----- BACKGROUND INFO -----
The Cornet and the Trumpet are very similar instruments.
They have the same effective range of notes, and use
identical fingering patterns for working the valves. The
difference is found in the ratio between the diameter of the
tubing and the length: The Cornet has a larger diameter
tubing, of shorter length. This change of ratio makes the
sound of the Cornet more mellow as vs. the Trumpet; a slight
modification of an instrument design, made for the sake of
(and continues to endure as a useful instrument because of)
tonal considerations. This fundamental similarity between
the two instruments means that the contents of this page are
also accurate for the B-flat Trumpet.
This fingering chart for the Bb Cornet was created by me,
after a fairly extensive search of the web. I wanted a chart
which would show the fingering patterns for the Bb Cornet. I
don't have any connection with wind bands, and don't have
any intention of writing music for such. I do, however, want
to use the Cornet at some point as an accessory instrument
in some of my musical compositions. The upshot of all that,
is that it isn't sensible for me to learn the fingerings of
the Cornet associated with transposed note names (the way
that common band score convention insists on) - and,
forevermore be continuously transposing any time I want to
include usage of the instrument in a composition. Instead,
it will be more useful for me to learn the real names from
the start; i.e., if it's a "C" on the Piano, it
should be called a "C" on the Cornet, too! I
wanted a chart that would be displaying the real note names.
I wasn't able to find anything like that - so, the only
remaining course of action was to create one of my own. What
you find on this page, is the result.
To the best of my knowledge all Cornets have a slide on them
for shifting the range of the instrument down a half step.
This slide is usually found before the wind can be delivered
into the first piston; that's how it affects the entire
range - it makes its change before any other modifications
to tubing length occur. Some Cornets work this slide via a
spring-loaded lever. Others, like mine, need to be moved in
& out by grabbing onto the slide itself. The lowest note
of the instrument that can be made via no pistons being
used to change air flow, is called the "pedal
note" of the instrument. On my Cornet, with the slide
pushed all the way in, the pedal note is a "B".
When I pull the slide all the way out, the pedal note shifts
down to become a "Bb" (B-flat). Therefore, my
Cornet is considered to be a "Bb" instrument. The
purpose of the slide is to make it easier to do difficult
fingering patterns that might occur, by changing the overlay
of melody onto fingering positions scale; i.e., a difficult
sequence of fingerings might become easier, if the melody
gets shifted up or down a half-step. So, my fingering chart
for the B-flat Cornet is really two charts: One, is for the
note names when the slide is pushed all the way in (the
normal manner of playing it). The other, is for when the
slide is pulled all the way out.
|
|
|
|
|
----- IN CONCLUSION -----
Feel free to save, print, and/or use a copy of this chart,
if it's for your own personal needs, or will be
applied as an educational accessory teaching students.
However, if the purpose of using this chart is commerically
based, I expect an industry-standard level of compensation.
An example of what I mean by that, is, "What terms
would 'Mel Bay' insist on and charge for a similar
item?"
May you be guided and protected as you pass through life!
~~~
Scruffy Eagle
~~~
|
|
|
|
|
