Play a Scale on Trumpet, Cornet, or Flugelhorn
Playing a C Major, or Concert B flat Scale on a Brass Instrument
Dec 9, 2008
If a brass player has purchased a new or used trumpet, cornet, or flugelhorn, and has learned to hold the instrument and make a sound, they’re ready to learn their first scale.
Many brass players start by learning the C major scale. But since most trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns are B flat instruments, the first note of the scale is actually a B flat. This won’t be an issue until players try to harmonize with instruments pitched in the key of C such as flutes. For this reason, in time, most brass players become fairly adept at transposing on the spot.
Using Valve Positions to Finger a Trumpet, Cornet, or Flugelhorn
As brass players learned from the article on how to hold and play their new instrument, the first valve is the one nearest the mouthpiece, and the third is the one nearest the bell. The right pointer, middle, and ring fingers rest on the first, second, and third valves respectively.
There are seven finger positions used to play the trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn. These fingerings, in combination with the embouchures used to produce low, middle, and high pitches, can achieve any note of the octave.
- Valve position 1- No valves are pressed
- Valve position 2- Second valve is pressed
- Valve position 3- First valve is pressed
- Valve position 4- First and second valves are pressed
- Valve position 5- Second and third valves are pressed
- Valve position 6- First and third valves are pressed
- Valve position 7- All valves are pressed
Play a C Major Scale on the Trumpet, Cornet, or Flugelhorn
Musicians can play a C major scale on the trumpet by starting with their lowest embouchure and valve position 1, or all valves open.
Notes in a C Major Scale
- C - The first note of the scale is played with the lowest embouchure and all valves open
- D - Use valve position six (first and third valves pressed) and the lowest embouchure.
- E - Use valve position 4 (first and second valves pressed) and lowest embouchure.
- F - Use valve position 3 (first valve pressed) and the lowest embouchure
- G - Use valve position 1 (no valves are pressed) and middle embouchure.
- A - Use valve position 4 (first and second valves pressed) and middle embouchure.
- B - Use valve position 2 (second valve is pressed) and highest embouchure
- C - Use valve position 1 (no valves are pressed) and highest embouchure
Play a Chromatic Scale on the Trumpet, Cornet, or Flugelhorn
Once musicians have mastered running up and down the C major scale, they’re ready to tackle some songs. To start this, they may need a few notes outside the seven previously mentioned in the diatonic scale sung as “Doe, ray, me, etc.” A scale including every pitch from the first note in an octave to the same note of a higher pitch is called a chromatic scale.
Fingering a chromatic scale on the trumpet, cornet, or flugelhorn can be accomplished by using valve positions 1, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Play a chromatic scale to use all of your valve positions. Start at low C and play up every half-step to middle C. The notes are C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B and C. You will start in an open position, or valve position 1, then move up the scale. The valve positions for a chromatic scale are as follows: 1, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Now brass players are well on their way to stashing a few songs in their repertoire. With further practice, they can expect improved tone and fingering dexterity. And in time, they’ll want to add more scales to make playing with other instruments easier.
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