| Humor a Newbie
I never played trumpet past high school. When I was in college playing French horn, we had to transpose viola parts, and walk uphill barefoot in the snow to school. (haha) I never understood why the trumpeters had like 4 - 5 instruments that they lugged around with them all the time! So please explain:
1. Cornet - I think this sounds like a trumpet but mellow-er, right? Or is that flugelhorn, a la Chuck Mangione?
2. C Trumpet - This one totally confuses me. What is that 2-step transposition going to get you?? Is this so you can play flute parts without transposing? :) Or is there some harmonic reason?
3. Piccolo vs Pocket Trumpet - OK as far as I can tell, a pocket trumpet looks almost like a normal trumpet, only compressed. A piccolo trumpet is 'mini.' I tried playing one once and could not get a sound out, even after having played French horn. I've never played or really been near a 'pocket trumpet'.
So please tell me what all these different horns are about! Oh, and what is the 4th valve on the 4-valve trumpets? Is this like the Bb key on a F/Bf horn?
That's all the stupid questions (for now!) :) |