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How to Play the French Horn

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff | 30 References
Updated: June 13, 2019

The French horn is one of the most difficult of the standard orchestral wind instruments
Explore this Article
to play. Mastery happens through dedicated practice and perseverance. The reward of
playing this versatile instrument is indescribable. Mastering the Basics
Learning to Read Music
Becoming a Better Player
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Part
Mastering the Basics
1

1 Learn the proper way to hold the horn. As with any instrument, there is a proper way to hold your French
horn in order to get the best sound possible. Place the index, middle, and ring fingers on the three keys. If
you have a double horn, place your thumb on the trigger key, then wrap your pinky around the ring below the
third key. Next, you want to work on your right hand positioning.[1]
Sit up in a chair with your back straight so that you can breathe into the horn without obstruction. You
usually want to sit on the edge of the chair to prevent slouching.
Hold the horn at a 45-degree angle with the mouthpiece toward your face. Cup your hand and place
your left thumb on the thumb key. Put your left index, middle, and ring fingers on the three keys on top.
Your left pinkie should be through pinkie ring, and your right hand inside of the bell.
Now that your fingers are in place, bring the horn up so that the mouthpiece is against your lips.[2]

2 Form an embouchure with your lips. To blow into the mouthpiece, you have to first learn how to purse
your lips. This is called, “embouchure.”
Practice saying, “mmmm” with your mouth, slowly adding pressure between your lips. Your lips should
form a frown. However, make sure to keep your face relatively relaxed, as tensing your face too much
can cause you to tire more easily.
The corners of your mouth should stay in place, almost as if you’re puckering your lips.[3]
It’s a good idea to practice in front of a mirror to make sure you’re getting your form right.[4]

3 Blow into the horn. Without pressing any of the valves, you can use the embouchure technique to blow
into the mouthpiece of the horn.
You want to blow into the horn using fast, quick blows that come from your diaphragm, not your chest.
Try to take in deep breaths before blowing.[5]
Make sure you’re not pressing your mouth into the mouthpiece too hard. If your teeth hurt or a ring
appears on your lips, you’re pressing too hard. You want a relaxed tension against the mouthpiece when
you blow into it.[6]

4 Memorize the keys. It will make your life a lot easier to learn exactly where the keys are so that your
fingers know where to go when you’re playing.
Through repeated playing muscle memory builds, so your fingers know where the keys are.
 Practices pressing the keys, knowing which keys you’re pressing. Do this until you can pass a test of
accuracy.[7]
It can help to have a fingering chart while you practice.[8]

5 Learn how to control volume. The volume of the notes you play will depend on how much air you blow
into the horn. The more air you blow, the louder the note will sound (and vice versa). Techniques that can
help with controlling the amount of air you use is by thinking about keeping your teeth about a pinkie's width
apart from each other.[9]

Part
Learning to Read Music
2

1 Learn how to read sheet music. To be a good French horn player you’ll want to learn how to Read Music.

Sheet music is the basis of many musical performances. You can also learn by ear, but most songs are
played from sheet music.
Learning sheet music gives you a deeper understanding of how your instrument works, as well as music
theory.[10]

2 Learn the notes you’re playing. The most basic thing you’ll learn first is the order of the notes and how
they’re placed on a music staff. Secondary to this is knowing how each of the notes feels on your face and
to the amount of air you're using, not necessarily what they sound like.[11]
Many parts go into the relationship between notes and the staff. That's why this piece is so fundamental.

3 Understand the clefs. Once you’ve memorized the notes, the next step is to understand how the clefs
work.[12]
There are two clefs that can show up on a music staff. The treble clef notates the higher pitches of
music, and the bass clef notates the lower pitches.

4 Recognize the tempo. Sheet music notates how fast or slow a song is by the tempo. It’s usually notated at
the top of the sheet using a BPM (beats per minute) measurement.[13]

5 Play a simple melody. Once you have a pretty good understanding of the basics of sheet music, try
playing a simple melody. Pick something that only has a few notes and practice until you’ve mastered it.

6 Play more complex melodies. Eventually, you can practice playing more complex melodies. This will help
you play your instrument better and help you become better at reading sheet music.
Pick music that has a variety of note structures, clefs, and tempos.

Part
Becoming a Better Player
3

1 Play standing up. Now that you can hold your instrument and play sitting down, it’s time to play standing
up. A French horn weighs about 4 pounds. There won’t be many times when you’ll need to play standing
up, but recitals are a common one.[14]
Since your right hand is in the bell anyway, just slide it up to the top of the bell so that it’s resting on your
hand. All your other hand placements stay the same.
You can buy small modification pieces that help hold up the horn easier.

2 Learn advanced techniques. Once you’ve mastered the basics you’re ready to learn more advanced
playing techniques. It can be helpful to recruit a tutor or advanced player for these skills.
Muting (or stopping) the horn creates a high-pitched sound from the bell. You can stop the horn by
moving your hand further into the bell until it’s in all the way. Twist it until little or no air can get out.[15]
 Slurring notes are playing two notes without stopping or releasing between. To do this you’ll continue to
change the notes on your keys but your airflow remains constant and steady.[16]
Playing glissando is starting and ending on specific notes while playing as many notes between as you
can.[17]

3 Get lessons. Lessons are a great way to learn advanced skills and get feedback on your progress. You
can hire private tutors or join group classes. Some classes will play at events, giving you an opportunity to
show off your new chops.

4 Watch tutorial videos. You can find a lot of useful tutorial videos online. Some of them will teach you to
play using sheet music, and some will teach you to play by ear. If you search, you should find what you’re
looking for.

5 Practice, practice, practice. The most effective way to become a better horn player is to practice. Make
time to play your horn on a regular basis. Create challenges for yourself by upping the ante on songs you
play.
You can get books of sheet music that have a variety of songs with different levels of difficulty.
Tutor books sometimes include training schedules, often with lessons on reading sheet music.[18]

6 Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you get stuck or aren’t sure how to do something.
There are lots of places you can go to get your questions answered.
You can consult tutors, French horn websites, video comment threads, and forums.

Part
Caring for Your French Horn
4

1 Store your horn in a sturdy case. When you’re not playing your horn, store it in a padded case. Most
cases have a hard shell to protect it from damage.

2 Clean the instrument after you play it. Each time you play your horn you should clean it. This will
prolong the life of the instrument.
Polish it using a polishing cloth. If it’s dirty, you can apply polishing gauze with a cloth.[19]
Let the interior of the instrument dry. Remove the valve slides and dry those while the rest of the body is
drying.[20]

3 Conduct maintenance once a week or so. Every week or two you’ll want to conduct routine maintenance
on your instrument to make sure it stays in good condition for as long as possible.
Clean the mouthpiece with dish soap and water. It might also be helpful to use a mouthpiece brush,
which you can find at most music stores.[21]
Oil the rotors and valves. Remove the valve caps and apply key oil or rotor oil to the pivot points and
bearing shaft.[22] You’ll know the keys need to be oiled if they stick.[23]
Apply slide grease to the tuning slides. Remove them, put the grease on them, and replace them.[24]

4 Clean your instrument thoroughly every few months. Every once in a while, you should do a full
cleanse on your horn. That means flushing out the entire instrument with soap and water. Use a brush to
clean the tuning slides.[25]
If you want to take special care you can use brass soap to clean the horn.[26]
Make sure you apply grease to the tuning slides before putting them back on the body of the horn.[27]

5 Repair any broken pieces. If anything on your horn breaks, take it to a shop and get it repaired. It’s a
delicate piece of machinery that won’t work if some of the parts are defective.
Community Q&A
Question

How do I teach someone else to play French horn?

Community Answer

Generally, you can teach them the way that you learned. Since there are two different base-scales, it would be best
to find which one the other person is best at. Get a book. I started with the Standard of Excellence.

Question

Is there a difference in the fingering chart for key C between the US and England?

Community Answer

There should not be a fingering chart difference for different countries because instruments will function the same
regardless of where they're being played.

Question

How can you make fast notes one after another? Is there some tongue technique?

Community Answer

Try double tonguing. Just say "tick," and you'll notice that your tongue touches the roof of your mouth twice. That will
be two "tongues" when you're playing. Making the mouth movements for "tick-a tick-a" will make four quick, staccato
notes.

Question

How do I remember the notes?

Community Answer

I suggest playing long notes and scales and exercising your knowledge of the treble clef notes. Doing this
consistently will provide you with the knowledge of notes.

Question

How do I prevent myself from putting too much pressure on the instrument?

Spaghetti Sauce
Community Answer

The instrument can handle the pressure, but remember not to play it as you would another brass instrument. With
the smaller mouthpiece, it will require more finesse.
 Question

How do you change the notes you play, just by blowing on the mouthpiece?

Community Answer

Changing notes on the French horn is like changing notes on any brass instrument; it takes not only practice, but a
keen ear to the pitches. Depending on how far the notes are apart, you may need to increase or decrease the
amount of air pressure you have on the mouthpiece. Typically, notes that are close together need little embouchure
and air adjustment. But notes that are many staff lines apart need embouchure adjustment, and that all depends on
if you are going high or low. Do not tighten the embouchure to hit the higher notes. Increase the air pressure you
have on the mouthpiece to go higher. Also, remember your basic tonguing exercises as well.

Question

How do I know if I'm playing the right note and in tune, since so much of it depends on changing embouchure?

Community Answer

You can use a tuner, especially if your tuner has a signal-like item that shows you how many "cents" away you are
from a perfect note. Once you play for a while you will have an idea of which note is which.

Tips

If you’re just learning the French horn, consider a single horn (versus a double horn). They come in two sizes: a Bb
(or B flat) or F horn. They tend to be easier to learn on than a double horn.[28]
If you’re not sure you want to play the French horn long-term, renting might be a good idea before making the
investment of buying.
On The Bottom/Side: The sound has more upward area to expand, it's easier to play with, but the arm blocks some
of the sound.
On The Top/Side: Basically, it allows the sound to expand more freely.
Prior experience can help. Some horn players begin their musical careers as trumpet players, woodwind players, or
even pianists and vocalists. Whether through playing technique or just theory, use what you have already learned
to your full advantage.
A good scale to start off with is C. It goes C (no keys down), D (first key down), E (no keys), F (first key), G (no
keys), A (first and second keys), B (second key), top C (no keys).
Do NOT use a snake to clean out the rotary valves; the tolerance inside the valves is extremely small, and if a fiber
from the snake breaks off inside, the rotary valve will be unable to rotate.
Note that the actual *technique* of playing the horn is different than any other instrument; for example, the position
of the horn mouthpiece on the lips is different than the position of the trumpet mouthpiece. If you are starting the
horn after experience with another wind instrument, be sure to get tips from a teacher or other person familiar with
proper horn technique!
Some horns don't have a spit valve, and their tuning slides won't come out all the way. If this applies to your horn,
blow air through it. Then, take the mouthpiece out and turn the entire horn like a steering wheel. The "water" (spit)
should come out of the bell. You may have to do this several times.
Horns vary, people's pitches vary, and the great thing is a hand can move. So adjust your sound to the quality you
want it to be at using your hand. There is really no standard set way.

Warnings
 Avoid sharing your mouthpiece with other people.[29]

Things You'll Need

Horn

Mouthpiece[30]
Slide grease

Key oil/Rotor oil

Repair/cleaning kit (including extra valve strings - trust me, you will need them)

Etude (study) books

References

1. https://switchtohorn.weebly.com/holding-the-horn.html
2. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/how-to-hold-the-french-horn/
3. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/how-to-use-embouchure-lips-on-a-french-horn/
4. http://www.amromusic.com/amro-blog/posts/how-to-play-the-french-horn
5. http://www.amromusic.com/amro-blog/posts/how-to-play-the-french-horn
6. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/how-to-use-mouthpiece-pressure-on-a-french-horn/
7. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/sounding-notes-on-a-french-horn/
8. http://www.amromusic.com/assets/1942/french_horn_hi-res_fingering_chart.pdf
9. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/understanding-volume-dynamics-on-a-french-horn/
10. http://www.amromusic.com/amro-blog/posts/how-to-read-music
11. http://www.essential-music-theory.com/grand-staff.html
12. http://www.musicnotes.com/blog/2014/04/11/how-to-read-sheet-music/
13. http://www.musicnotes.com/blog/2014/04/11/how-to-read-sheet-music/
14. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/how-to-play-the-french-horn-standing-up/
15. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/stopping-muting-on-a-french-horn/
16. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/slurring-notes-on-a-french-horn/
17. https://cosmolearning.org/video-lectures/how-to-play-glissando-notes-on-a-french-horn/
18. http://www.paythepiper.co.uk/horn.htm
19. http://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_french_horn.pdf
20. http://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_french_horn.pdf
21. http://www.amromusic.com/french-horn-care
22. http://www.amromusic.com/french-horn-care
23. http://www.wgpcollege.school.nz/site/whangaparoacollege/files//French%20Horn.pdf
24. http://www.amromusic.com/french-horn-care
25. http://www.dawkes.co.uk/french-horn-care.php
26. http://www.mouthpieceexpress.com/catalog/resources/media/caretips_french_horn.pdf
27. http://www.amromusic.com/french-horn-care
28. http://www.beginband.com/horn.shtml
29. http://www.dawkes.co.uk/french-horn-care.php
30. https://www.amazon.com/Holton-Farkas-French-Mouthpiece-Silver/dp/B0002E1HEW/ref=sr_1_2?
ie=UTF8&qid=1514672990&sr=8-2&keywords=farkas+horn