 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2002-01-16 14:20
I've always wondered. Why are there so many band instruments that are pitched in Bb/Eb as opposed to C/F? I understand why we would want instruments in different pitches in the first place; that being so players from one instrument can more easily switch to another. But why Bb? I know there are many occasions in orchestral pieces that trumpets are asked to play on an instrument pitched in C, or a clarinet is asked to play on an instrument pitched in A simply because to play those same songs on one pitched in Bb is inconvenient.
So what is the band worlds fascination with the key of Bb? Why not just pitch them all in C/F to standardize it and make it less confusing? Just a thought.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2002-01-17 09:04
Clarinets were originally made in a whole range of pitches: D, C, Bb and A. After a while it was found that the Bb produced the best sound being just "the right size". Not too shrill, easy to keep in tune and so on. This became more popular and the rest died out, although the A was kept for Orchestral music because orchestral players need to be able to play in all 12 keys. Sharp keys are very difficult on a Bb and easy on an A. The A is very close to the Bb so it has a similar tone.
I don't know why other band instruments settled on Bb, but it may be because the clarinets were already in Bb.
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Author: Aaron
Date: 2002-01-17 17:30
Hey there. Thanks Eoin for your response. I figured it had something to do with the tone quality you get on an instrument of one length vs. one of another length. The same is true regarding the birth of the saxophone family if I'm not mistaken. However I'm not sure whether or not it had much to do with the tone quality of those horns as much as it was the influence of the clarinet in band music which you mentioned before.
It's really interesting to think about what it must have been like before pitches were all standardized at a particular frequency, at a time when you could just pick a frequency, call it A, and go from there. More flexible perhaps, but more chaotic also. Anyway just musing. Not sure what this has to do with fingerings so much.
What got me started thinking about this was I was in rehearsal the other day, and I asked this trumpet guy to play a C for me, and out came this lovely Bb, and I was like, no man, a real C. All this concert pitch stuff is really weird to me as an oboe player I guess. A pitch is a pitch is a pitch, and I suppose the intonation between them should define them more than what letter we assign to them.
Anyway, just putting something up people can read in their free time. Have a nice day.
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Author: Jeremy
Date: 2002-01-18 03:26
As far as the saxophone goes, the story behind it's pitch is interesting. Adolphe Sax originally envisioned a whole slew of saxophones. Eventually, the contrabass in Eb, the bass sax in Bb, the baritone sax in Eb, the tenor sax in Bb, the C melody sax in C (duh), the Eb alto sax, the F mezzo-soprano, the Bb and Eb sopranos, and the Eb sopranino were made. Once might assume the different pitched saxophones came as a result of Adolphe Sax originally being a clarinet maker. Or, since sax and flute fingerings are almost identical in the mid-range, he might have decided to make the fingerings identical, or in other words, a G fingering on the sax would be the same as a G fingering on the sax. But, since the sax is of different lengths, he would have to adjust for the pitch discrepancy by "pitching" the sax differently. The reason that all the saxes we see today are either in Bb or Eb is because those intruments were employed in military bands right after the invention of the saxophone. The C and F saxes were intended for concert/symphonic settings and due to lack of interest, musician boycotting, and lack of music, the C and F saxes became useless and died out. The Bb and Eb thrived in the military bands and that is why they are still around. The birth of jazz helped the sax's cause, especially the bass, baritone, and soprano). The C melody sax, despite some people's opinions, is a great instrument, it plays well and has a distinct tone, so a revival seems imminent to me. I've never played an F mezzo-soprano so I can't really talk about them. Hope this has been thorough enough!
-Jeremy
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2002-01-18 08:10
Aaron,
For you as an oboe player, a C is a C. But you will be glad if you ever try to play the cor anglais (known in America as English horn) or the oboe d'amore that they are transposing instruments and you don't have to learn a completely new set of names for all the fingerings. You just play them as if they were an oboe.
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Author: Deshaun
Date: 2002-08-26 23:29
i dont know if this would count, but in the horn family(brass)the pitch Bb(i.e. Bb Tenor Trombone,Bb Bass Trombone, BBb Tuba)is our tuning note.As i think its the same with the Eb Alto Trombone.In my band we call the horn, Horn in F, and F is the tuning note.So answer that why is most band instruments setteled in Bb and Eb its cuz its the right pitch. Also doesnt the C on a Bb Clarinet sound like a pitched Bb?Same with Tenor Sax, and Trumpet, C sounds like a Bb w/o u realizing it.So if u asked a Trumpeter to give u a C it will come out as Bb, so in order for him/her to get a true C, wouldnt that be a written D on trumpet)Im not a professional or nething(in fact im only in 8th grade)If im wrong please tell me so i can get it cleared.
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