Going from a B flat trumpet to a C trumpet.

Bach 1 1/2C Man · Regular Member Joined: 17 Jun 2002 Posts: 37

How do you play a C trumpet the fingering is the same but how do you transpose music.

SHS_Trumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 3:45 pm Post subject:

Every thing is Transposed down a whole step (two half steps) from Bb.

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Andrew Fowler

"90% of trumpet music is below high C"

[ This Message was edited by: SHS_Trumpet on 2002-07-16 20:19 ]

vivace · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 3:53 pm Post subject:

a lot easier than transposing to A.. lucky for me i have a Bb/A cornet!!

F is a toughie too!
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"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song." - Louis Armstrong

SHS_Trumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 4:19 pm Post subject:

Same here mat

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Andrew Fowler
MYNWA
"90% of trumpet music is below high C"

screamertrumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 4:50 pm Post subject:

Sorry to get off topic,
I actually think F is the easiest, Add a sharp and take it up 5 notes (to the second line of space). Nothing is easier, I think, than C and Ab, too. I usually play D trumpet things on my C and Eb things on my Bb (just works out best, I think). A can get pretty tough sometimes when your key sig is totally wacky (like when the A part is in the key of G). The worst one, EVER, is E. IT IS AWFUL. I shudder just thinking about it. The Hummel in E on a Bb? ewwwww (even though it is just like B tranposition off the Eb part).

Actually, if you have a Bb part and are playing it on a C trumpet, you'll need to take the music DOWN a whole step (and add two flats if it helps). If you have a D part, you take it UP a whole step (and add 2 sharps if it helps). To play and Eb part on the C, you'll need to take it up a MINOR THIRD, or 1.5 whole steps and add 3 flats (which is why it's easier to play on the Bb with only 1 flat and taking it up a perfect fourth). To play an F trumpet part, take it UP a fourth (four notes) and add one flat which is also why I play it on the Bb, too because of the line-line, space-space, thing).

I frequently play, as what I like to call "The Big-Wee Beastie" aka "The C Trumpet", at church performances.

Trust me, practice maybe one-half hour a day of transposing for a whole year, and you'll be a monster at transposing (pretty much worthy of any excerpt

). It helps not to miss too many days, too.

Have fun...

Trevor

SHS_Trumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 5:18 pm Post subject:

You caught me, I goofed oops.
_________________
Andrew Fowler
MYNWA
"90% of trumpet music is below high C"

Nicholas Dyson · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 5:32 pm Post subject:

E and Eb ain't so bad, it's just a matter of perspective!

To make it a little easier try playing an E or Eb on C trumpet as written, just read it as if it were bass clef instead. Add the appropriate # of # or b's and you're golden! No problem! Best of luck.
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Nicholas Dyson
Ottawa, Canada

screamertrumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 8:38 pm Post subject:

Mr. Dyson,

I never thought of that, nor can I read bass clef, I guess I'll learn. I'll played a little bit of piano back in the day (too bad I only used my right hand

)
Good suggestion. E isn't too hard on the c, I just realized; but on the Bb, it gets tough (atleast I think)... Caffarelli, here I come (hehe).

Trevor

screamertrumpet · Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2002 8:50 pm Post subject:

Just a thought.

As a good Ab transposition exercise (I mean a really good one), take out your copy of Goedicke's Concert Etude for Bb trumpet, set the metronome at 140, and PLAY IT ON YOUR C. Hehehehe... Good luck and hang on.

Trevor

B_Starry · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 4:14 am Post subject:

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redface · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 4:30 am Post subject:

Yeah, The bordogni vingt-quatre vocalises is a great book - what makes it great is that you can play it on any trumpet you own and thus double/triple (depending on how many horns you have) the number of exercises.

RockyM · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 11:09 am Post subject:

Nick,

Very good suggestion. Same thing goes for playing a C part on your picc. with the "A" pipe...read as written only in bass clef with the appropriate number of sharps or flats.

For me, an A transposition on my Bb is tough. All you have to do is play everything 1/2 step lower (flat every note), but for some reason it plays with my head, especially when you need to double flat things, etc. depending on the key signature. For me, it's easier to play it on my C trumpet!

Goes to show ya, one man's easy transposition is another man's nightmare

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Always find some time to practice!
Rocky Meredith
Seattle, WA.

Nicholas Dyson · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 12:47 pm Post subject:

Also works for D trumpet parts on Bb picc as well! I found in the course of learning to transpose, it was easier IN MY MIND to read diatonically. This also helps a lot when learning heads and changes to jazz tunes, although I know this is the classical forum. I usually just figure out what scale degree it starts on, and play intervalically from there. Some other good tips on how to apply this can be found in Pat Harbison's (PH) book called Technical Studies for the Modern Trumpet Player. It's a great book, and very inexpensive (notice I didn't say cheap!). I think it's about $12 or so! You can get it at jamey Abersold's sight - http://www.jazzbooks.com

Hope this helps!
_________________
Nicholas Dyson
Ottawa, Canada

vivace · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 2:38 pm Post subject:

the thing to do that makes transposing a breeze is go talk to your great uncle carlton and hit him up for money, and buy a horn in each key!

but in the real world... my teacher is teaching me sight transposition. He does it all with clefs.. alto clef, bass clef, strange weirdo clef i have never heard of. For me, my mind can't think like that.. i see a note on the 2nd line, i think G, but in bass clef that is a B, and in some other cleff it is a C or whatever.

I use intervals.. it is workin ok, but i am still new at all of this.
_________________
"All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing no song." - Louis Armstrong

walter · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 4:26 pm Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: walter on 2002-09-20 09:17 ]

pedaltonekid · Heavyweight Member Joined: 15 Nov 2001 Posts: 1711

Take the note down two 1/2 steps and add 2 flats (or subtract 2 sharps).
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Best Regards, Play Well!!

william1 · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2002 6:05 pm Post subject:

Hmmm.....Good question - how does one go about the beast C transposition - actually - all you do there chief is play up a step (for C) - or down a 1/2 step (for A) or up a major third (for D) or up a fifth (for F) if you are using a B flat trumpet - those are the major transpositions that you will use in orchestra - some E flat (up a fourth) or E ....ouch - up an augmented fourth (get a C trumpet for that one)...Have fun now with you exploits!