Music Composition DUMmIES

sound a true C in concert pitch, he has to write the part out on the trumpet

player’s sheet music as D. This is true for all B flat transposing instruments.

Just remember to write one whole tone higher than you want to hear. But for

easy reference, have a look at the following table:

To hear Write

CD

C#/D% D#/E%

DE

D#/E% F

EF#/G%

FG

F#/G% G#/A%

GA

G#/A% A#/B%

AB

A#/B% C

BC#/D%

The practical, comfortable range for most B flat trumpet players to perform

within is between the B flat below middle C and the D two octaves above

middle C, as seen in Figure 14-1.

As you can see in Figure 14-1, there are certainly other notes that are available

for the B flat trumpet player to use both above and below the most effective

range, but unless you’re very familiar with the capabilities of the performers

you’re going to use to play your compositions, for the majority of trumpet

players out there it’s best to try to stick within the effective range. The writ-

ten range for B flat trumpet is F#3 to E6.

&

w

Bb trumpet

concert range

w wb nX

w

nX #X w w

w

Most effective range

First trumpet only

very low Practical range

Figure 14-1:
The B flat
trumpet
range,
transposed
to concert
pitch.

Chapter 15: Composing for the Nonstandard Orchestra ..........................................