Chromatic Scale on Trumpet
How to play it
Chromatic Scale: notes and valves
Every semitone, up with sharps and down with flats. Practice every fingering on your trumpet, from low F♯ to high C.
Written notes for B♭ trumpet. Valve 1 is nearest to you, 0 means open. Tap any note in the tool to hear it.
How to read the valves
The numbers are your valves. Valve 1 is the one nearest to you, valve 3 is nearest to the bell. 0 means open: no valves down.
Your C sounds B♭
The notes here are written for B♭ trumpet, which sounds one whole step lower. So the C Major Scale is the concert B♭ Major Scale your band plays.
Start slowly
Begin at 60 BPM with the click on. Play every note full and steady. Speed up only when it feels easy.
tonestro
24 trumpet scales in the tonestro app
Play along and finally know if it's right. Right notes turn green. Missed one? Play it again.
Questions about the Chromatic Scale
What are the fingerings of the Chromatic Scale on trumpet?
F♯3 all three valves, G3 valves 1 and 3, G♯3 valves 2 and 3, A3 valves 1 and 2, A♯3 valve 1, B3 valve 2, C4 open, C♯4 all three valves, D4 valves 1 and 3, D♯4 valves 2 and 3, E4 valves 1 and 2, F4 valve 1, F♯4 valve 2, G4 open, G♯4 valves 2 and 3, A4 valves 1 and 2, A♯4 valve 1, B4 valve 2, C5 open, C♯5 valves 1 and 2, D5 valve 1, D♯5 valve 2, E5 open, F5 valve 1, F♯5 valve 2, G5 open, G♯5 valves 2 and 3, A5 valves 1 and 2, A♯5 valve 1, B5 valve 2, C6 open.
Why do low D, C♯, G and F♯ sound sharp?
They use valves 1 and 3 or all three valves, and those combinations play sharp. Pull the third valve slide out a little on F♯3, G3, C♯4 and D4.
How do I practice the Chromatic Scale?
Start with one octave from C4 at 60 BPM. Say the valves before you play each note. When it feels easy, go for the whole range from low F♯ to high C.
How fast should I play scales?
Start at 60 BPM with the click on and play every note full and steady. When the scale feels easy twice in a row, go 4 BPM faster.