Why so many differently pitched Trumpets?

Trumpet guy · 07-08-2009, 06:33 AM

Recently, a friend asked me why there are so many trumpets of different keys and I could not come up with any reasonable answer. So now I pose this same question here. what is there purpuse of there being trumpets available in almost every key in the Bb scale from low F up to a D Picc.

trumpetnick · 07-08-2009, 07:02 AM

Reason for using different keyed trumpets can be very different - ease of playing, playing in a comfortable keys, different sound etc.
Before the invention of the keys and valves any trumpet could play only in one key. This is partly the reason for keeping all trumpets in different keys even after valves were invented but the most popular became trumpets B flat and C. All others are considered more or less "specialty" trumpets. Then we have all those cornets, bugles, flugels, melophones, flumpets, frumpets and all kind of trumpet novelties which all produce more or less different sounds.

Trumpet guy · 07-08-2009, 08:59 AM

yes but why keep all the keys there even after valves came? It seems like no one uses a the high F, G, and A trumpets or the C and D piccs. Why not just faze all those out and keep the Bb, C, D, Eb, picc and bass trumpets since those are the ones used most.

(I think I might have missed some)

DanZ_FL · 07-08-2009, 09:26 AM

I don't think it's "hurting" any of the manufacturers of the less popular key trumpets to make them. The tone, attack, etc. of all the different key instruments adds to the variety of sound possible.

It's got to be easier to create a multitude of different key trumpets than, say, clarinets or bassoons. Just shorten/lengthen pipe mostly.

trumpetnick · 07-08-2009, 09:35 AM

That's why I said that they were "specialty" trumpets. If you wanted to play, for example, a baroque piece in C (like J.S. Bach Cantata 51) with a modern trumpet (not a nat) best would be a G trumpet. You can try on a C trumpet, but it will be difficult...That's why we still keep all those different trumpets

B15M · 07-08-2009, 09:42 AM

When I get hired to play the halleluiah Chorus,
the part is written for D trumpet.
If I play first, I could use a D trumpet but most likely will use a Picc. in A.
It's way easier to play on the Picc and too hard for me on B-flat. The B-flat also wouldn't have the right sound.

If I'm playing second, I like to use the D trumpet so I will blend well with the guy playing first. I could do it on C trumpet too.
If I played it on B-flat It would work but there would be a big difference between the first part and the second. On B-flat it's in the key of E. On the D trumpet it's in C. I don't like playing in E and the guy on first (playing A picc.) is in F so tuning would be hard.

This is just one example. The music literature is filled with examples like this.

Bob Grier · 07-08-2009, 12:55 PM

We have all these trumpets so that we can die with the most "toys" Seriously, when you have a career in classical music you will understand.

ChopsGone · 07-08-2009, 01:27 PM

This is a question you can answer for yourself, if you know the basics of transposition. List every trumpet fundamental you can - Bb, C, D, and so on. List every key in which music is written. For each composition key, run through the list of trumpets and see what key you would end up having to play in to do that piece on that instrument. Some of the combinations are a lot more comfortable to play than others, aren't they? That's not saying you can't play any specific piece on any specific keyed trumpet if you must, but some of the combinations really suck. Others can result in a poor tonal match, such as a very thin tone, that's all out of character for the music.

OK, to go a tiny bit further: look at the range of notes to be played. Aren't there cases where a different keyed trumpet would make it easier to cover that range? Or, rather than easier, simply possible to play? Come on, you know the answers, don't you?

Vulgano Brother · 07-08-2009, 02:56 PM

We have instruments in many keys for the same reason a painter has different brushes, or a golfer different clubs, or a fisherman different lures, or.....

Pedal C · 07-08-2009, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulgano Brother

or a golfer different clubs

I case I break one? :)

07-08-2009, 06:33 AM	#1
Trumpet guy Forte User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,019	Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? Recently, a friend asked me why there are so many trumpets of different keys and I could not come up with any reasonable answer. So now I pose this same question here. what is there purpuse of there being trumpets available in almost every key in the Bb scale from low F up to a D Picc. __________________ Daniel Lan "If you're not improving, you're falling behind." - My Trumpet Teacher, Steve ------------------------------------ Horns Bach Strad 37 - Schilke 22, Wedge 3C Bach TR300 (collecting dust) Berkeley Cornet - Factory Moutphiece Berkeley Picc. Trumpet - Factory Mouthpiece Jupiter Soprano Trombone - Schilke 22 Olds Ambassador Fullerton Trombone - Olds 12C

07-08-2009, 07:02 AM	#2
trumpetnick Forte User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vidin, Bulgaria Posts: 1,892	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? Reason for using different keyed trumpets can be very different - ease of playing, playing in a comfortable keys, different sound etc. Before the invention of the keys and valves any trumpet could play only in one key. This is partly the reason for keeping all trumpets in different keys even after valves were invented but the most popular became trumpets B flat and C. All others are considered more or less "specialty" trumpets. Then we have all those cornets, bugles, flugels, melophones, flumpets, frumpets and all kind of trumpet novelties which all produce more or less different sounds. __________________ Spada Bach B flat 72, leadpipe 2L/DWMM1.5C Spada Bach C 256, leadpipe 2LQ/DWMM1.5C 1956 Olds Ambassador Cornet Spada Custom Piccolo If you don't know where you are going, you 'll end up someplace else

07-08-2009, 08:59 AM	#3
Trumpet guy Forte User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,019	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? yes but why keep all the keys there even after valves came? It seems like no one uses a the high F, G, and A trumpets or the C and D piccs. Why not just faze all those out and keep the Bb, C, D, Eb, picc and bass trumpets since those are the ones used most. (I think I might have missed some) __________________ Daniel Lan "If you're not improving, you're falling behind." - My Trumpet Teacher, Steve ------------------------------------ Horns Bach Strad 37 - Schilke 22, Wedge 3C Bach TR300 (collecting dust) Berkeley Cornet - Factory Moutphiece Berkeley Picc. Trumpet - Factory Mouthpiece Jupiter Soprano Trombone - Schilke 22 Olds Ambassador Fullerton Trombone - Olds 12C

07-08-2009, 09:26 AM	#4
DanZ_FL Pianissimo User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 51	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? I don't think it's "hurting" any of the manufacturers of the less popular key trumpets to make them. The tone, attack, etc. of all the different key instruments adds to the variety of sound possible. It's got to be easier to create a multitude of different key trumpets than, say, clarinets or bassoons. Just shorten/lengthen pipe mostly.

07-08-2009, 09:35 AM	#5
trumpetnick Forte User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vidin, Bulgaria Posts: 1,892	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? That's why I said that they were "specialty" trumpets. If you wanted to play, for example, a baroque piece in C (like J.S. Bach Cantata 51) with a modern trumpet (not a nat) best would be a G trumpet. You can try on a C trumpet, but it will be difficult...That's why we still keep all those different trumpets __________________ Spada Bach B flat 72, leadpipe 2L/DWMM1.5C Spada Bach C 256, leadpipe 2LQ/DWMM1.5C 1956 Olds Ambassador Cornet Spada Custom Piccolo If you don't know where you are going, you 'll end up someplace else

07-08-2009, 09:42 AM	#6
B15M Forte User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Monroe Ct. Posts: 1,733	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? When I get hired to play the halleluiah Chorus, the part is written for D trumpet. If I play first, I could use a D trumpet but most likely will use a Picc. in A. It's way easier to play on the Picc and too hard for me on B-flat. The B-flat also wouldn't have the right sound. If I'm playing second, I like to use the D trumpet so I will blend well with the guy playing first. I could do it on C trumpet too. If I played it on B-flat It would work but there would be a big difference between the first part and the second. On B-flat it's in the key of E. On the D trumpet it's in C. I don't like playing in E and the guy on first (playing A picc.) is in F so tuning would be hard. This is just one example. The music literature is filled with examples like this. __________________ "Taking plain notes on the page and bringing them to life is an art" - Tony Kadleck http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=238487314 http://webpages.charter.net/joespitzer/ http://www.trumpetwedding.com/

07-08-2009, 12:55 PM	#7
Bob Grier Mezzo Forte User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 743	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? We have all these trumpets so that we can die with the most "toys" Seriously, when you have a career in classical music you will understand. __________________ Bob Grier, An Old Pro Web Cam trumpet & jazz improvisation lessons bgrierjr@triad.rr.com Schilke B5 GB bell NY Bach ML 37GB Bb 1949 Benge 7X 1985 Conn 22B 1940s King Liberty Silversonic 1975 King Master Model Siversonic cornet 1975 1985 Bach C L 229GB 25A 1985 Bach D ML 239 1985 Bach Eb ML 239 1967 Martin C ML rose brass bell 1985 Selmer Paris Picc with Osmun A pipe & Blackburn Bb pipe 1975 Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn 1985 Yamaha YFH 635T Flugelhorn

07-08-2009, 01:27 PM	#8
ChopsGone Piano User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 407	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? This is a question you can answer for yourself, if you know the basics of transposition. List every trumpet fundamental you can - Bb, C, D, and so on. List every key in which music is written. For each composition key, run through the list of trumpets and see what key you would end up having to play in to do that piece on that instrument. Some of the combinations are a lot more comfortable to play than others, aren't they? That's not saying you can't play any specific piece on any specific keyed trumpet if you must, but some of the combinations really suck. Others can result in a poor tonal match, such as a very thin tone, that's all out of character for the music. OK, to go a tiny bit further: look at the range of notes to be played. Aren't there cases where a different keyed trumpet would make it easier to cover that range? Or, rather than easier, simply possible to play? Come on, you know the answers, don't you? __________________ Vintage Olds and Reynolds, yes sir, yes sir, one gazoo full. Calicchios, Besson, Kanstul Bessons, Selmers, etc. F.E. forgive me, even a Bach Strad (but I like the others much better)

07-08-2009, 02:56 PM	#9
Vulgano Brother Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 4,253	Re: Why so many differently pitched Trumpets? We have instruments in many keys for the same reason a painter has different brushes, or a golfer different clubs, or a fisherman different lures, or..... __________________ "A tool good enough to be so used and not too good" C.S. Lewis That Hideous Strength www.letsbuildhope.org

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