FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Transpose Sheet Music

Question:
Same story you've heard before--I haven't touched a horn in 30 years, since my grade-school cornet lessons. Now I am toying with the idea of trying it again. I have a few questions, if anyone can help. I only recently found out the difference between concert pitch and music written for a B-flat trumpet or cornet. If I have this right, a middle C written on piano music and played on a piano is actually a middle C (440 HZ?), but a middle C written on B-flat trumpet music and played on a trumpet is actually a B-flat. This is one of those things that either I wasn't taught or I didn't learn. It certainly explains why things never sounded quite right when, as a kid, I tried to play Christmas carols to accompany my sister's piano playing, using her sheet music. I also found out that there are now (and maybe were then) C trumpets (and cornets?) built for the key of C. My understanding is that I can use normal sheet music with this trumpet and play a C when I see a C on regular sheet music and the horn will produce a C. Now the questions. Do I have the above explanation of B-flat and C trumpets correct? Should I (re-)learn to play the traditional B-flat instrument and specifically buy trumpet sheet music for any songs I want to play? Should I (re-)learn to play the traditional B-flat instrument and learn to transpose so I can play from regular sheet music and my wife's piano music? If so, how hard is it to learn to transpose? (It sounds like something for an advanced player, not a beginner.) Should I get a C trumpet and merrily go along playing off of the piano sheet music? I was always told that a cornet was easier to play than a trumpet. Is this true? What considerations should go into the decision of which one to play? I also have seen postings about the pressure-free method. Where is a good source to learn more about this? It sounds interesting. (Is it

Answer:
Yes, basically. Though you should know that the C trumpet has a different sound and feel when compared with a Bb. You can learn it, it just takes practice. I recommend it heartily. Of course, if you're picking up the trumpet cold after 30 years, you may want to concentrate on other aspects of your playing, but that's up to you. If you have a good mastery of your scales, I think you can learn to transpose pretty fast, especially if you have pieces of music you're already familiar with. I'll defer to others on this question, but quickly -- cornet provides more resistance, and has a different sound than a trumpet by virtue of its construction. I don't play cornet myself. See Pops' books at http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/2429/ See Clyde Hunts' books at http://www.bflatmusic.com There are other sources, but these two folks frequent this newsgroup. In short, you learn to use less pressure -- as little as you can. It's very efficient, but requires some unlearning of bad habits.