How To Hold The Trumpet
The left hand is used to hold the weight of the trumpet or cornet. Place your third or fourth finger through the ring on the tuning slide and hold the trumpet with your left hand.
The right hand is used to operate the valves which create the various notes, and to keep the instrument steady while you are playing it. There is a hook for your right hand fourth finger.
Fingering Numbers
The first three fingers of the right hand are used to play notes by pressing down the valves. The numbers on the illustration opposite correspond to the numbers used in the fingering diagrams throughout the book.
A black valve on the diagram indicates that it is pressed down with the finger shown by the number above it. Any valve not colored black is not pressed down. When a valve is not being used, the appropriate finger should still touch the valve lightly ready to press it down when necessary.
The Note C
The note C is played without any of the valves pressed down.
