How to Play the B Flat Scale on a Trumpet

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Last Updated: December 10, 2024

Scales are vitally important when practising a trumpet, or any instrument. They help in a number of ways, such as improving pitch and key. The B flat scale is quite a simple scale to play, and it consists of only two flats (E and B).

Steps

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The first note of the B flat scale is B flat. B flat is played by pressing down the first valve (the one closest to the mouthpiece). Buzz as low a note as possible while holding down the first valve. It is highly unlikely you will be too low, as low B flat is the lowest note playable on a trumpet with only the first valve.
Low C is a simple note and probably the easiest note to play on a trumpet. Low C is played open (meaning with no valves down), and is the lowest note you can play without valves.

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D should be higher than C, but not by much, as you should be blowing the same speed of air. If played too low, it can sound like low G, but if played too high can sound like middle G.
E flat is only a semitone higher than D, so although it should sound a bit sharper, it shouldn't sound drastically different.
F shouldn't sound like low B, it should be higher but not too high, or it will sound like high B flat.
Like C, G is played open, only it should be a bit higher. If you struggle playing G open, you can put down the first and third valves, but the struggle with that is that it will usually sound like low D instead, or if played too high, B natural. It might also sound a bit off-key if played with first and third valves.
Middle A should sound lower than high C#, but not low enough to be E natural, it should a bit higher than G, but not too much.
It is the highest note in the scale and should sound like a high version of the first note. Don't play it too high or it will be high D, or even high F. When playing, compare it to low B flat to make sure you have the right note. The notes should sound similar, but the second one is significantly higher (a full octave).
Playing scales down (highest to lowest) is just as important as playing them up (lowest to highest). It can sometimes be harder as you probably don't know your alphabet backwards.
Nobody will get good at something in just one day, the more you practice, the easier it will become. Get help from an instructor if you can.

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Is the music for a C trumpet the same as for a B flat trumpet?

Ruby

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The sheet music will be the same, but both the instruments will be in a different key. A C on a B flat trumpet is the same as a B flat on a C trumpet.

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Tips

The arpeggio for this scale is B flat, D, F and high B flat. These are the notes of the B flat chord deconstructed (one after the other), as you can only play one note at a time on a trumpet.

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These steps apply to most brass instruments with valves, such as the cornet, or B flat baritone or euphonium, as well as the trumpet.

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Playing a scale can help with playing pieces of music in that key.

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Warnings

Don't hit the mouthpiece, or it could get stuck in your trumpet.

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If your valves get stuck, look up how to oil them, or get someone with experience with the trumpet to help you oil, otherwise you could end up breaking the trumpet.

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