Alas, I played a Baritone in high school, so....

So did I

the range of notes you can hit with a single horn is limited. also they sometimes dont sound quite right.

use play horn myself.

That's kind of what I was expecting (and afraid of). Thanks for the input :3

I used to play a single horn for the longest time, and It isn't that the range of notes is limited, it's just that it takes a bit more caution and work on the part of the player to get the notes right. I switched to a double horn in my second year of high school, and I have to say that I did enjoy the double more than the single. As far as quality goes, just like any instrument, the single horn can sound beautiful, it just needs to be tuned properly. After that, you may not be able to tell the difference between a single and a double.

Plus, single = less stuff on it = much lighter and easier to carry.... :)

Yep, single horns just require a bit more work on the players part.

Drat. I've played a single, back in high school, but never a double, so I don't have the comparison to work from. I don't even know what it does, though my guess would be extending the range...

I'm not entirely sure myself. I've never played French Horn. But in what I've heard, it's to make particular notes come out better. Certainly not necessary. But I'll tell you, there's likely a huge price difference between the two types. Kind of how it is with a 1 or 2 trigger trombone.

Most of the time, those features are there to make it easier to play though. Make intonation easier or just making it easier for particular things. I'm not sure of anything more specific than that though.

(So you know, brass instruments are not my main instruments. I do play trombone, but I'm most proficient with Flute and Piccolo.)

you definitely want to invest in the double horn. it gives you a broader range and makes you much more usable in ensembles. trust me its worth the extra money.

My friend  dogman94 aka blizzard plays the French horn. Im not sure which one.

The french horns were always the freaky kinky crazy kids in my high school. Check Ebay maybe?

haha, ^^^this^^^ this is very true!

I played the mellophonw for a little while. Which was the marching version of the french horn! Never got to the normal horn. Prolly a single valve cuz our school was cheap:0

i used to play the french horn middle school, and attempted trumpet in highschool before deciding band wasn't my thing...

D: Alas I sold my frenchie about six months ago.... along with one of my trombones... and my clarinet.... I miss my Baritone though T-T
*Plays with my flute, trombone, sax, and trumpet* aside from my guitars I have very few fun instruments left in my collection

A double horn is two horns of different tubing length plastered together, toggled with the thumb valve. For lower notes you use the F horn (the deeper one with more tubing) and to play higher notes you press the thumb valve (starting with Ab (or concert C#) and up) to switch to the Bb horn. There's added range in both directions, which means richer tone (less stress on the embrasure for lower (flappy) and higher (constipation-faec) notes), and it's much easier to stay in tune due to temperaments (which you can read more about url=http://www.slate.com/id/2250793]here[/url]).

I majored in French Horn (lol), so while I'm not earning money from it right now I can at least spread the knowledge! Or something. Anyway, yes, spring for the double horn.

I will never be good at BBS, omg.

BRACKETS? WHERE WE'RE GOING, WE DON'T NEED BRACKETS

Haha, crazy! Thanks for all the info XD. Since you know so much, would you recommend any brands to go for (or stay away from)? I'm pretty sure I played a yamaha of some sort back in HS. I'd hate to spring for one and end up with one that was a p.o.s. just because I was trying to save money..

Conn is a good starter brand, and I'm only familiar with Yamaha's small brass instruments (I have a Yamaha trumpet that's served me well sound-wise, but it just doesn't feel as trusty as my old Conn! Might be because it was my First Trumpet and therefore I have a soft spot for it or something). I've never and don't know anyone who has played a Yamaha French Horn, though, but from what I read online they're pretty reliable. I'd generally stick with American or German brands if you can - my go-to horn is an old King double (though according to their website, they only manufacture marching and single horns now :( ). And remember, a well cared for gently-used horn will almost certainly sound better than a brand new one. Don't be afraid of eBay or craigslist, but be prepared to give your horn a bath (in the bathtub! google "cleaning your french horn at home") and perhaps get some rope/pliers to separate the stale slides that require grease to be pulled apart again.

Sounds like the answers have been pretty well covered, but just putting in a shout out to hornists! I was lucky that my college basically lends them out to us music students for free so I'm trying to get back into it, too.

I love the french horn, and looks like everyone else has aswered your question.

Looks like you've been given all the information you need. I've only got a single horn myself right now, and it's killing me trying to save up for a double. The difference it makes in my playing is just phenomenal.

why, aren't you a horny person today? (trumpet player here... well, back in highschool, that is.)

I played both from middle school through college -- a double horn is decidedly worth it.



DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT buy one of the supercheap ones listed on Ebay(from China) -- I wound up being the receiver of one of these as a gift a few Christmases back and SWEET JESUS it's barely worth the scrap! Thing NEVER stayed in tune, the bell had the wonkiest bore possible...it was all in all just wall art to me.

Might try paying the local schools (middle clear through college level...ya' never know)a visit -- there's a chance that they'd be game for selling a 'well-loved' old model of theirs....or you can just stash money away and wait for something truly nice. Personally I vote just go with the happy medium of horns -- a Conn(6d is brass, 8d is nickel finish)

I've never played French Horn, but...I played trumpet in high school?
Brass players, unite!

used to be the french horn section leader at my school... switched to the baritone sax though loved them both...still have my horn just haven't touched it in years...probably sound like a first year again if i tried to play it now lol

My mother used to play French horn in highschool.

This is in no way helpful but I felt like mentioning regardless.

:x

French horn, like most brass instruments, is much more about the player than the instrument. So long as the valves work and nothing rattles or leaks, you'll be able to make beautiful music with it.

I played a double, and while it was a little nicer than a single it's not something I was completely blown away by. You'll probably find most music is arranged to work well with a single F anyway.

The most important thing is to find other people to play with. French horn sucks as a solo instrument, which is why I stopped playing. It's a little easier these days with these new fangled computers and internets where you can play backing tracks and/or multitrack a recording from the comfort of your own home, but still nothing beats playing with real people.

The only good french horn player I've ever played with had a double. The rest had single but just sounded completely off all the time. I don't know if this was the instrument or the players.

haha, two of my very good friends where french horn players. I played trombone. WOO BAND!!!

I can't tell you anything beyond what thatoneguy297 already said: It just makes it easier and sound smoother. All my knowledge of the French Horn is purely academic. I've never played brass... Just various saxes, oboe, bassoon, piano, flute... accordion...

You can get a single F horn, but there are some drawbacks:

1. When you get into the higher range, partials become closer and closer together to the point where adjacent tones can be fingered the same way.
2. The tone quality also goes down the further up you go.
3. It's best used for beginners. You said you played up to high school, correct? I actually played a single F horn through elementary and middle school and switched to double in high school and never looked back.

Double horns CAN be expensive, but sometimes you can get lucky like I did and find one at a garage sale for AMAZINGLY cheap. Mine was thirty bucks. Just a couple hundred dollars of refurbishment later and it sounded great. :3

Also, a few Chinese companies make Double horns very cheap, and they have FAIRLY decent tone quality.

I imagine you can find ones on craigslist super cheap, from people getting out of middle/high school band.

I found and dug out my old trumpet from middle school and played with it a little bit...but it's kind of loud.

I played both, single for 3yrs and double for 4yrs. thatoneguy297 covered it. As for brands, too long ago to remember.

let me see... i played bassoon, B flat clarinet, Bass clarinet, and i don't remember what else. but that was all in 7th grade.