Learn and Practice Mellophone

Mellophone is the horn of the marching band. It reads treble clef and uses the same fingerings as trumpet for the notes in your music, so many trumpet and horn players learn it for marching season.

Practice in the Brass Trainer

Fingerings
See a note, pick the valves.Start
Play the Note
See a note, play it on your instrument. Uses your microphone.Start
Scales
Play a whole scale in order, up and back down, by fingering.Start
Alternates
Find every valve combination for a note, one at a time.Start
Practice Reading NotesGet faster at recognizing notes on the staff. Opens in treble clef.
Charts and sight-reading
Mellophone sight-reading
Play along and see what was right
Mellophone fingering chart
Lowest to highest, with alternates
Mellophone scale sheet
12 major scales and chromatic, printable
Tools
Tuner
Uses your microphone
Drone
Tune by ear
Transposer
Concert ↔ written
Metronome
30 to 240 BPM

Start here

BrassSwitching to mellophone from trumpet or French hornWhat changes when you switch from trumpet or horn.BrassMellophone fingering chart: beginner notes and full referenceLearn which valves play which notes.BrassHow to get a better sound on mellophoneA full sound that carries outdoors, without blasting.For marching bandPlaying mellophone while marchingKeep your sound steady on the move.

What should I practice first?

  1. 01Start with a steady sound on a few easy notes. Take a break when your lips get tired.
  2. 02Learn the fingerings for your first few notes, then practice them in Brass Trainer. If you play trumpet, they're the same.
  3. 03Play those notes in simple rhythms, like four quarter notes on each one.
  4. 04Once you can play a few steady notes, try matching your pitch with the tuner or drone. Your tone will keep improving a little at a time.

More to explore

BrassThe harmonic series and brass valve combinationsWhy one fingering can play several notes.Band skillsConcert pitch and transposing instruments, explainedWhy your C sounds like a different note on piano.Band skillsPlaying in tune: hearing "beats" and matching pitchHear and fix notes that are sharp or flat.Band skillsHow to practice at home in 15 minutesMake short practice sessions count.BrassBreathing exercises for brass playersBreathing exercises for a fuller sound and longer phrases.

All mellophone guides

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