Bear

Ok,
So crazy Tim decides he wants to get out and expeirence the DCI world. I'm too old to do a regular corps so I'm doin' one of these senoir corps deals. The folxs seem to be really kewl and laid back. I'll be playing lead and they say they use 3 valve g-bugles. I have never played on one of these so I was hoping someone out there in Trumpetmaster world could give me a headsup on it so I don't embarass myself. Mainly there are three things I need to know:

1. Key of G: I'll still read third space C as a third space C right? Will that C still sound as a C or as something else?

2. Blow: Some have said it's eaiser to play lead stuff on. What exactly do they mean?

3. Intonation: Are there any tuning issues with the horn I ought to be aware of?

I have tried to find specs and stuff on the net about them but I guess I'm not as computer savvy as I envisioned. Anyways, any help out there would be appreciated. Along with anything else I should be aware of. Thank you.

MUSICandCHARACTER

If my back could take it I would do a senior corps. DCA sounds like a lot of fun. Which corps?

When you play a Bb trumpet, when you are playing C (written) you are making the tone Bb concert. It is a transposing instrument. So is the G bugle. You will get used to it fairly quickly. Besides, you have to memorize the music.

G bugles also have a larger percentage of conical tubing as opposed to cylindrical tubing. This allows the horns to be played much louder without sounding strained. In other words, G bugles are designed to be played outdoors and project in a way that most brass instruments cannot match. And the horn is very hard to overblow. Not only that, but you get to do it while marching your butt off!

The G horns slot differently, and therefore you have to work from an embouchure standpoint to keep it in tune. It is a great challenge, but man, those horns can make some great sounds

Here is a pic of a G bugle:



It should be great fun.

Jim