Paul Hembree
Trumpet Split-tone Multiphonics The following chart illustrates the easiest split-tone multiphonics on the trumpet (either Bb or C). When producing a split-tone, a brass player forces the horn to resonate at two adjacent partials by using uneven pressure across the length his or her lips, creating two adjacent "buzz points." See this video for a demonstration: https://youtu.be/gmBDG_wAeS4?t=3m32s This can be learned by starting on a higher partial, bending the pitch down with the embouchure until it is about to break onto the partial below, and then controlling and holding the brief moment when both partials sound. With practice this can be simply be turned on, without bending before hand. Many of these multiphonics are naturally out-of-tune, and are typically narrower than would be expected. In Xenakis' Keren (1986) split-tones were notated with the bottom partial in parentheses, presumably because the top partial can be considered the main tone.
2-1: Split from 2nd down to 1st partial; octaves, usually in tune Difficulty: Very difficult
Moderately easy
Fingering:
123
13
23
#œ bœ #œ bœ
nœ nœ
#œ bœ #œ bœ
12
1
2
0
nœ nœ
nœ nœ
4 &4 Dynamic range:
nœ nœ
#œ bœ #œ bœ
mp ppp
ppp
Bottom pitch renotated:
? 4 4 #œ bœ
nœ
#œ bœ
#œ bœ
nœ
nœ
nœ
3-2: Split from 3rd down to 2nd partial; fifths, progressively narrower as they get higher, with top pitch progressively flatter. Moderately easy
Very easy
123
& #œ bœ # œbœ
13
nn œœ
23
bœ ## œœ b œ
12
µBœœ
1
Bœ ˜µ œœ B œ
2
Bbœ µµœœ B œ
0
µBœœ f p
mf pp
4-3: Split from 4th down to 3rd partial; should sound as fourths, but typically narrow, with the top partial about one quarter tone flat and the bottom one quarter tone sharp (major thirds). Moderately Moderately difficult easy
123
& Bµœœ
13
BbBœœ
23
Bµœœ
12
BBœœ
1
2
0
µµœœ
BBœœ
BbBœœ fff mf
ff mp
5-4: Split from 5th down to 4rd partial; should sound as major thirds, but typically narrow, with the top partial about one quarter tone flat and the bottom one quarter tone sharp (minor thirds). Extremely difficult
Very difficult
123
& BBbœœ fff f
13
µBœœ
23
BBœœ
12
µµœœ
1
BBœœ
2 BBbœœ
0 µBœœ ffff