 The Fingering Forum
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Author: ~Heather ~
Date: 2003-06-14 01:17
I was just wondering why in all bands we play a Bb concert scale instead of C concert scale (Since flutes are in concert pitch C). This maybe a stupid question, but I have always wondered that. Thanks in advance!
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Author: Theboy_2
Date: 2003-06-14 01:46
not a stupid question. concert Bb is the easiest scale to play, afaik theres no sharps or flats on that scale for most instruments. since every instrumentalists can play a scale with no sharps/flats they go with that because why play a scale thats hard to play like C scale which has a few sharps. i beleive Bb have 3 sharps, and others have various other accidentals. hope this helps.
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Author: TorusTubarius
Date: 2003-06-14 03:17
Actually let's tally it up. In a band you have:
flutes - in C
oboes - in C
bassoons - in C
tubas - in C
trombones - in C
euphoniums - in C (I think)
string bass - in C
clarinets - in Bb
trumpets - in Bb
tenor sax - in Bb
bass clarinet - in Bb
bari sax - in Eb
alto sax - in Eb
horns - in F
So actually it looks to me like the "C" instruments outnumber the Bb instruments 7 to 4, and outnumber the Bb and Eb instruments combined 7 to 6. So what's the real reason? I think you know.
Clarinet bias.
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Author: saxplaya
Date: 2003-06-14 04:43
I think i remebember that my director told me was that it was for tuning purposes...that in that scale for most instruments the concert Bb's is the best not to tune on...do u understand cuz i kinda lost myself....also sometimes concert F is used....and for saxophone players such as myself its good to tune on a concert A. It depends but the majority of the instuments Bb is the best note to tune.
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Author: d-oboe
Date: 2003-06-14 05:04
In my opinion I think the Bb was chosen because it was the closest to the ever-beloved A440. Since bands tend to stick to flats, and (frigteningly) learn to play in flats, that was the closest key to A that "simplified" the key signatures. That way, Bb, and Eb instrumentalists weren't left to play F# major scales their first week. Most decent concert bands now tune to F, Bb, and A, to accomodate for all instruments, and their tuning purposes.
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2003-06-16 06:55
Bb was chosen because of clarinets. Clarinets were originally made in a whole range of different keys. After a while it was found that the Bb clarinet produced the best sound, so clarinets started to be made more in Bb than in any other key. Adolphe Sax, the guy who invented the Saxophone, was a keen inventor and worked on clarinets for a long time before inventing a whole range of band instruments including saxophone and saxhorn. He pitched them in Bb or Eb so that they could play easily along with the clarinets. So it is Sax we have to thank that many band instruments play in Bb.
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Author: TorusTubarius
Date: 2003-06-17 03:58
Yeah geez... thanks Adolphe...
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Author: ILOVETENORSAX
Date: 2003-06-17 14:26
also the clarinet and sax make up alot of band so it is easier to tune to those insterments. (Ex. i come from a band of 85 probably 35 of them are sax and clarinet.) so it is kinda easier to work with that. plus the fact that they do want the A440.
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Author: ILOVETENORSAX
Date: 2003-06-17 14:28
O yeah, on my band 25 of the 35 are clarinets. And I am the lone tenor sax.
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