What is the difference a B-flat trumpet and a C trumpet?

Question

I want to be in a Drum and Bugle corps like my family members were. I am trying out for the the Citations in Burlington MA. , and they use a B-flat trumpet and I play a C. What is the difference between the two? Are the fingerings different for the notes? Will the B-flat be Higher or Lower. Will it be more difficult to play? Any answers would be cool.

Answer 1

One is a half step higher - that can make a HUGE difference in tone.

Try playing a C scale on a piano and a B flat scale one after another and you'll hear the difference.

Answer 2

The C trumpet is a half step higher the Bb trumpet.

Answer 3

The difference between a B-flat and C trumpet is the pitch of the tone with the C being somewhat higher than the B-flat.

The fingerings are the same for each and you might not even notice any difference as you play either one.

I played an E-flat cornet in a brass band (which is much smaller than the B-flat cornet and much harder to play, but the fingerings were the same).

Good luck on your auditions.

Answer 4

They are different notes.

The B flat will have a B Flat sound and the C will have a C. If you're buying one, get the C. It is more universally used.

Answer 5

This is a great website that tells you all about trunmpets.  There are a lot of great types other than B-flat and C.  My fav is a pocket trumpet myself. They're so much fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpet

Answer 6

The B flat is lower.  I think it'd be the same level of difficulty, but I've never had to switch keys with my instrument.

Answer 7

When you play a C scale on your C trumpet, it's the same pitch of if you were playing it on a piano. If you play a C scale on a Bb trumpet, it will sound like a Bb scale on a piano. So, at first, it can be a little bit tricky, as the sound that you expect to go out of the trumpet will be 1 tone lower. It's sure gonna needs some training to get use to that. For the fingering, it's exactly the same thing. In North america, most of the student use Bb trumpets. In Europe, they tend to be on the C side, likely a cultural thing. C Trumpet are only used in symphonic and solo works here, in Canada (same as in USA, i guess)