Band directors name scales in concert pitch, because the whole band has to sound the same note. A B♭ trumpet sounds a major second (two semitones) lower than it reads, so every concert scale is written one whole step higher on your part: concert B♭ is your C major, concert E♭ is your F major, and so on.
01 Concert name to trumpet scale, at a glance
The first three
Concert B♭ → written C. Concert E♭ → written F. Concert F → written G.
The flat keys
Concert A♭ → written B♭. Concert D♭ → written E♭.
The sharp keys
Concert C → written D. Concert G → written A.
One whole step up
For any other key, raise the concert name by two semitones to find the written scale.
02 Seven band scales with written notes and valves
One comfortable octave each, up. Play them back down the same way. “0” means open; “1-3” means first and third valves together. Always check the range and octave your director actually asks for.
| Written | C4 | D4 | E4 | F4 | G4 | A4 | B4 | C5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 0 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 1-2 | 2 | 0 |
| Written | F4 | G4 | A4 | B♭4 | C5 | D5 | E5 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 1 | 0 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Written | G3 | A3 | B3 | C4 | D4 | E4 | F♯4 | G4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 0 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 0 |
| Written | B♭3 | C4 | D4 | E♭4 | F4 | G4 | A4 | B♭4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 1 | 0 | 1-3 | 2-3 | 1 | 0 | 1-2 | 1 |
| Written | E♭4 | F4 | G4 | A♭4 | B♭4 | C5 | D5 | E♭5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 2-3 | 1 | 0 | 2-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Written | D4 | E4 | F♯4 | G4 | A4 | B4 | C♯5 | D5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 0 | 1-2 | 2 | 1-2 | 1 |
| Written | A3 | B3 | C♯4 | D4 | E4 | F♯4 | G♯4 | A4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valves | 1-2 | 2 | 1-2-3 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2 | 2-3 | 1-2 |
03 Fingerings that need a tuning habit
- 1-3 and 1-2-3 (low D, low C♯, low G) tend to sound sharp: extend the third-valve slide a little on those notes. The trumpet tuning table lists every note that leans.
- Same valves, different notes. Open is C4, G4, C5 and E5; the partial you aim for decides which one speaks. Hear the note before you play it.
- Enharmonics. E♭ and D♯ use the same valves: 2-3 for E♭4 on the bottom line of the staff, 2 for E♭5 in the top space. The key signature decides which name is printed.
04 A ten-minute scale block
- Pick one scale. Hear the first note, then play it slowly at a steady pulse.
- Rest as long as you played.
- Play it again, tonguing each note lightly. Stop if the top note starts to force.
- Finish with one slow chromatic octave, then put the horn away.
Related reading
Questions
What is concert B♭ on trumpet?
Concert B♭ is written C on a B♭ trumpet. The trumpet sounds a whole step lower than written, so the C major scale on your part sounds as the band's B♭ scale.
How do I find any concert scale for B♭ trumpet?
Raise the concert name by a whole step (two semitones): concert E♭ becomes written F, concert F becomes G, concert A♭ becomes B♭ and concert D♭ becomes E♭.
Why do low D and low C♯ sound sharp?
The 1-3 and 1-2-3 valve combinations are naturally sharp on most trumpets. Extend the third-valve slide slightly on those notes and check with a tuner.