When you buy a trumpet do you need to do anything to it before it will play (oil the valves,etc)?

Question

I'm pretty sure I have my lips right but it won't make anysound. I tried to unscrew the third valve but it won't s***w back in.

Please help I'm supposed to take it to band tomarrow.

Answer 1

If the air gets stopped when you blow, you have the valve turned wrong and need to unscrew it and check the positioning. On most trumpets, the valves are numbered and the number should point toward you. This may not be true on yours but what you can be sure of is that when you turn the valve, it will seem to drop when the little tabs slip into place. Then you can s***w the valve on and try it again. If the air still won't go through, unscrew it again and turn it 1/2 turn until the tabs switch places and try it again.  

Answer 2

HI there,

    You have done nothing wrong... so not to worry.   Valves have to be in a specific position or else the air will be blocked and no sound will come out.

    If you have not already fixed it...  that is fine.  Your band director has come across this same issue hundreds of times.. believe me.   Just take your horn up to him and ask if he will check if the valves are correctly in position.   It will take him about 30 seconds to check it out,  and he can show you how to position the valves...  you need to learn how to do that anyway and it is best that your teacher give you the right  instructions as well as watch you to see that you understand how to do it for yourself.  

Thanks for reading.  :))

Answer 3

you could always take your trumpet to someplace where it could get fixed, and tell your teacher tomorow that it is just getting fixed. the trumpet will make a noise even if the valves arent oiled. just make sure your mouth is in the proper position and everything is good before you take it to get fixed.

Answer 4

I use to play the tuba and trumpet. First empty out your spit valves that may be the problem. If that doesn't work your gonna have to take your instrument apart piece by pice to see if anything is stuck inside it. If you got a special pipe cleaner for your instrument run it through the pipes. If all this doesn't work ask your band teacher to help you, mine would always help me, they want you to come to them if you need anything. Well i hope this helps.

P.S. Before you play you need to oil your valves, empty the spit valves and tune your instrument.

Answer 5

Well...your best bet is to take it to band tomorrow and get some assistance from your band director.  He or she will help you with the valve so you don't damage it.

For a new trumpet you should unscrew all three valves, using a lint free cloth and some lukewarm water wipe them down completely.  Then dry them completely with another lint free cloth.  Do not submerge the valves in water or anything like that.  

This is important because new trumpets have microscopic metal pieces that break off the valves during the first few weeks of use - so you should do this a few times during the first few weeks of owning a trumpet.

Make sure you oil your valves properly before re-inserting them into the casing.  It may be helpful to write down which valve is which (1,2 or 3).  Hold the valve oil bottle up to each valve and let the oil gently coat the valve.  Then slowly lower it back into the casing, slowly and gently turning the valve back and forth to ease it in.  Make sure it is lined up, there will be some notch or something inside the casing.  Make sure you s***w everything back in tightly.

Also - if you are brand new to trumpet playing, you may not be buzzing correctly in order to make a sound.  The corners of your mouth should be kept tight (not extremely tight, nothing crazy), and you should have a slight smile/pucker as though you were about to say the letter "P"

Then you need to try buzzing with just your lips, and on the mouthpiece.  Can you do that?  If you can make a sound that way then their probably is something wrong with your trumpet.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

make sure the 3 valves on top are on tight! make sure the buttons on top are on tight too. i play the trumpet also and thats what was wrong with mine one time.  

Answer 7

when you oiled the valves did you accidentally move one of the valves to a place where they should be?

try turning the valves to the right and see if they seem to stop, and

you are able to make noise.