Please help with this Baroque trumpet question!? (holes???)?

Question

Hi, just bought a natural trumpet in Eb with no holes, although i know most baroque trumpets have holes to assist with note changes. Can someone explain how this works? And more importantly can someone please say how many holes is best? (some sites say 3 others say 4) And do they need to be placed on the instrument in a specific place as i wish to drill some holes into my natural trumpet. Thanks. Dan.

Answer 1

Mamianka is right and wrong. While it is true that a REAL natural trumpet has no bore holes, many modern reproductions have these tiny finger holes to aid with tuning the several inherently out-of-tune notes produced by a natural brass instrument (eg the 7th). The higher up the harmonic series you go, the more out-of-tune notes you encounter.



Now, I believe that those players who use these holes are cheating. They are certainly not reproducing the sound of a Baroque or Classical natural trumpet. Some notes WOULD have been out of tune. Everyone accepted that and so should you. Other out-of-tune notes can be 'lipped' in tune (as they would have done in the 17/18/19th centuries. Some of the out-of-tune notes would have sounded less so in other temperaments used at the time (equal temperament is a relatively new concept as far as universal practice is concerned).



You must not even consider trying any do-it-yourself drilling. If you don't know what you are doing you could render your trumpet useless and unplayable. If you INSIST on cheating and having vent holes, take the trumpet to a reputable brass maker/repairer.

Answer 2

You do NOT drill holes in a natural trumpet. All notes possible are obtained by the use of your lips,like a bugle. The instrument that these sites might have referred to is the cornett - NOT the modern cornet (which is brass) but the ancient instrument that is made out of wood and leather. It had holes.



Put down the power drill. Seriously. Do more research.



Added -



Dear Del -

Thanks for the high-end clarification - I just wanted to dissuade this person from thinking about putting ANY holes in this horn - at all - because if they do not already have enough experience PLAYING these to know exactly where they would want them - then better to just skip it - and put down the drill. Far safer in my area - I get students all the time that want a new flute, with all kinds of bells and whistles on it - even though the do not know how to use them, nor can they just ignore them - the whole instrument would be too much for them to handle. If you buy something, and are not sure how it works or how to customize it, then leave it alone. I learned that the hard way . . . over and over . . .

Answer 3

Are you insane?? or are you joking?

What self-respecting trumpeter (or musician) would consider mutilating such a wonderful instrument??



PLEASE do not drill holes in your trumpet. Natural trumpets are expensive, and incredibly "temperamental" (in that the slightest change will make them out of tune... that includes temperature and humidity) and unlike modern trumpets they are a pain to tune.



I take it you play trumpet already...



You know when you play a "D" it is sharp. You can correct that either by pulling out the slide, or adjusting your embouchure.



With a natural trumpet, you need to adjust EVERYTHING with your embouchure and the amount of air you are using.



Try playing a diatonic scale with your mouthpiece... that should be easy. Then try doing it on your trumpet (with open valves). Then FINALLY do it on the natural trumpet.



In the baroque era, there were players who could play a CHROMATIC SCALE!! Though this is practically impossible, that is what you are aiming for.



But dont cheat and get a trumpet with holes... that defeats the purpose of saying "I play natural trumpet." You may as well play a good quality modern instrument.