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How to get that "mariachi" trumpet sound. What is the instrument combination?

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cr...@earthlink.net

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Nov 29, 2007, 11:12:07 PM11/29/07
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my 5th grader is in his 2nd year on trumpet and heard me play some
mariachi music. I did not have the answer as to how to get that unique
trumpet sound.

Can anyone offer some basic info? Is a combo of trumpets with violins
and guitars? Howz it made?


thx - craig

Doc

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Nov 30, 2007, 7:05:02 AM11/30/07
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On Nov 29, 11:12 pm, "cr...@earthlink.net" <cr...@earthlink.net>
wrote:

> my 5th grader is in his 2nd year on trumpet and heard me play some
> mariachi music. I did not have the answer as to how to get that unique
> trumpet sound.


Use a sort of nervous, tight vibrato and a very bright tone. Have him
listen to some mariachi bands and emulate what they do.


> Can anyone offer some basic info? Is a combo of trumpets with violins
> and guitars? Howz it made?


There are various sizes from just a few players to a fairly large
group. There is or at least was a group at Epcot called Mariachi
Cobre who as I recall used 2 trumpets, guitar, bass and probably 6 or
8 violins. There are specific traditional names for the type of
guitars and bass used but I don't have them handy. The traditional
instruments have a unique sound.

I assume this youtube link is still good, but if it's not I'm sure
there are more for Mariachi Cobre.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C6dYn0mTgw

cr...@earthlink.net

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Nov 30, 2007, 1:12:28 PM11/30/07
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I have a cobre cd. prettty good. as for the sound, I was thinking it
was sort of like Glenn Miller's style of adding a clarinet with the
trumpet.

Craig

Doc

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Nov 30, 2007, 9:57:27 PM11/30/07
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On Nov 30, 1:12 pm, "cr...@earthlink.net" <cr...@earthlink.net> wrote:

>
> > I assume this youtube link is still good, but if it's not I'm sure
> > there are more for Mariachi Cobre.
>
> >www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C6dYn0mTgw
>
> I have a cobre cd. prettty good. as for the sound, I was thinking it
> was sort of like Glenn Miller's style of adding a clarinet with the
> trumpet.


Those guys are excellent. I have a fair amount of video of them from
Epcot. Last I looked at Doc's website there were some pics of him
playing with them. It's my understanding he's moved to Mexico and his
primary gig these days is playing Mariachi.

The other thing I forgot to mention regarding getting the Mariachi
trumpet sound is making the attacks very deliberate with a lot of
tendency toward staccato.

Melodious Thunk

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Nov 30, 2007, 10:11:56 PM11/30/07
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A robust approach to intonation combined with a loose approach to
tuning helps too. Aaron Copland commented on the invigorating quality
of dance-hall Mariachi tuning, although I can't find my reference
handy... must be on the other computer. ;-)

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