Ross

When playing a Bb Trumpet in a small group setting, and the drummer shouts "alright, slow Jazz in C" what notes should the trumpet player stick to?

What about the other keys? A, E, Dm, and the like...

The Trumpet is a Bb instrument, and that means that a Bb on the piano is what the trumpet tunes its C to, yes...

How can we learn the scales to help master key changes?

__________________

Firestas'1

This should be of some help to you.

Jazz Handbook: Jazzbooks.com

__________________


Stan J.

What is to reach the heart must come from above. If it does not, it will be nothing but notes, body without spirit.
--Ludwig van Beethoven

Music is God's best gift to man. The only art of heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to heaven.
--Letitia Elizabeth Landon

mush-mouth

First thing, when the drummer shouts Jazz in C, think D instead. So if the group playing a simple diatonic progression in C major, you can pretty much stick with the D major scale as written for the trumpet (i.e. valves, from D above middle C: [13, 12, 2, open, 12, 2, 12, 1] .

Always think one whole tone above what the pianist or guitarist (or drummer) says. If you're playing with other brass or woodwinds, then you have to ask if they are calling out the concert pitch, or one transposed for their instrument.

One tip is to learn the scales as "scale-degrees" as well as note names -- that is, for a dorian scale for example, think [Root, 2, b3, 4, 5, 6, b7]. In the key of Bb, this would be [Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab]. Take notice that the D and A are flatted from the usual [Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A] of the Bb Major scale because they are the 3rd and 7th scale degree respectively. Then, using this basic scale-degree formula, transposing on the fly is a cinch, although it does take some practice. It *will* pay off *big* in the long run!

If you decide to learn to think this way, playing an arbitrary scale or arpeggio, a lick or a turnaround is incredibly easy.

For the other keys you mentioned, think one whole tone up: A becomes B, E becomes F#, D minor becomes E minor, etc. Be aware of he "gotcha" keys like E and B. Since there is only a semi-tone between E-F and B-C, you need to add the sharp: E becomes F# like above, and B becomes C#. There are a lot of other "gotchas" (mostly flat keys like Eb becoming F rather than Fb!!), just be sure to think about them.

Then again, perhaps this jaw-wag missed the point and failed to address what you asked?!

Addendum: If you are playing with a fake book, keep in mind there are usually 3 versions: one for Eb instruments, one for Bb, and one for C. If you decide to buy one you can stick with the standard trumpet Bb notation (your best bet), or get a C edition and learn to transpose.