BlackWhite

I have been a Bb trumpeter for 10 years now,but I am thinking about switching to the Eb trumpet after my secondary school education.

I was wondering if anyone could explain to mean what are the differences of a Eb trumpet and a Bb horn.I don't really get the whole key thing,as in which key the horn is in.

And what about the the genres?What kind o music is it mostly made for?



Thanks

wiseone2

Why do you want to switch?
Wilmer

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BlackWhite

Frankly,I just got bored when I learned about so many times of trumpets out there.I used to think there was only 1 trumpet,the Bb.

Doing this self-research just made me feel I should try out different types of trumpets not just just keeping myself to an old Bb horn for the rest of my life.

So far I have tried a cornet and fluegel horn(along with other brass instruments,but not in the trumpet family).
The Eb is one that just mystifies me,I find it a horn that's out of the blue.

I was also eyeing the picc and a quartertone,but those remain quite far for me.

Trums in Cs just arn't my type.I hate repertoire for them,they have an awkward feel,I always sound super-flat somehow even after intensiv tuning and experimenting with embouchure.

So yeah,well thats sortta about it.

Jimi Michiel

BlackWhite-

Most trumpeters have a main instrument, either trumpet, cornet, flugel in Bb or C. Higher trumpets like Eb, D, F, G, and picc are more axillary instruments. I've never known of a trumpet player only playing one of the higher instruments, although William Vacchiano played a lot of D trumpet at the end of his career.

Actually, now that I think about it, are there trumpeters in the brass band world who only play Eb?

-Jimi

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rowuk

The Eb horn is shorter and does not sound as full. You have to learn a new set of fingerings unless you get somebody to rewrite the music and you lose some low notes.
I don't think you really want an Eb trumpet. It plays like a C trumpet only even more intensive.
The repertory for Bb and C are the same, the size and position of the valves are the same and if you sound super flat, it is not the hardware.
Try a flugelhorn, you don't have to learn anything new and it sounds really cool.

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EdMann

I understand that Malcolm McNab plays his Eb now far more than his other keyed horns. This comes from a darn reliable source.

Ed Mann
MySpace.com - Ed - 51 - Male - LA, California - www.myspace.com/jazzlips

randallged

I bought an Eb horn because I liked the sound it produced. It has a light, sweet tone, (as long as you don't overblow), that is perfect for playing along with female vocalists, acoustic guitars, etc. Transposing (re-writing) music is not difficult... just time consuming. It seems like you should try one and see if it fits your needs or lights your lamp. It's really a personal preference issue in my opinion.

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Randy

- King "Super 20" (S1 - circa 1947)
- Yamaha Eb/D (YTR6610S)
- D.E.G Signature flugel (Made by Willson)
- Buescher "400" tenor sax (My only vice...)

Jimi Michiel

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BradHarrison

You need the right tool for the job. Trumpets aren't that different.

You say you want an Eb trumpet because you're bored of Bb. That's somewhat akin to saying you're going to buy a microwave because you're tired of cooking on a conventional oven. It's true that both appliances are used to cook food and do many similar things but they're don't really substitute for eachother. They're for different things.

It's a flawed analogy I'll admit, but let's say your Bb trumpet is like your oven. You're going to use your Bb most of the time for playing in wind bands, jazz bands, ska bands, marching bands, and a vast repertoire of solo material.

Your Eb is like the microwave(or George Foreman Grill). It's good for a lot of things but worse for others. Eb trumpets are commonly used for several trumpet concertos(Haydn, Hummel, Neruda), some orchestral excerpts, and specifically written parts in brass choirs or brass quintet. I'll occasionally use my Eb for a few bars when I'm playing in a brass choir or quintet if it'll be easier to play on that instrument. But it's a specialty instrument, not a primary instrument. It doesn't replace your Bb, it augments your trumpet collection.

You asked about how the difference in keys works. On a Bb trumpet, the open low note is a Bb on the piano. But, when we write out music for a Bb trumpet we write that note as a C. So, the Bb trumpet must transpose one full tone above concert pitch. If you were asked to play a concert Eb major scale on the Bb trumpet, you would play an F major scale.

On a Eb trumpet, the open low note is a Eb on the piano. But, when we write out music for a Eb trumpet we still write that note as a C. So, the Eb trumpet must transpose a minor third below concert pitch. If you were asked to play a concert Eb major scale on the Eb trumpet, you would play a C major scale(but it would SOUND like an Eb scale, according to the piano).

It's a little like going up or down steps on a ladder. On a higher step(a higher trumpet) it's going to be easier to reach those higher shelves but you may not be able to reach the shelves that are now further below you.

Finally, to answer your next question...playing a higher trumpet doesn't increase your range much at all. Even if your fingers are playing in a lower key, your lips are still vibrating at the same frequency requireing about the same amount of effort to do it.

Sorry for the massive post. I hope it helps though.

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BlackWhite

Erm,well firstly,thanks to all those who contributed.

Yup,Im sure that the Eb is not going to be my primary horn,I just wanted to try it out.

Special thanks to Brad for explaiing the difference in key.

Well,I was also looking for forward to know more about the tone and texture of the Eb horn.

And what I actually meant my C repertoire was mroe of orchestral while Bb mostly includes pop and other non-orchestral music too,so yeah.

I tried a fluegel before.In fact I played it more than my trumpet in one of my Jazz themed concerts.

Oh,and dont get me wrong here,I don't want to switch for good to the Eb,I just wanted to make it my main horn for the next couple of years just for experimental purposes,while still continuing on the others.

Anyways,thanks for the info.