BlackWhite

Are trumpets in keys other than Bb suitable for jazz music?
Like say maybe Eb or G etc..?

Sterling

If there are jazz Banjo and Bagpipe players then any instrument that you use and are comfortable getting your ideas out will work. My graduate school trumpet professor at Ohio University, Ernest Bastin, played bebop C trumpet very well.

MJ

G is my favorite. It works very well on Giant Steps.

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BlackWhite

So that means that can play jazz peices in keys other than Bb?

But wouldn't it sound different or weird or awful?

BradHarrison

It's EXTREMELY rare to use anything other than a Bb trumpet and Bb flugel in jazz. Although, theoretically, there's no reason you couldn't do it.

People often cite the tonal aspect of higher-pitched trumpets as being the reason not to use them. However, you can get very bright sounding or very dark sounding Bb's, C's, Eb's, etc....so that's not really valid.

The main reason is probably transposition. ALL jazz music is written for Bb trumpet or flugel. You're pretty much never ever going to walk into a big band or combo and be asked to play an Eb trumpet part. If you want to play something other than Bb trumpet, you're going to want to get really good at sight-transposing.

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Horns
Yamaha 8130z
Yamaha 6335HII
Yamaha 6445HSII
Yamaha 6610S
Yamaha 6810s
Yamaha 733 Cornet
Yamaha 731 Flugel
Olds Ambassador Cornet
Olds Recording

JustinSmith

It's all about the player, not the horn. There is no reason why someone couldn't play jazz on another horn. it is just not the common practice or tradition.

I met a guy who bought a Monette Raja C trumpet. He only wanted to play that horn for everything. He played beautiful jazz on the horn. Most people probably wouldn't know he was playing a C trumpet unless they were watching his valves.

You will probably not want to play in a big band section playing Eb trumpet, for blending reasons.

But if your personal sound is on a different keyed trumpet, and you are playing in a small group, knock yourself out. go for it. It could be interesting to to hear that.

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Justin J. Smith

When people believe in boundaries, they become part of them.......Don Cherry

BlackWhite

Ah I see.
Thanks.

By the way,cany resources on which key of trumpet produces what kind of sound?

Trumpet guy

Generally, the higher key you go, the brighter and more brilliant the sound.

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Daniel Lan
"In you're not improving, you're falling behind." - My Trumpet Teacher, Steve

Horns
Bach Strad 37 - Megatone 3C/3B
Bach TR300 (marching)
Berkeley Cornet
Berkeley Picc. Trumpet - Vincent Bach Corp. Mt.Vernon N.Y 10 1/2 DW
Jupiter Soprano Trombone - Megatone 3C/3B
Olds Ambassador Fullerton Trombone - Olds 12C

BlackWhite

Thanks

htgeee

yes there are many different keys trumpets are in