Alto horn

Known in the US as alto horn, in Germany as althorn, and in the UK as tenor horn, this brass instrument pitched in Eb has a conical bore (gradually widening), and normally uses a deep, cornet-like mouthpiece. It is most commonly used in marching bands, brass bands and similar ensembles, whereas the French horn tends to take the corresponding parts in symphonic groupings and classical brass ensembles. In the US and Germany the name tenor horn is identical with baritone horn.

Playing technique

Alto horns are very free-blowing instruments and intermediate players should be able to reach the high register (from the F above middle C onwards). Its beautiful mellow tone is most evident in this register and the notes at the bottom of its range sound less mellow.

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There are many bad habits a player can develop while learning a alto horn.

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1)Do not press the mouthpiece onto your lips firmly. Although it may help reaching the high register, it will hamper future development.

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2)Never puff your cheeks out. By doing this, you are forcing the air out using your cheek muscles and this will cause a bad sound. Always use your diaphragm muscles to control the air stream.

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3)Always breathe through your mouth, and not through your nose. Breathing through your mouth will help to take in more air deeper into your lungs.

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4)Always sit up straight. Slouching will cramp up your lungs, making breathing technique harder. It also looks very unsightly!

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To produce a tone a player buzzes his lips by tightening them and gently forcing air out. The mouthpiece should be pressed gently against the lips and the rim of the mouthpiece is used to sustain the correct embouchure.

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To reach higher notes, the lips are tightened further and the player should blow the air at a faster speed. Without using the valves, the player can play Eb, Bb, Eb, G, Bb, C# and double high Eb (concert pitch) in ascending order. These notes are part of the horn's harmonic series.

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The three valves lower the notes by 2 semitones, 1 semitone and 3 semitones respectively. By using a certain combination of these valves, all the notes in the chromatic series can be played; for example:

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To play a D#(as on the Tenor Horn)

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Since the valves only lower the note, the closest harmonic note above D# is used, in this case a G (Bb in concert pitch). From G to D# is 2 tones or 4 semitones, the pitch to be lowered by. Therefore the valve fingering is 2-3 (which means the 2nd and 3rd valves are depressed) because 3 semitones (the 3rd valve) + 1 semitone (the 2nd valve) = 4 semitones (the pitch difference between D# and G).

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