THE ORCHESTRA: A USER'S MANUAL

Hand Positions and Mutes

The use of the hand inserted into the bell of the horn is unique to the instrument. The earliest types of horns played only the notes of the harmonic series, but it was discovered that the insertion of the hand could bend the pitch to enable intermediate notes. On the modern valve horn, hand technique has become a timbral modifier as well as a means to change pitch.

The stopped note is indicated by writing a + over the note, and open is indicated by o

The hand horn (historical)
Hand technique
Stopped horn
Half-stopped (rare)
Open - stopped notes
Hand glissando

The standard horn mute is indicated by con sord. It produces a significant timbral change, and loud muted notes have a distinctive sound