General Brass & Woodwind Intonation Problems

Factor Affect
Not checking your tuning slide first Sometimes we go to tune and even though
we didn’t touch the slide it is too far out/in.
This can cause you to over correct if you are
not paying attention.
Hot or Cold Your instrument is meant to be played at 72
degrees. If the weather is hotter or colder it
will throw off the instruments natural tuning
center. Too hot then pull out the slide. Too
cold then push in the tuning slide. (string
instruments are the opposite)
Old or bad Reed Woodwind players should know that not all
reeds are equal and sometimes in a box of 10
only 1 is really worth while. Also, as you use
reeds they wear out and can affect tone and
tuning. Through experimenting, decide on
what you think a good reed feels/sounds like
and when it is too old to use.
Wrong Embouchure If you are having trouble getting the
instrument to be in tune even with a good
reed and mouthpiece you could have bad
traits to your embouchure. Be sure to consult
your band director or private instructor for
help. Example- many trumpet players use too
much pressure against their lips to get high
notes.
Endurance Don’t tune your instrument at the end of a
practice session or rehearsal. Endurance can
change your intonation because your are now
trying harder to produce the proper notes.
You will not get a consistent read on your
tuner if you wait until you are tired.
Not all instruments are the same Some instruments are of great quality and
some are very poor even if the look the same.
Only buy reputable brands, make sure to try
the instrument first, consult a teacher before
purchase, and make sure there is a return
policy when buying an instrument.
Fingerings As you will see on this site there are certain
fingerings that are better for some notes. Be
sure to chose the right fingering for the
passage of music you are performing.
 Factor Affect
Dynamics Playing notes at different dynamics can
change the intonation of a note and everyone
is different. To be thorough tune every note at
multiple dynamics.
Equipment The closer to the embouchure a piece of
equipment is the more it effects tone and
pitch. Meaning the mouthpiece is the most
important thin. With different mouth shapes
and sizes, make sure to find one that fits you.
Consult a teacher when picking.