Bugle Help

[csheffield1]

Ok, so recently, in my reenactment reg, I became company bugler; big mistake, I can't bugle to save my life.
I was wondering if there were any video's, or something, out there for a beginner with no teacher...

Oh and by beginner, I mean I can only make a low farting noise atm. As in nothing else :p

Thanks

[Lance Rawlings]

Here is a site with example bugle commands and stuff. However it won't teach you how to play. Do you know how to read music? Or can identify notes by ear?

Here's a book I found: https://www.amazon.com/Infantry-Bugle-Calls-American-Civil/dp/0786633085

If you can read music and maybe have a tuner (if you don't know what the notes sound like), check out this site: http://fifedrum.org/resources/music/nevins/

I found a lo tof this stuff here: http://www.nationalcivilwarfieldmusicschool.com/music_resources.html

I'll let you know if I find anything else.

Best of luck!

[Saris]

Ok, so recently, in my reenactment reg, I became company bugler; big mistake, I can't bugle to save my life.
I was wondering if there were any video's, or something, out there for a beginner with no teacher...

Oh and by beginner, I mean I can only make a low farting noise atm. As in nothing else :p

Thanks

Where do you reenact at?

[csheffield1]

Where do you reenact at?

Texas, LA, OK, AK, I'm in the 12th Texas Dismounted/Mounted Cavalry. Liendo Plantation was the last one...

Lance, thanks, that'll help later on, I actually found a few, and can now make more than one tone now, lol, but yea, this will come in handy, thanks again.

[thomas aagaard]

For the buglecalls I suggest this page:
http://civilwarbuglecalls.blogspot.dk/

For how to actually play a bugle I suggest going to youtube and simply searching on "how to play the trumpet" or similar.

[csheffield1]

For the buglecalls I suggest this page:
http://civilwarbuglecalls.blogspot.dk/

For how to actually play a bugle I suggest going to youtube and simply searching on "how to play the trumpet" or similar.

Yea, I found some on YouTube, and am slowly getting to the point of not being a dying horse or something.

[Lance Rawlings]

Awesome! Sounds good!

[Lyman Trumbull]

Let me know how you get on, I recently bought a German Bundeswehr Army bugle from the 1950's as a decorative item, though it served a greater purpose being played so I decided to learn, unfortunately, I sound pretty terrible :p

[Hatchmo]

I would recommend getting with a local trumpet teacher and take private lessons. You'll need to work on forming your embouchure, diaphragm breathing, etc. A lot to it besides just blowing.

[FrancisM]

For the entire (high quality) collection of ACW bugle calls:

https://soundcloud.com/rjsamp/sets/acw-infantry-bugle-signals

The cavarly and artillery calls of the Union army are also there, by the same musician.

[SwingKid148]

As a fellow infantry bugler of many years, I will suggest a few items to keep in your kit: lip balm, lip balm, lip balm, and a spare mouthpiece.
Thinking of the mouthpiece, do not keep any that come with a majority of the reproduction bugles as they will kill your lips pretty quick. As a trumpet player beforehand, I went and got a couple quality modern mouthpieces.

I would recommend what Jari Villanueva (basically our living civil war bugle expert over at tapsbugler.com) says and contact music departments at local colleges. They can help with your tone, tonguing, and embouchure.

George Rabbai also offers some excellent small books. Small enough to keep in a cartridge box with your spare mouthpiece. :)

[csheffield1]

As a fellow infantry bugler of many years, I will suggest a few items to keep in your kit: lip balm, lip balm, lip balm, and a spare mouthpiece.
Thinking of the mouthpiece, do not keep any that come with a majority of the reproduction bugles as they will kill your lips pretty quick. As a trumpet player beforehand, I went and got a couple quality modern mouthpieces.

I would recommend what Jari Villanueva (basically our living civil war bugle expert over at tapsbugler.com) says and contact music departments at local colleges. They can help with your tone, tonguing, and embouchure.

George Rabbai also offers some excellent small books. Small enough to keep in a cartridge box with your spare mouthpiece. :)

Interesting, I just got in contact with the local band teachers and he's giving me lessons, so that's good. I bet lip balm would be good, lol, but thanks for the advice.

[Ted]

I would recommend getting with a local trumpet teacher and take private lessons. You'll need to work on forming your embouchure, diaphragm breathing, etc. A lot to it besides just blowing.

^ As someone who plays woodwins only (clarinet and saxophone for eleven years) I can only repeat this. I've tried playing trumpet and horn multiple times out of interest during rehearsal (Big Band and traditional brass) but I find it extremly difficult to get the tones right.

This might sound harsh but after all it's my advice: Do NOT try to learn a brass instrument without teacher: You do not only need to learn how to breath correctly but you are NEVER going to hit the right tones without someone teaching you how to do so correctly due to the nature of brass.



I just got in contact with the local band teachers and he's giving me lessons, so that's good. I bet lip balm would be good, lol, but thanks for the advice.

^That's how you do it :)

[[WoR] Kiff]

Hold the bugle parallel with the ground in your right hand. Place it at mouth level. Place your lips against the mouthpiece. ...
Inhale through your nose. Blow steadily into the mouthpiece through your mouth. Keep your cheeks in.

[David Dire]

Inhale through your nose? I learned you want to breath in through your mouth.

[thomas aagaard]

You always inhale true the mouth.

It is way more effective and you can still play even if you got a cold.

But yes, keep the cheeks in.