misty.sj

I never played trumpet past high school. When I was in college playing French horn, we had to transpose viola parts, and walk uphill barefoot in the snow to school. (haha) I never understood why the trumpeters had like 4 - 5 instruments that they lugged around with them all the time! So please explain:

1. Cornet - I think this sounds like a trumpet but mellow-er, right? Or is that flugelhorn, a la Chuck Mangione?

2. C Trumpet - This one totally confuses me. What is that 2-step transposition going to get you?? Is this so you can play flute parts without transposing? :) Or is there some harmonic reason?

3. Piccolo vs Pocket Trumpet - OK as far as I can tell, a pocket trumpet looks almost like a normal trumpet, only compressed. A piccolo trumpet is 'mini.' I tried playing one once and could not get a sound out, even after having played French horn. I've never played or really been near a 'pocket trumpet'.

So please tell me what all these different horns are about! Oh, and what is the 4th valve on the 4-valve trumpets? Is this like the Bb key on a F/Bf horn?

That's all the stupid questions (for now!) :)

bagmangood

1. I can't help you, I've never played a cornet

2. C-trumpets allow for the top of the staff to be a little easier, they have a different (to me brighter). Also, most american orchestras seem to prefer it (someone should give a better answer for this)

3. Pocket trumpet is just that, a smaller trumpet with a tighter wrap. A piccolo trumpet i 1/2 the length of a normal trumpet and helps with the upper register (Maurice Andre is the first person that comes to mind). Going there from french horn is in the opposite direction of piccolo, except possibly bore size.

4. 4th valve allows for alternate fingering to help with intonnation (i guess that's like french horn) and also can allow for playing lower (such as for piccolo trumpets)

hope that helps

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Bach C180-239 w/ Akwright tuning bell conversion
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misty.sj

I'm so skeptical. I can't believe it makes so much difference, even with the upper range. I guess I have to take your word for it though!

That's kind of what I thought. Except that horn takes a lot more back-pressure than trumpet, from my memory of playing both. So I would have thought the back-pressure would help with the piccolo trumpet, but I remember feeling that V-thing maneuver that supposedly kills people (referenceing an earlier thread) and like I was going to explode my head, when trying to get a sound!

Yep, that's the mean reason for having a 'double' horn, for those alternate fingerings. Some of the harmonic sequences are more stable, especially in the extreme low and high ranges. We never actually played the horns as though the were B-flat horns. I wonder if it's just a device to increase risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (because of the weight) and increase cost! Hehe :)

So can you actually hit high notes on the piccolo trumpet that you would never be able to reach on the full-sized one? Can you get as low as a standard trumpet? Do you get problems with the cappilaries in your eyes bursting? LOL

bagmangood

The primary interest in the C-trumpet I think is the ease in transposition (marginal, but its there) and its tone. I personally prefer my C to my Bb

Piccolo takes some getting used to, but once you do, I don't think the back-pressure is bad (you're probably overblowing, because its a very different horn) The range doesn't go as low as a "normal" trumpet but the upper register is easier. Generally not additional range, but its easier.

(And i've only ever had problems with my eyes while playing a Bb

__________________
Bach 180S-37
Bach C180-239 w/ Akwright tuning bell conversion
Monette B2S3&C2S3, Bach 7DW

rowuk

The cornet AND flugelhorn are members of the horn family with conical bores. They do sound mellower.

The higher pitched trumpets were designed to increase the security of playing, especially in symphonic settings. Transposition is generally no issue for a symphonic trumpet player regardless of pitch of instrument. The sound of the C is more liquid/creamy than a similar Bb

The pocket trumpet is the same length as a normal trumpet, it is just wound tighter to make it more "portable". The piccolo trumpet is half the length of a standard trumpet and sounds an octave higher

The 4th valve is just a 4th lower (like pressing the first and third valves). It is not like the french horns switch to a completely different pitched set of slides.

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Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

misty.sj

Wait, don't you have to transpose all the repertoire written for Bb trumpet?! I would think you'd be transposing more often, rather than less. And man oh man, I so hated transposing. You have to do it a lot with French horn. I never understood whose brilliant idea it was to make an Eb horn either. Just to make my life harder.

misty.sj

Thanks rowuk!

walldaja

Good questions!

Cornets typically are a little darker sounding and more flexible--listen or look at the Clarke studies.

C trumpets seem to have a more delicate sound than a Bb. They also provide the ability to read off piano music without transposing. Being a shorter horn, they seem to slot better too.

Big difference between a pocket trumpet and a pic. First is the octave (pic is higher). The pic is often used to achieve a Baroque sound. A pocket trumpet is more of a gimick than a main line instrument. Most are quite out of tune. Don't presume a pic will give you the capability to play higher--generally you get pretty much the same range of actual notes from a Bb or a pic. They definately are a new skill to acquire.

The forth valve allows you to extend the range of the instrument, the fourth valve is essentially the same as using 1 & 3. I've never been able to convince my little finger to work independent of the third valve finger so I subscribe to the practice of using the first finger of my left hand.

bigtiny

One other characteristic of the cornet, as opposed to the flugel and the trumpet is that, along with its darker tone quality it can be a bit 'punchier'. Another thing I've noticed is that when I'm playing totally out, improvised stuff, if I want to play something really weird like an extremely convoluted line that's fast with huge interval jumps, the cornet seems to be a bit more facile than the Bb for this. I just don't have to work as hard to play this sort of thing accurately.

bigtiny

Eeviac

I have a trumpet and a cornet. I'm also a total newb. I pick up one or the other on a whim each day, frankly. The cornet sounds more mellow, and seems to be more flexible, I can bend notes more. It has a bit more back pressure.

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Conn Pan Am made in 1950 silver + Bach 7C
King American Standard cornet made in 1940 + Olds 3C
Striving for a Touchy Tone, rather than obnoquious