Concert Eb Scale Trumpet? Top 40 Best Answers

Major key and scale based on the note D

D major (or the key of D) is a D-based major scale composed of the pitches D, E, F♯, G, A, Bb, and C♯. His key signature has two crosses. Its relative minor is B minor and its relative minor is D minor.

The D major scale is:

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Properties[ edit ]

According to Paolo Pietropaolo, D major is Miss Kongeniality: it is persistent, sunny and energetic.[1]

D major lends itself well to violin music because of the structure of the instrument, which is tuned to G D A E. The open strings resonate sympathetically with the D string and produce a particularly brilliant sound. This is also the case with all other orchestral strings.

It is no coincidence that many classical composers over the centuries have chosen to write violin concertos in D major, including Mozart’s (No. 2, 1775, No. 4, 1775); Ludwig van Beethoven (1806); Paganini (No. 1, 1817); Brahms (1878); Tchaikovsky (1878); Prokofiev (No. 1, 1917); Stravinsky (1931); and Korngold (1945).

The key is also suitable for guitar music, with the drop D tuning making two Ds available as open strings. However, for some beginning wind instrument students, D major is not a very appropriate key, as it transposes to E major on B♭ wind instruments, and beginner methods in general tend to avoid keys with more than three sharps.

Despite this, the B♭ clarinet is still often used for music in D major, and it is perhaps the sharpest key convenient for the instrument. However, there are composers who, when writing a piece in D minor with B♭ clarinets, switch to A clarinets when the music changes to D major, two examples being Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in the fourth movement.

The vast majority of tin whistles are in D, as they are often used in music featuring violins. It’s a common key for playing in pub sessions.

history [edit]

In the Baroque period, D major was considered the “key of glory”[2]; this is why there were many trumpet concertos in D major, for example by Johann Friedrich Fasch, Gross, Molter (No. 2), Leopold Mozart, Telemann (No. 2) and Giuseppe Torelli. Many trumpet sonatas were also in D major, such as those by Corelli, Petronio Franceschini, Purcell and Torelli. “The Trumpet Shall Sound” and the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah and his coronation hymn Zadok the Priest are in D major. Also, Bach’s Mass in B minor has D major as its relative major, and most major choruses in that key (Gloria, Cum Sancto Spiritu, Sanctus, Hosanna) make extensive use of trumpets.

Twenty-three of Haydn’s 104 symphonies are in D major, making it the most commonly used main key in his symphonies. The vast majority of Mozart’s unnumbered symphonies are in D major, namely KV 66c, 81/73, 97/73m, 95/73n, 120/111a and 161/163/141a. From the overture grew the symphony, and “D major was by far the most common key for overtures in the second half of the 18th century.”[3] This continued into the Romantic period, becoming the ‘triumphant’ finale uses movements from several D minor symphonies, including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony, Cesar Franck’s only symphony, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony and Felix Mendelssohn’s Fifth Symphony.

Famous symphonies in D major are Mozart’s Symphonies No. 31 (Paris) and No. 38 (Prague), Beethoven’s No. 2 Op. 36, Brahms No. 2 Op. 73, Sibelius’ No. 2 Op. 43 and Prokofiev’s No. 1 (Classical) Op. 25

Notable compositions in D major

See also[edit]

References[edit]

“Could you please explain what concert pitch and major pitch are?”

I get this question at least once a week from YouTube and Instagram followers, which I find quite understandable. It can be confusing for a beginner trumpet player to hear “Play B Flat Major Concerto” and start the scale on C. Why don’t we start the scale on B like tuba or trombone?

concert key

The piano is a good standard instrument for explaining key because almost everyone has access to one, whether at home, at school, or at church. To find C on a full piano look for a set of 2 black notes together, C is the note directly to the left of the left black note. The piano, of course, has several Cs, the one roughly in the middle is middle C.

So here’s the thing to remember, if you play C on a piano you’ll hear a C. Your brain hears a C or Do in Solfége. You might think of course! However, this is not the case for all instruments. It only works with instruments with concert keys, such as tuba and flute. If you play a C, you’ll hear a C. Now, keep that in mind.

Instruments that are not in the concert key are “transposing instruments”.

The most common trumpet is a Bb trumpet, meaning if you play a C, you’ll hear a Bb. Each note played on the trumpet sounds a whole tone lower. That’s correct! So this means that when a trumpeter and a pianist want to play the B flat major concert scale together, the pianist starts on their B flat major key and the trumpeter starts on C, since C sounds like a B flat. This also applies to the Bb clarinet and other Bb instruments.

The same rule applies to instruments in other keys, such as B. the alto saxophone, which is in E flat. When the sax plays a C, you hear an Eb. Each note played on the saxophone sounds 3 semitones higher (or a minor third). So if the saxophonist wants to join the trumpet and pianist on a B flat major concert scale, their first note is…G! Because his G sounds like a B.

What if they say “B flat major”? What does that mean?

The “big” part of the scale name tells us that the scale has a big quality. This means that the scale will sound major or “happy” as opposed to a minor scale sounding “sad”. A major scale also begins on the note indicated by the scale name. So a Bb major scale will start on Bb major, a C major scale will start on C…etc. The same rules apply when the scale is minor. So if you’re asked to play a C minor scale, your first note is still C, even though the rest of the scale is different.

A universal language

Instruments in a band or an orchestra speak different languages, some speak concert pitch, some speak B flat major or Eb, so we use concert pitches so everyone understands what’s going on. When the conductor says, “Let’s play B flat major concert scale,” the trumpeters know to start on C, the saxophones start on G, and the tubas on B flat.

What trumpeters should know about concert pitch

As a trumpet player, remember that when you play a Bb trumpet, all of your notes sound a whole step lower. If you play an A, you will hear a G. If you play an F, you will hear an Eb. This always applies to B flat trumpet. Keep in mind that trumpets come in other keys, which means these trumpets sound different notes.

All instruments that are not in concert pitch are referred to as transposing instruments. If you want to learn more about other types of trumpets, visit the trumpet page.

Why are trumpets in different keys? (explained for beginners)

The different keys used for trumpets can be confusing at first.

But there are good reasons why trumpets are built in different keys and not just all trumpets are tuned in C or Bb.

Let’s look at the facts.

That is why there are trumpets in different keys

Trumpets are made in different keys to compensate for the relatively short pitch range of trumpets. Composers often use a larger register than most trumpeters can play, and they get more range by including the Eb and Bb piccolo trumpet in the orchestral mix.

A good intermediate trumpeter will be most comfortable playing in the range of about two octaves, and that’s not much for music composers to work with.

An Eb trumpet is tuned exactly a fourth (5 semitones) above a normal Bb trumpet and this gives the player more high notes.

The C trumpet was introduced primarily to make it easier for trumpet players to play in the standard C tuning alongside other instruments.

By using a C trumpet, you don’t have to transpose the music to play the same notes as a piano (we’ll get to that!)

What key is a standard trumpet?

The standard key for trumpets is Bb (Bb). Most trumpet players start with a Bb trumpet and that’s where you’ll find the iconic trumpet sound. The B flat trumpet is also the best selling trumpet.

Most trumpets can be dialed down to the key of A by pulling the adjustable tuning slide out as far as it will go. With this little trick you can often make it much easier to transpose a sheet of music into a more legible key.

This means that standard trumpets can play in both the B flat key and the A key.

Most trumpet brands produce several Bb trumpet models and some models that are in the C and Eb key as we will look at below.

What key is a piccolo trumpet?

The piccolo trumpet is a small trumpet typically built in the key of Bb or A. It plays about an octave above a standard Bb trumpet. The piccolo trumpet is mainly used in orchestras and brass bands.

Piccolo trumpets are smaller than regular trumpets because they require less pipe length for the high Bb key. Sometimes they have four valves to make it easier (possible) for the player to play the lower notes.

Just like a regular trumpet, you can pull out the main leadpipe to tune it down to the key of A. This can make it easier to play sharp songs.

The overall length of the pipes is less than standard trumpets, making the key and pitch higher.

What key is a flugelhorn?

Flugelhorns, like normal trumpets, are almost always tuned to B flat. They have a larger bell and fewer arches on the pipes. This means they can use the same sheet music as regular trumpets.

The flugelhorn is famous for its darker tone and sounds more like a horn than a trumpet.

Many trumpeters also have a flugelhorn in order to be able to produce a richer and deeper sound for variations.

What does B in trumpets mean?

B refers to the key tuning of the instrument when no keys are pressed. When you play the C note on a Bb trumpet, it sounds like the B note on a piano or regular guitar.

Most instruments are tuned in the key of C and that means you will be playing a major second below a C instrument.

Alternatively, unless there is a separate reed for a Bb instrument, you must transpose the notes up a major second (two semitones) to play along with a piano.

Main advantages of using a Bb trumpet

Much of classical trumpet music is written in B flat. This is probably the main reason why most trumpet players choose the B flat trumpet.

However, it’s also a bit easier to get the pitch on a Bb trumpet through the full register.

The Bb trumpet is slightly larger than trumpets in other keys. If you unfold the pipes, you can see that a trumpet in the B key requires more pipes than a C trumpet. There is simply more tube length built into the instrument and you have more control. Therefore it is easier to control the sound with the lips.

The smaller the brass instrument, the more practice it takes to hit the right note every time.

The B flat trumpet works well for brass bands and has the characteristic sound you would expect from a trumpet.

The reason most trumpets are in the Bb key

Most trumpets are tuned in B flat because that tuning works with the optimal pipe length to create the unique trumpet timbre. Trumpets tuned in most other keys require fewer pipes and produce a slightly brighter tone.

Trumpets in B flat sound as you would expect from a trumpet.

The remaining trumpets have a brighter sound and are a bit more difficult to control to switch between notes quickly and precisely.

Also, the Bb key (also known as Bb) is often the default tuning for music written for marching bands, as we will see below.

In what key is most trumpet music written?

Historically, music for marching bands and marching bands is in the key of B flat. That’s because the Bb key sounds really good for brass instruments.

Historically there were only trumpets without valves. This meant that these instruments could only play the notes in the harmonic series (C, G, C, E, G, etc.). This would limit horns and trumpets to playing only very simple melodies, especially for the lower register.

After the valve system was introduced in the early 19th century, it became possible to play the trumpet in any key.

What key should I choose for my trumpet?

While most people use Bb and C trumpets, there are situations where an Eb or F trumpet can come in handy.

Let’s dive into when to choose the more unusual trumpets.

Why do people use C trumpets?

C trumpets are often used in classical orchestras, where many stringed instruments are found. The C trumpet has a brighter tone and goes well with the stringed instruments. Also, it’s easier to play sharp music on C trumpets because of the finger positions.

Even if you play a C trumpet, you can use the same sheet music as a piano, which is very helpful in many situations.

If you’re playing pop music or jazz music along with instruments that aren’t pitched in Bb, choosing a trumpet in the key of C makes a lot of sense.

Why do people use F trumpets?

Very few professional and intermediate trumpet players use F trumpets. They don’t have the classic trumpet sound because they are tuned very differently. They are designed to help the player reach really high notes.

We can also find some brands that make a trumpet tuned in the low key of F (below the Bb trumpet). These are rarely used as they sound much more like horns.

The Eb trumpet and Eb cornets are more popular in orchestras for the higher pitched trumpet parts.

Why do people use Eb trumpets?

The E-flat trumpets (and E-flat cornets) are pitched higher than regular trumpets and are used in music composed specifically for the high register. It’s much easier to hit the high notes on an Eb trumpet than on a regular Bb or C trumpet.

The reason it’s easier to hit the high notes on an Eb trumpet has to do with the construction and mouthpiece. The horn itself is smaller and the mouthpiece also has a smaller rim and cup size.

If you play the same note on an E flat trumpet and a B flat trumpet, you will have a lighter timbre on the E flat cornet.

What key is my trumpet in?

The easiest way to determine what key a trumpet is in is to play next to a piano. If you play a C on the trumpet, the piano tells what key the instrument is tuned in. The trumpet will be a B flat trumpet.

You can’t tell what key a trumpet is in by looking at it.

However, smaller trumpets are usually tuned to Eb or Bb, which sits an octave above a regular trumpet.

What other instruments are in the key of Bb?

Here is a list of common instruments tuned in B flat:

Concert pitch is a strange thing. Many professional musicians will spend their entire career never having to deal with concert mood. At the same time, eighth graders around the world have to deal with concert pitch on a regular basis.

Concert pitch refers to the universal standard pitch, A = 440 Hz. Music has an extremely complex history. And now there are transposing instruments. Not all C’s are the same. In an orchestra, when the conductor asks the strings to play a C major scale, they all (violins, violas, cellos, basses) play a C major scale. Easy. If the director asks the same thing, in a concert band the flutes and trombones play their C scale, but the clarinets and trumpets play their D scale, the alto saxophones play their A scale, the French horns play their G scale… Not so simple.

Reasons for concert pitch

So now you know what concert pitch is. I bet your first thought was something like, “Why is there a concert pitch? why is it a thing What’s the point?”

As mentioned above, the history of music is incredibly complex. Nobody sat down and planned out all the complexities of the music; how music would work. Music varies greatly from culture to culture. In our culture, when we talk about music, we refer to western art music; Music developed through European art traditions. Music is defined for us by semitone intervals, time signatures where 4/4 is most common, the major scale and the minor scale, and so on. Other cultures have different understandings and defining characteristics of music.

To get a little philosophical, nothing isn’t and then suddenly it is. Nothing appears out of nowhere. Like everything in life, music has developed through a gradual evolution. And evolution is not perfect. Things adapt, but they remain imperfect.

I’m getting a bit off topic here. Regarding the content of this article, chromaticism has not always been possible on instruments. A good example is the flute. Consider the history of the flute. Flutes have long been diatonic instruments in many cultures. To play in a different key, you would have to play a different flute.

But now it is possible to tune any instrument to C. The technology exists. Why don’t we just swap out every instrument for a non-transposing instrument? Hopefully this hypothetical question sounds completely ridiculous to you. There are many reasons why this would not be plausible. Technically it would be possible, but it wouldn’t be practical at all. First of all, it would basically mean rewriting history, figuratively and literally. Instruments have been perfected in the particular keys they are in. Companies have improved tools over a long period of time. Every instrument has its own distinctive tonal qualities that are impossible to reproduce. Check out the C melody saxophone. It was an attempt to reinvent the saxophone as a C instrument. It did not last long. Check out the clarinet too. You may be wondering why there is a clarinet in Bb and a clarinet in A. They have different tonal qualities and therefore both remain part of modern music. Changing all instruments to be tuned to C would also involve a literal rewriting of all music written for transposing instruments; endless hours spent rewriting the repertoire of music. The entire large orchestral repertoire was written for existing instruments. Changing that would mean changing the composer’s intention. Furthermore, the pitch of each instrument on C would mean that instruments could only be transposed in the octave. It is more practical to have instruments in between. Think of the difference between the piccolo and the flute or the difference between the alto sax and the baritone sax. This is what an octave transposition looks like. The alternative would be to consider the same fingering as a different note on the alto and tenor saxes. The reason saxes are in Bb and Eb is because the fingerings are the same on each sax, even though the notes produced sound different.

Anyhow, you can see that the idea of ​​concert pitch is rooted in a complex history. Changing that would mean changing the foundation of the music. It would be complicated to say the least. It would mean changing the past, present and future of music. Think of it this way: what’s easier, having to take the easy learning curve of learning to transpose, or reinventing the music from scratch? That’s why the concert pitch still exists and will continue to exist.

Who Should Know Concert Tone?

Who Should Know Concert Tone? Or rather, who benefits from understanding the concert tone? There are different levels of understanding of concert pitch. If you play a transposing instrument, you probably have no hesitation in knowing what “concert Bb” is. Someone tells you to play a concerto B flat major scale and you can do it without even thinking. But could you read a concert sheet on your instrument?

A deep understanding of concert tuning can benefit any musician. Composers and arrangers should be fairly fluent in instrument ranges, transpositions, timbres, effects, and so on. Band and orchestra conductors should have a thorough understanding of transposition. Conductors often read from concert scores. If they know how to transpose all the instrumental parts, they can communicate more effectively with the members of the ensemble. Accompanying persons are sometimes asked to reduce a score to a piano part. The ability to read an orchestral score on the piano is a very good skill. If you’re a jazz musician and you play a transposing instrument, you’re probably expected to read concert pitch lead sheets. Often the pianist or bassist will bring in music but have all parts written out at concert pitch. Or they want to play a tune you don’t know, but they only have the C Real Book. These happen to me all the time. As an alto saxophonist, I have now become totally fluent in reading concert tone lead sheets.

Instrument transpositions

There are many non-transposing instruments, instruments where the concert tone and the written tone are the same. Violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, bassoon, trombone, etc. all play in concert pitch.

Some instruments transpose in the octave. The double bass sounds an octave lower than its written pitch. The piccolo sounds an octave higher than its written pitch. But if you want to hear a C and don’t care what octave it’s in, then the double bass and piccolo will play their C.

Trumpet, tenor saxophone and clarinet are Bb instruments. That is, when they play their written C, it sounds like a concert pitch B flat. Alto saxophone, bar saxophone and clarinet in Es sind Es-Instruments. When they play their C, it sounds like an Eb. English horn and French horn are tuned to F. There are also instruments in G, A, D, etc.

I’ve made some charts of the most common band instruments and their transpositions. The first column is “Concert Pitch” and the second is “Written Pitch”. If your director asks the band to play a Bb concerto, this chart shows what note each instrument would play.

Conclusion

The famous jazz and avant-garde musician Ornette Coleman developed a musical concept called “harmolotics”. An extremely complicated philosophy, part of which applies to transposing instruments. In theory and practice, Ornette Coleman believed that harmony and harmonic direction were determined by the overall shape and movement of a melody. Therefore, there is no need for transposition as part of its overall concept. In other words, the concert pitch becomes irrelevant. Anyone can read a concert sheet leadsheet. If you have a piano, trumpet, and alto sax all reading the same tune, each instrument would play a different note, but the overall direction would remain constant.

From the 1910s through the early 1930s, the C tune saxophone was something of a fad. It was marketed as a saxophone that could be used to read over a pianist’s shoulder without having to transpose. It was the perfect amateur saxophone. However, it never fully caught on. It was a failed attempt to reinvent the saxophone to make it easier to play. However, the alto, tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones were firmly established. The C-melody saxophone just didn’t sound that good, so the idea was scrapped. In music, sound is everything; Sound comes first, over ease of use.

Concert pitch is an aspect of music that is ingrained and deeply woven into its foundation. It’s not as difficult a concept as it might seem at first. As I said, I can read concert pitch lead sheets fluently on my alto saxophone. I know a lot of musicians who can’t, and they do fine in most situations. However, knowing pitch and being able to transpose is a good skill that I believe will make you a better musician.

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Concert pitch is a strange thing. Many professional musicians will spend their entire career never having to deal with concert mood. At the same time, eighth graders around the world have to deal with concert pitch on a regular basis.

Concert pitch refers to the universal standard pitch, A = 440 Hz. Music has an extremely complex history. And now there are transposing instruments. Not all C’s are the same. In an orchestra, when the conductor asks the strings to play a C major scale, they all (violins, violas, cellos, basses) play a C major scale. Easy. If the director asks the same thing, in a concert band the flutes and trombones play their C scale, but the clarinets and trumpets play their D scale, the alto saxophones play their A scale, the French horns play their G scale… Not so simple.

Reasons for concert pitch

So now you know what concert pitch is. I bet your first thought was something like, “Why is there a concert pitch? why is it a thing What’s the point?”

As mentioned above, the history of music is incredibly complex. Nobody sat down and planned out all the complexities of the music; how music would work. Music varies greatly from culture to culture. In our culture, when we talk about music, we refer to western art music; Music developed through European art traditions. Music is defined for us by semitone intervals, time signatures where 4/4 is most common, the major scale and the minor scale, and so on. Other cultures have different understandings and defining characteristics of music.

To get a little philosophical, nothing isn’t and then suddenly it is. Nothing appears out of nowhere. Like everything in life, music has developed through a gradual evolution. And evolution is not perfect. Things adapt, but they remain imperfect.

I’m getting a bit off topic here. Regarding the content of this article, chromaticism has not always been possible on instruments. A good example is the flute. Consider the history of the flute. Flutes have long been diatonic instruments in many cultures. To play in a different key, you would have to play a different flute.

But now it is possible to tune any instrument to C. The technology exists. Why don’t we just swap out every instrument for a non-transposing instrument? Hopefully this hypothetical question sounds completely ridiculous to you. There are many reasons why this would not be plausible. Technically it would be possible, but it wouldn’t be practical at all. First of all, it would basically mean rewriting history, figuratively and literally. Instruments have been perfected in the particular keys they are in. Companies have improved tools over a long period of time. Every instrument has its own distinctive tonal qualities that are impossible to reproduce. Check out the C melody saxophone. It was an attempt to reinvent the saxophone as a C instrument. It did not last long. Check out the clarinet too. You may be wondering why there is a clarinet in Bb and a clarinet in A. They have different tonal qualities and therefore both remain part of modern music. Changing all instruments to be tuned to C would also involve a literal rewriting of all music written for transposing instruments; endless hours spent rewriting the repertoire of music. The entire large orchestral repertoire was written for existing instruments. Changing that would mean changing the composer’s intention. Furthermore, the pitch of each instrument on C would mean that instruments could only be transposed in the octave. It is more practical to have instruments in between. Think of the difference between the piccolo and the flute or the difference between the alto sax and the baritone sax. This is what an octave transposition looks like. The alternative would be to consider the same fingering as a different note on the alto and tenor saxes. The reason saxes are in Bb and Eb is because the fingerings are the same on each sax, even though the notes produced sound different.

Anyhow, you can see that the idea of ​​concert pitch is rooted in a complex history. Changing that would mean changing the foundation of the music. It would be complicated to say the least. It would mean changing the past, present and future of music. Think of it this way: what’s easier, having to take the easy learning curve of learning to transpose, or reinventing the music from scratch? That’s why the concert pitch still exists and will continue to exist.

Who Should Know Concert Tone?

Who Should Know Concert Tone? Or rather, who benefits from understanding the concert tone? There are different levels of understanding of concert pitch. If you play a transposing instrument, you probably have no hesitation in knowing what “concert Bb” is. Someone tells you to play a concerto B flat major scale and you can do it without even thinking. But could you read a concert sheet on your instrument?

A deep understanding of concert tuning can benefit any musician. Composers and arrangers should be fairly fluent in instrument ranges, transpositions, timbres, effects, and so on. Band and orchestra conductors should have a thorough understanding of transposition. Conductors often read from concert scores. If they know how to transpose all the instrumental parts, they can communicate more effectively with the members of the ensemble. Accompanying persons are sometimes asked to reduce a score to a piano part. The ability to read an orchestral score on the piano is a very good skill. If you’re a jazz musician and you play a transposing instrument, you’re probably expected to read concert pitch lead sheets. Often the pianist or bassist will bring in music but have all parts written out at concert pitch. Or they want to play a tune you don’t know, but they only have the C Real Book. These happen to me all the time. As an alto saxophonist, I have now become totally fluent in reading concert tone lead sheets.

Instrument transpositions

There are many non-transposing instruments, instruments where the concert tone and the written tone are the same. Violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, bassoon, trombone, etc. all play in concert pitch.

Some instruments transpose in the octave. The double bass sounds an octave lower than its written pitch. The piccolo sounds an octave higher than its written pitch. But if you want to hear a C and don’t care what octave it’s in, then the double bass and piccolo will play their C.

Trumpet, tenor saxophone and clarinet are Bb instruments. That is, when they play their written C, it sounds like a concert pitch B flat. Alto saxophone, bar saxophone and clarinet in Es sind Es-Instruments. When they play their C, it sounds like an Eb. English horn and French horn are tuned to F. There are also instruments in G, A, D, etc.

I’ve made some charts of the most common band instruments and their transpositions. The first column is “Concert Pitch” and the second is “Written Pitch”. If your director asks the band to play a Bb concerto, this chart shows what note each instrument would play.

Conclusion

The famous jazz and avant-garde musician Ornette Coleman developed a musical concept called “harmolotics”. An extremely complicated philosophy, part of which applies to transposing instruments. In theory and practice, Ornette Coleman believed that harmony and harmonic direction were determined by the overall shape and movement of a melody. Therefore, there is no need for transposition as part of its overall concept. In other words, the concert pitch becomes irrelevant. Anyone can read a concert sheet leadsheet. If you have a piano, trumpet, and alto sax all reading the same tune, each instrument would play a different note, but the overall direction would remain constant.

From the 1910s through the early 1930s, the C tune saxophone was something of a fad. It was marketed as a saxophone that could be used to read over a pianist’s shoulder without having to transpose. It was the perfect amateur saxophone. However, it never fully caught on. It was a failed attempt to reinvent the saxophone to make it easier to play. However, the alto, tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones were firmly established. The C-melody saxophone just didn’t sound that good, so the idea was scrapped. In music, sound is everything; Sound comes first, over ease of use.

Concert pitch is an aspect of music that is ingrained and deeply woven into its foundation. It’s not as difficult a concept as it might seem at first. As I said, I can read concert pitch lead sheets fluently on my alto saxophone. I know a lot of musicians who can’t, and they do fine in most situations. However, knowing pitch and being able to transpose is a good skill that I believe will make you a better musician.

Chamber pitch and Bb instruments

We also have “Bb instruments” – the clarinet and the trumpet, for example.

My good friend and fellow Ontario music teacher Deb Miller-Cushon explains it this way:

“I’ve always found it helpful to tell my students for a Bb instrument, the musician sees a ‘C’ on their score, they finger and play a ‘C’ on their instrument and we all hear a Bb. So you take the score for a Bb instrument, and to write them for a piano or other C instrument (in other words, to write them at concert pitch), shift them down a major second. Then both instruments will be playing at the same pitch – the trumpet with the original score and the piano with the transposed score.”

That makes sense to me now!

Since I have strong visual learning tendencies, I helped myself to remember how to teach this concept by drawing this “picture” for my students (my picture uses stick figures – you can see that in the picture above – okay , Art has never been my forte! LOL).

For B flat major instruments: So-La plays the trumpet (a B flat major instrument) up on stage. Ti-Do plays the piano (a concert pitch instrument) down in the concert pit. (Get it – you have to go into the Concert PIT to play in Concert PITCH, and you have to TRANSPOSE DOWN to get into Concert Pitch!)

Using the Concert Pitch Bb Instrument Memory Jogger you learned on page 104 of the Advanced Rudiments Workbook, we find that transposing to concert pitch for a Bb instrument is as easy as transposing by a major 2nd . cool right?

Concert pitch and F instruments

We also have “F instruments” – the English horn and French horn in F are two examples. When they play a C in their score, it sounds like an F on the piano. Therefore, in order for the cor anglais or French horn to play in concert pitch, the music must be transposed down a perfect 5.

For F instruments: So-La plays the french horn (an F instrument) on stage. Ti-Do plays the piano (a concert pitch instrument) down in the concert pit. (Got it – the solo instrument is up on the stage, the concert piano down in the ditch.)

Using your Concert Pitch F Instrument Memory Jogger, which you learned on page 105 in the Advanced Rudiments Workbook, we see that transposing to concert pitch for an F instrument is as easy as transposing a Perfect 5 down.

concert pitch question

I love getting questions from teachers. A teacher recently emailed me and asked, “Can the concert pitch be written in both clefs? Good?”

So – after reading this blog about Concert Pitch, what would be your answer?

While you’re thinking, I encourage you to work through the Ultimate Music Theory Workbooks for yourself. Now that we have the Complete Rudiments Workbook, this is the perfect opportunity to review your own theory base.

If you purchase the Complete Workbook (and Answer Book) and work through each page from top to bottom, complete all exercises (and mark all exercises with your Complete Answer Book), and you don’t learn anything, I will give you a refund.

And now the answer: using different clefs makes it easy to write music for all instruments and voices specific to their area. Instruments have a preferred key to avoid using many main lines. In the Advanced Rudiments Workbook on page 106 we have a table showing the written range for orchestral instruments:

When transposing to concert pitch, use the clef given for your original melody. In this way both instruments play the same music at the same pitch in the same key.

If the melody given is in the Alt-C clef and the instructions read: “The following melody is written for trumpet in B flat major. Transpose to concert pitch.” transpose the given tune down one major second in alt-C clef.

If the given melody is in bass clef and the instructions say “The following melody is written in F for French horn. Transpose to concert pitch.” transpose the given melody down a perfect fifth in bass clef.

If you’ve ever had some confusion understanding Concert Pitch, I hope this blog has helped you! Remember – if you’ve ever had a question, please ask! Your questions are often the inspiration for these blogs.

Why are trumpets in different keys? (explained for beginners)

The different keys used for trumpets can be confusing at first.

But there are good reasons why trumpets are built in different keys and not just all trumpets are tuned in C or Bb.

Let’s look at the facts.

That is why there are trumpets in different keys

Trumpets are made in different keys to compensate for the relatively short pitch range of trumpets. Composers often use a larger register than most trumpeters can play, and they get more range by including the Eb and Bb piccolo trumpet in the orchestral mix.

A good intermediate trumpeter will be most comfortable playing in the range of about two octaves, and that’s not much for music composers to work with.

An Eb trumpet is tuned exactly a fourth (5 semitones) above a normal Bb trumpet and this gives the player more high notes.

The C trumpet was introduced primarily to make it easier for trumpet players to play in the standard C tuning alongside other instruments.

By using a C trumpet, you don’t have to transpose the music to play the same notes as a piano (we’ll get to that!)

What key is a standard trumpet?

The standard key for trumpets is Bb (Bb). Most trumpet players start with a Bb trumpet and that’s where you’ll find the iconic trumpet sound. The B flat trumpet is also the best selling trumpet.

Most trumpets can be dialed down to the key of A by pulling the adjustable tuning slide out as far as it will go. With this little trick you can often make it much easier to transpose a sheet of music into a more legible key.

This means that standard trumpets can play in both the B flat key and the A key.

Most trumpet brands produce several Bb trumpet models and some models that are in the C and Eb key as we will look at below.

What key is a piccolo trumpet?

The piccolo trumpet is a small trumpet typically built in the key of Bb or A. It plays about an octave above a standard Bb trumpet. The piccolo trumpet is mainly used in orchestras and brass bands.

Piccolo trumpets are smaller than regular trumpets because they require less pipe length for the high Bb key. Sometimes they have four valves to make it easier (possible) for the player to play the lower notes.

Just like a regular trumpet, you can pull out the main leadpipe to tune it down to the key of A. This can make it easier to play sharp songs.

The overall length of the pipes is less than standard trumpets, making the key and pitch higher.

What key is a flugelhorn?

Flugelhorns, like normal trumpets, are almost always tuned to B flat. They have a larger bell and fewer arches on the pipes. This means they can use the same sheet music as regular trumpets.

The flugelhorn is famous for its darker tone and sounds more like a horn than a trumpet.

Many trumpeters also have a flugelhorn in order to be able to produce a richer and deeper sound for variations.

What does B in trumpets mean?

B refers to the key tuning of the instrument when no keys are pressed. When you play the C note on a Bb trumpet, it sounds like the B note on a piano or regular guitar.

Most instruments are tuned in the key of C and that means you will be playing a major second below a C instrument.

Alternatively, unless there is a separate reed for a Bb instrument, you must transpose the notes up a major second (two semitones) to play along with a piano.

Main advantages of using a Bb trumpet

Much of classical trumpet music is written in B flat. This is probably the main reason why most trumpet players choose the B flat trumpet.

However, it’s also a bit easier to get the pitch on a Bb trumpet through the full register.

The Bb trumpet is slightly larger than trumpets in other keys. If you unfold the pipes, you can see that a trumpet in the B key requires more pipes than a C trumpet. There is simply more tube length built into the instrument and you have more control. Therefore it is easier to control the sound with the lips.

The smaller the brass instrument, the more practice it takes to hit the right note every time.

The B flat trumpet works well for brass bands and has the characteristic sound you would expect from a trumpet.

The reason most trumpets are in the Bb key

Most trumpets are tuned in B flat because that tuning works with the optimal pipe length to create the unique trumpet timbre. Trumpets tuned in most other keys require fewer pipes and produce a slightly brighter tone.

Trumpets in B flat sound as you would expect from a trumpet.

The remaining trumpets have a brighter sound and are a bit more difficult to control to switch between notes quickly and precisely.

Also, the Bb key (also known as Bb) is often the default tuning for music written for marching bands, as we will see below.

In what key is most trumpet music written?

Historically, music for marching bands and marching bands is in the key of B flat. That’s because the Bb key sounds really good for brass instruments.

Historically there were only trumpets without valves. This meant that these instruments could only play the notes in the harmonic series (C, G, C, E, G, etc.). This would limit horns and trumpets to playing only very simple melodies, especially for the lower register.

After the valve system was introduced in the early 19th century, it became possible to play the trumpet in any key.

What key should I choose for my trumpet?

While most people use Bb and C trumpets, there are situations where an Eb or F trumpet can come in handy.

Let’s dive into when to choose the more unusual trumpets.

Why do people use C trumpets?

C trumpets are often used in classical orchestras, where many stringed instruments are found. The C trumpet has a brighter tone and goes well with the stringed instruments. Also, it’s easier to play sharp music on C trumpets because of the finger positions.

Even if you play a C trumpet, you can use the same sheet music as a piano, which is very helpful in many situations.

If you’re playing pop music or jazz music along with instruments that aren’t pitched in Bb, choosing a trumpet in the key of C makes a lot of sense.

Why do people use F trumpets?

Very few professional and intermediate trumpet players use F trumpets. They don’t have the classic trumpet sound because they are tuned very differently. They are designed to help the player reach really high notes.

We can also find some brands that make a trumpet tuned in the low key of F (below the Bb trumpet). These are rarely used as they sound much more like horns.

The Eb trumpet and Eb cornets are more popular in orchestras for the higher pitched trumpet parts.

Why do people use Eb trumpets?

The E-flat trumpets (and E-flat cornets) are pitched higher than regular trumpets and are used in music composed specifically for the high register. It’s much easier to hit the high notes on an Eb trumpet than on a regular Bb or C trumpet.

The reason it’s easier to hit the high notes on an Eb trumpet has to do with the construction and mouthpiece. The horn itself is smaller and the mouthpiece also has a smaller rim and cup size.

If you play the same note on an E flat trumpet and a B flat trumpet, you will have a lighter timbre on the E flat cornet.

What key is my trumpet in?

The easiest way to determine what key a trumpet is in is to play next to a piano. If you play a C on the trumpet, the piano tells what key the instrument is tuned in. The trumpet will be a B flat trumpet.

You can’t tell what key a trumpet is in by looking at it.

However, smaller trumpets are usually tuned to Eb or Bb, which sits an octave above a regular trumpet.

What other instruments are in the key of Bb?

Here is a list of common instruments tuned in B flat: