Trumpet Fingerings Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd valves down

This is the lowest possible note on a trumpet. The lowest pure tone playable on a standard B flat trumpet is middle C, and that can be lowered by a maximum of a diminished fifth on a trumpet, or six half steps, by the valve combination of having all valves down. This makes the F sharp under middle C the lowest playable note on a standard B flat trumpet.

Answer: 1st and 2nd valves (or 3rd valve alone)

Pressing of the first and second valves lowers the tone by a minor third. Pressing of the third valve alone lowers the tone by a minor third. Therefore the two valve combinations are interchangeable. This applies to all notes that use this valve combination, not just this specific A. Normally, the combination of the 1st and 2nd valves is used.

Answer: 1st valve

The first valve lowers the tone by a major second, or two half steps.

Answer: 2nd valve

The second valve lowers the tone by a minor second, or one half step.

Answer: Open

Middle C is the lowest playable tone on a trumpet, meaning the lowest playable note with an open fingering, or no valves held down. Any notes lower than it on a trumpet are reached by lowering this tone a number of steps.

Answer: 1st, 2nd and 3rd valves

This note and the note one half step above it, namely the D above middle C, are naturally sharp on a standard B flat trumpet. Most trumpets have a way to extend the third valve's tuning slide to compensate for this.

Answer: 2nd and 3rd valves

The combination of 2nd and 3rd valves lowers the note by a major third.

Answer: True

The reason for this is described after question 6.

Answer: 2

This is because of a series of tubes which redirects the air through the first valve slide when the first valve is pressed, lowering the note by a major second.

Answer: B flat

This refers to the fact that the middle C of a trumpet is really a B Flat when played on a piano. Additionally, some trumpets play in the key of C, but the majority are in the key of B Flat.