valves question (proper alignment)
genericaudioperson
How do you know if you have the valves placed correctly in the
trumpet?
I took the valves out of a new trumpet and oiled them. But then I had
difficulty producing the notes.
First I could place no air through the trumpet at all. So I figured I
must have put them in wrong.
So then I was able to place air through the trumpet. But when
playing the notes, it sounded terrible. The strange part was the
notes didn't seem in order. I played all valves open, which is
supposed to play a C. But then when I pressed valves 1 and 3, the
note pitch went downward instead of up. Completely baffling. Every
key combination I pressed made the pitch go lower instead of higher.
Also the tone of the open valves did not sound like a C (B-flat). It
seemed like some sort of weak, non-descript note. And I couldn't seem
to get the notes to flip up a fourth by adjusting the mouthpiece
technique. Just kind of a lost cause type of thing.
I had (what I thought was) good initial success making tones into the
mouthpiece alone. I was able to move the pitch around and play steady
tones, etc. But when I placed the mouthpiece into the trumpet, it
was terrible. This is my first time on the instrument. I know how to
play many other instruments, but this one seems very difficult. I've
never produced such horrible sound on any instrument, period.
So back to the original question: how can I figure out if I have the
valves back in correctly? There is a number 1, a number 2 and a
number 3 on them. I was trying to move them 90 degrees at a time, but
I still have no idea. They almost seemed to twist into place if you
turn them clockwise, but I'm not sure.
I know I will need lots of practice. But this instrument will be
difficult enough without having the valves placed incorrectly.
Thank you.
John Kool
> Hello,
>
> How do you know if you have the valves placed correctly in the
> trumpet?
>
> I took the valves out of a new trumpet and oiled them. But then I had
> difficulty producing the notes.
>
> First I could place no air through the trumpet at all. So I figured I
> must have put them in wrong.
<SNIP>
> So back to the original question: how can I figure out if I have the
> valves back in correctly? There is a number 1, a number 2 and a
> number 3 on them. I was trying to move them 90 degrees at a time, but
> I still have no idea. They almost seemed to twist into place if you
> turn them clockwise, but I'm not sure.
>
This could be one of, or a combination of two things.
The numbers of the piston should tell you which valve casing to insert
the valve into.
Closest to the mouthpiece should be 1, 2 in the middle, & 3 is closest
to the bell.
If the valves are in the right valve casing, the problem might be their
rotational position in the casing.
There are several ways the valve might be constructed. But the main
idea is that a "key" on the valve guide needs to fit in a slot in the
valve casing.
Looking down in the casing you might see a smaller cylinder about 1/3 of
the way down. (It may not be a separate piece of metal, but at least
you should see that the valve has a smaller step partway down. In this
smaller cylinder is a slot. The valve has a metal or plastic valve
guide which extends out a wee bit from the valve guide from top to
bottom. The other side has a little ledge which rests on top of the
smaller cylinder.
This valve guide acts as a key and must fit in the keyhole slot in the
valve casing.
Usually, if the valves are in the right valve casing, you can spin them
in until they lock. However, some brands will allow the valve to click
180 degrees out of the proper position.
On many brands the numbers on all the valves will face toward the
mouthpiece end of the horn to align correctly. In any case, they
usually face the same direction.
Lots easier to show that to put in words.
Let me know if this helps or not.
If I have time, perhaps I can take some photos and post them.
I hope you did not actually dissassemble the valve or remove the valve
guide and reinsert it into the piston spring barrel incorrectly. That
would require a different answer.
Jeff
<genericaudioper...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> The strange part was the
> notes didn't seem in order. I played all valves open, which is
> supposed to play a C. But then when I pressed valves 1 and 3, the
> note pitch went downward instead of up.
Well, there's more to establishing the pitch than just pressing the
valves down.
If you were playing a C on the staff instead of C below the staff,
pressing down 1 and 3 could have left you playing B (it's an alternate
fingering in that register).
Closest valve is #1, furthest is #3. Put them in in reverse order one
at a time and blow the horn with the valve up and depressed...if air
goes through, it's in correctly.
The easiest way to get the gist of this is to talk to a trumpet player
in your area who can show you how to dissassemble and reassemble the
horn properly.
HTH
jh