How to Play the French Horn

Summary: The French horn is a brass instrument often used in orchestral music and arrangements. It has a rounded body, which tapers from a small mouthpiece to a rather large bell. Perhaps this quality, most of all, allows it to produce a distinctly smooth tone still often associated with an afternoon of the fox and the hound in the pastoral English countryside. This strong connection is well-earned, since the French horn is a legitimate descendant of the hunting horns of simpler times. While modifications like valves and slides have been incorporated, the musical heritage is still quite apparent.

In this free video series on how to play French horn, learn basic tips and techniques for playing this brass instrument, including how to hold the horn, form proper embouchure, and changing pitch using your lips, the rotary valves, or by putting your hand in the bell. Also learn some intermediate French horn skills involving orchestral music, like how to play slurs, legato, glissando, staccato, and accent notes. Finally, get some practical care and maintenance tips for your horn, as well as some basic guidelines for creating a practice routine.