Which keys are compatible with trumpets and saxophones?

[GianGian]

Just curious.
I know about just intonation, equal temperament, etc...
I know that trumpets, saxophones, clarinets and the likes work only on certain keys, usually flats keys.
So, for those of you whom are used to play along with this kind of instruments, on which keys are they "playable"?
I am specially interested in the trumpet, since there is no "Bb trumpet" or "Eb trumpet". At least not that I know of.

[TheBasicBassist]

Those instruments can play in any key, just like any other instrument. It's just a matter of which keys they like to play in, eg: we bassists don't like C#/Cb major, ect..
It's more a matter of transposition not compatible keys.

[GianGian]

Really?
I have always heard that these instruments are so out of tune(I mean intonation issues) in some keys that they are virtually useless in these keys. Did I get it wrong?

[standupright]

Originally Posted by GianGian

Really?
I have always heard that these instruments are so out of tune(I mean intonation issues) in some keys that they are virtually useless in these keys. Did I get it wrong?

yeah....it's more of an issue of positions and comfort zone when playing. having to jump all over the instrument is a pain. has nothing to do with intonation / tuning.

[JFN]

Yes, although some players may have such poor intonation that they are not functional in all but the easiest keys for their horn.

[The Lowe Down]

As the previous post stated horns can play in any key, but generally they are used to playing in the flat keys. B flat, E flat, A flat, F and C are probably the most common. On the brass instruments this is due to the natural key of the horn with the valves all open or the slide all the way in. Technically they can play in any key, but the key of B natural is a killer to solo in versus B flat for most traditional horns. Bone is my native instrument and I played some trumpet before picking up the bass.

There are oodles of different horns tuned to different keys but I assume you are speaking of common horns you see a la James Brown and Tower of Power.

[warnergt]

Bb is a very common key for music with a brass section.
Trumpets and other horns are often pitched in Bb. They are not played
in "concert pitch." That is, when they play a C in music written for
the trumpet, it sounds like a Bb to other musicians playing instruments
that use concert pitch (e.g. bass, guitar, piano).

Google for "transposing instruments" or check the wikipedia entry for trumpets.

[Staccato]

Originally Posted by warnergt

...Trumpets and other horns are often pitched in Bb...

So, there are lots of Bb instruments-the standard trumpet is Bb, as are most modern cornets, clarinets and others!

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

So, there are lots of Bb instruments-the standard trumpet is Bb, as are most modern cornets, clarinets and others!

....and the Soprano Cornet, Tenor Horn and Eb Bass are in Eb...

[thinears]

I will say as a sax player I feel comfortable in any key. The nice thing about using all keys instead of buzzing pitches I guess.

[lbwdog]

Basses, guitars and keyboards are pitched in "C" concert. Trumpet, tenor sax, and clarinet are "Bb" instruments. That means when we play in the key of "C", those horns must play one pitch up which is their "D". If we play in "Bb", they're playing in their "C". So a lot of older music is written in either "C", or flat keys such as "F", "Bb", "Eb", or "Ab". That would put those horns in "G", "C", "F", or "Bb" respectively. It has nothing to do with intonation but a lot to do with ease of fingering, especially on tenor sax or clarinet.

That's why you hear a big groan from a sax player when we play in "E" concert. They are playing it in "F#" which is a much more difficult fingering for them.

A good sax or trumpet player is used to it though, and can play well in any key.

[lbwdog]

BTW, the most common "Eb" instuments are baritone & alto sax, and alto clarinet, which are pitched a fourth up (or a fifth down) from their "Bb" counterparts.

[M0ses]

I'm a trumpet player and I play in any key confidently. I have played in some musicals where the composer just gets really overboard and calls for 7 or 8 sharps or flats, and although it's very difficult because of all the crazy fingerings, it's entirely possible. We just b*tch about it non stop, because he could have written the stupid thing in an enharmonic key and saved us buttloads of trouble.

I much prefer to play on my C trumpet. Although the intonation is harder to do on a C, I like not having to transpose. I assure you that either a Bb or C trumpet, in good hands, will play just as in tune as anything.

[rmkesler]

All of them.

[Jefenator]

My longtime sax buddy groans at the "guitar" keys (E, A, D, G). Not so much because he can't play in them - any good horn player should be able to - more because of the "vibe" that comes when the whole group is pandering to a guitar.

If you do much Jazz you will become very familiar with the "horn" keys (F, Bb, Eb, Ab). The "guitar" keys feel alien to me now, even though I'm playing one, technically.

I was taught a real pro should be able to do just about anything in any key. But I do notice that most of the great composers don't seem to stray too far from the comfortable keys unless there's a good aesthetic reason.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

That's why you hear a big groan from a sax player when we play in "E" concert. They are playing it in "F#" which is a much more difficult fingering for them.

This is true for soprano and tenor saxes. Alto or bari saxes would be in C#/Db.

[I<34080]

Concert C is always good.

[bbocaner]

If you are talking about baroque trumpet, then stay in D. A decent player of modern trumpet, or sax, should be able to play equally well and in tune in any key, but it's certainly easier the closer you stay to perhaps F major. Bb, Eb, C, G for instance. Certainly it has a little to do with the design of the instruments and which keys have awkward fingerings, but it's really more about which keys they are accustomed to playing in.

[GianGian]

I get it. Thank you all.

[Bruce Lindfield]

A lot of horn players I have met, don't like sharp keys and prefer to play in flat keys - but the best pros always say that you should be able to play anything in any key!