Names of trumpet notes preference.

[Trumpetown]

How do you prefer to name the notes?

Option 1:
Low F#
Low G,
Low B, etc
Middle C
Middle E
Middle G, etc
Upper C? (What is the term here? Upper? Staff?)
Upper E?
High G
High A
High B
High C
Double E
Double G
Double B
Double C
Triple E
Triple G
Triple C

Option 2:
Low F#
Low G,
Low B, etc
Middle C
Middle E
Middle G, etc
Upper C? (Again, what is the term here?)
Upper E?
Upper G?
Upper A?
Upper B?
High C
High E
High G
Double C
Double E
Double G
Triple C

I understand that this stuff isn't set in stone anywhere and that it's all whatever you want. But I'm just wondering which one you prefer.

To me, you don't hit a high G until you hit a high C. But some people say that because there's a G on top of the staff that it's a high G.
_________________
Conn SS1

[Goby]

I'd designate the bottom octave of the horn as the "low" section. Low F#, Low C, low D, etc.

Notes in the treble clef staff are designated as "middle", i.e. middle C, middle G, etc.

Notes higher than middle C I'd just refer to as "at the top of the staff", i.e. F on top of the staff.

Also notes below high C are "above the staff" i.e. "A above the staff"

Notes above high C are "high", like high C, high D, etc.

high G can also be called double G, and notes above that are "double" as well.

Anything higher can simply be referred to as "above double C"

[Trumpetown]

[Goby]

Well, it's right in the middle of the trumpet register. Theres a C below it, and a C above it. Double C doesn't really count since so few people play up there.

[khedger]

When I'm trying to convey information about trumpet notes I tend to do the following:
- I'll refer to notes that fall below the staff like "F# below the staff"
- similarly, notes in the staff like "Bb in (or on) the staff"
- then "high A or C"
- then "F above high C" or "double F"

I don't think this is anything official, but it seems to be an effective way to talk about the notes, at least it's always worked well for me.

keith

[JoseLindE4]

The recently departed Jon Ruff has a nice video about naming conventions that has informed how I communicate. I name notes in relation to their placement relative to the staff (x below the staff, first space f, second line g, a above the staff) or high C (b below high c, f about high C) and double C (b below double c, f above double c). It’s clear and always easily understandable.

There are many standard conventions, but they often conflict — see the scientific pitch notation that is often taught in beginning college theory classes and the various versions of what number is assigned to piano middle c. The theory textbook says middle C is C4, but some DAWs will say C3 or C5. The Helmholtz convention is clear enough (c’ for middle c), but it isn’t widely used in America.

Trumpet players use all sorts of terms for notes, particularly above high C, so the easiest way for me is to use language that everyone will get. As Jon says in his video, “you don’t have to be right, you just have to not be wrong.”

[Trumpetown]

[Trumpetown]

[Trumpetown]

[JoseLindE4]

I avoid referring to double G. It’s either G above high C or G about double high C depending on which note I’m referring to. The point is to avoid the confusion of what’s a double and just get to the sounds.

High or double are pretty unlikely to be referring to G above double C. If someone else says high G or double G, I assume they’re referring to the G above high C.

[wohlrab]

"Low"
F# under the staff to D

"At the bottom of the staff"
Eb to F#

"In the staff"
G to C#

"At the top of the staff"
D to F#

"High"
G to F#

"Double"
G to G

"Triple"
Who cares

I've never had an issue playing with pros who didn't know what I was talking about as soon as I said it

[kehaulani]

Does anybody know what a Double High C is? Work backwards.
One octave down is High C.
The next octave down (in the staff) is Middle C.
The note one octave lower (below the staff) is Low C.

The other notes are in relation to that, beginning with the trumpet's natural lowest note, Gb below low C, and up.

This has been gone over ad nauseum, usually with the same results.

That system is within the trumpet's range/notation. If you are talking to a group of mixed instruments, use the Grans Staff.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
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[Trumpetown]

[wilder]

[kehaulani]