G, but I know it's coming.

I am doing a short turn as trumpet 2 in a swing band so that means improv solos and high register playing. Your channel is essential thank you.

If only someone would have thought me that 40 years ago.

Thanks, Charlie, been wondering why my top notes sometimes work and sometimes don't! Great stuff will put it into my practice routine.

Excellent video and advice. I appreciate the fact that you want to help those that are struggling in this area, like me. Thanks

You're an amazing teacher. I never understand anything unless something is explained WHY. Would be great to see how your lips move in a transparent mouthpiece. I'd like to know more of this. I'm trying this and it worked way beter, only I pull my whole jaw back and it's straining :P

Thank you I'm 13 and have been playing trumpet for 3 years and I have been having trouble with those high notes which I have to play in the orchestra this year in Indianapolis so thank you that has helped me reach those notes that most people can not

Hell of a lesson. Going to start working on this immediately. Thanks, Charlie.

thank you so much you are so awesome I just hit the most highest and notes that I would never have thought that I will hit before you just literally change the way I think about trumpet

Holy crap my range increased by 2 notes thank you so much

Hi Charlie! Great from you to share this incredibly helpful toughts. I study in a great Conservatory (probably the best in Italy) and the basic principles are almost the same. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Chris - a GREAT reminder - so very helpful to get me thinking straight again!

Your video is full of YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I agree with everything you said and demonstrated in your video. Thanks!

Final a video on range that speaks to without the ego or arrogance of the lead player videos! 10/10!

I’m a comeback trumpet player. This explanation is amazing. Thank you so much.

soft and alignment is the key. good tutorial.

Thank you Mr. Porter, This video even being a simple step for many player, I"m a beginner and have been having extreme difficulties achieving any notes pass A c flat.

This is really nice.. I switched from clarinet to brass and I haven't had a problem except with some of my higher range on the trumpet.. I have no problem with it on my French horn though.. but this helped me with my technique a lot.. I also believe art of my problem is my mouth piece.. thanks!

Thank you, I just started about 2 months ago. I ran sound for Phil Driscoll in the late 80's and early 90's. I saw him in concert a few months back and got the bug. This was helpful. I'm also a pilot and remember the high pitch practicing coming from Phil (who is also a pilot 18000 hrs. +)from the back of the King air 200. Keep up the good lessons and sharing. God bless you Charlie.

Thanks a lot man, two weeks on trumpet and these are the advices I needed

Hello Charlie. Two years ago I came across your pedal tone video. I forgot which one. after about a year of not playing. I came across this the other day. Great video. This has helped me a whole bunch.

Omg man thank you so much. This is insanely valuable. Am just beginning with the trumpet and I was already struggling with the first high C. With this I went 2 notes higher with open values and with much less effort. So THANK YOU. Liked and subs.

I'm more of a 3rd trumpet for music, aka I love playing in the lower range, not that its easy its just fun

Oh my god this has been so helpful! Thank you so much!

I would like to say this video was incredibly helpful and cleared up a lot of my confusion!

Thanks Charlie. Just what I needed for right now.

THANKS AGAIN CHARLIE! The most helpful, coolest, most versatile trumpet virtuoso!!

Finally an explanation that worked for me. Thanks Charlie.

invaluable... as you can read from comments. I am a returning player, just noodled a bit through covid. I want to return and join the local ensemble after a 15 or so serious break... I have no stamina, no range, but this has extended my range above what i could do when i was playing regularly 15 years ago. Thank you for this tip.

Thank you so much! This video is a godsend. I used to only be able to play a C above the staff, but using your tips, that expanded to a double G. Thank you!

Thanks, Charlie! You're awesome!

Excellent! Thanks for your videos.

I have been applying some of you methods on range, compression etc, they have helped me improve a lot. Thanks Charlie from a UK cornet player!! Alan, West MIDs UK.

Thanks Charlie for posting this information.

Best high note drill I’ve used so far...I’ve been player louder and tighter....holding the same embouchure as the lower setting has changed all things the way I think about getting to the high notes...hopefully this will add to my overall endurance. Charlie has no teaching rivals, he’s the very best.

IMHO you are one of the best trumpet players ever. And the best teacher. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the video. I needed this when I was playing in school.

Nice lesson, Charlie! You have a wonderful sound! I'm using your videos for my own playing, and to help my teenage son as well. He's primarily a piano player, but plays trumpet in the high school band. He has an excellent piano teacher, but I can't afford a formal teacher for trumpet as well, and hearing someone besides "Dad" say these things helps a lot! Thanks again for all the videos, please keep them coming.

This is soooooo helpful. Thank you.

You are Da Bomb, Charlie Porter!

THANK YOU GREAT LESSON !!

I’m very late on this bus literally as soon as I did that B flat exercise along with you I somehow his the high b flat without even trying. I love you.

Thank you so much for this!

Great video. You explain it so well. I have only been playing a few months and I managed to work up to the E in the top of the staff and sometimes the G above the staff. Above the 2nd C I can only sound the note - not play up there. But a few days ago, my range dropped to a major seventh (Low F# to the first G). I couldn't figure out why. Then I thought I would check out your video. It worked really well. I was able to play those notes with much less effort - But I lost some accuracy. Also, I live in an apartment so I use the Yamaha Silent Brass. Stupid me! I realized I had the volume turned down and I was compensating by blowing harder. Turned it up and used this technique and my higher notes are sounding much better. Thank you so much Charlie Porter, you have really helped my playing.

Thank you, I will be practicing this, I see now what I keep doing wrong, Thank you so much, all the best!!

I just had my audition today, of course KZfaq recommends this to me right after it.

Thank you! This really helped me.

just watching this makes my lips hurt

OK, incredible! That worked great!

This is great Charlie, thanks once for a fantastic demonstration and explanation.

Great Vid charlie, so glad you`re back, they are all a great help to me. Peace 57D.

I've applied these principals (particularly playing high notes softer and not resetting) to my trombone practicing and I have gotten a LOT more comfortable above a high F. I've always been able to hit Cs and Ds but I never really considered them part of my vocabulary unless I was going to belt them out in a loud solo. I'm really getting there though. This is a great video and I wish I had gotten this advice decades ago.

dude, thank you for this so much, I was having a bit of trouble hitting above e over high C, I'm am now a half step off of double c after watching this and following your tips, thanks dude

Thanks Charlie, really made progress with upper C & D after this lesson. Keep up the good work! ;)

Thank you. Excellent tips.

Waou awesome advise... Thank you ! ❤️

This really makes a lot of sense!

I just started playing trumpet and i learned more from you than my teacher who i pay....thanks Charlie Porter

Charly, I want to thank you for all your videos, they are really helping me, you are a great player, all the best.

This really helped me. Thanks I subbed.

I'm not a trumpet player but it makes me smile to see how a lot of the terms could be used to describe light or electricity!

Love it! I wish I knew these in my earlier years

thank you so much so making this video, you have been of super much help

Excellent advice! Thank you 👌

IT WORKS!!!!!!!! thank you!

AWW MAN!! that what I do and I dint even realize it!! thanks for the info!

Well Done Charlie.... excellent info!!

Yeahhhhh! I was doing it right! I always practiced at whisper volumes (plus a Le Blanc mute) because of the neighbors and was worried I was doing it wrong. But you reassured me. Thank you!

This guy really has some great information. Great video!!

Thank you Charlie.

Thx for the tips!