Subscribe RSSWhat is the difference between an Eb trumpet and a Bb trumpet?
Q: Ive got an old trumpet made by grand rapids instrument co. ive been told by one of my freinds this is an Eb trumpet.
A: Trumpeters have an unprecedented array of instruments that enable them to meet today's exacting performance demands. In fact, trumpets are now found pitched in the keys of every scale note of a full octave above the traditional Bb instrument. These fall into two basic categories: Bb and C trumpets for general use, and higher trumpets pitched in D, Eb, E, F, G, piccolo BC/A, and C for orchestral and solo literature demanding a high tessitura.
While a strong player might possibly be able to sustain the high range called for in Bach's B Minor Mass on a Eb trumpet, that part of the harmonic series where the partials fall fairly close together would be used. By changing to a piccolo trumpet in A, the same notes may be played lower on the harmonic series where the partials are more widely separated. This facilitates the "picking out" of entrance notes and improves accuracy. Also, the undue effort required to maintain the high tessitura on the larger instrument would prove severely fatiguing. A smaller, lighter trumpet brings such parts more under the player's control.
Aside from the question of accuracy, the larger tone of the Bb, while well suited to the works of later composers, would be unsuitable for the light balances required in Bach's orchestration. The basic idea is to provide the trumpeter with a set of specialized instruments to enable him to adapt more readily to the diverse repertoire performed by today's orchestras.
In bands, the Bb remains the primary instrument due to its fuller timbre and greater ability to blend within an ensemble of wind instruments. The literature for band is almost entirely written for the Bb instrument and would have to be transposed if C trumpets were used. Another area in which the C trumpet has failed to gain a foothold is in the jazz and studio fields. The C trumpet's timbre and playing characteristics do not seem to be particularly adaptable to the musical requirements of jazz performers.
Eb trumpets are used today primarily in the performance of the Haydn and Hummel concertos, and occasionally for orchestral passages. This raises an additional aspect of the use of high trumpets which is unrelated to playing register: some passages lie better on one instrument than another. For example, the above concertos can be played fluently on the Bb; however, they are more oriented to the Eb which places the player in the key of C. Many trumpeters feel that this facilitates fingering (especially on trills) and accuracy. Others find that the use of an Eb trumpet creates a new set of problems, particularly intonation and tone quality, and prefer to remain with the Bb. There have been equally fine performances using either instrument.
