Trumpet Fingering Chart — High Notes
B♭ trumpet, written G5–G6 · the register above the staff · ● = valve pressed · tap to hear
How to play
- This chart covers the high register — written G5 up to G6, the notes sitting on and above the top of the treble staff. Pitches are written for B♭ trumpet, so everything sounds a whole tone lower than shown.
- Up here the fingerings repeat: high C, D and E take the same valve combinations as the C, D and E an octave below. What changes is entirely your air speed and embouchure, not your hand — if a fingering looks familiar, that is exactly the point.
- The harmonics are packed close together in this register, so one fingering sits under several notes. That is why high playing is a lip skill: the valves only get you near the note and your air chooses which harmonic actually speaks.
- Tip — do not force it. High notes come from fast, focused air and firm but relaxed corners. Squeezing harder closes the aperture and the note cracks.
- Tap a note in the grid to see its valve combination in the big diagram and hear the pitch.
- Big diagram — the three circles are valves 1–2–3; a filled/pressed circle means push that valve down.
- Play repeats the selected note; Play all walks up the chromatic scale. Vol sets volume.
- Sharps / Flats switches how the accidental notes are named (C♯ vs D♭).
- Keyboard — Tab to any note or control, Enter/Space to activate.
- Tip — open (no valves) gives C, G and C again as you climb — those are your reference notes.
Explore the higher reaches of the B flat trumpet on this interactive chart. This include written notes from G5, G6. You can navigate this chart using your mouse or, perhaps more easy, your computer keyboard. Its purpose is to demonstrate combinations of valves needed at this point in upper range of instrument.
In this section, harmonics pack tight together. To begin, tap on a note in the left-hand grid. Each cell are a single pitch that’s represented with little dots indicating which valve to press for that note. Selecting a note then update the big diagram on the right to indicate precisely which valves needs to be pressed. You’ll also get to hear the pitch it produce via browser audio engine. That instant feedback allow you to make the connection between what you see (fingerings) and what you hear.
How to Use the High Trumpet Chart
These are the three big circles in the middle representing valves 1, 2 & 3. The full circle represent a closed valve and empty circle shows when it’s open. Tapping on each of these circles will also play the note you have chosen. This reinforces link between physically pressing down on your instrument and more abstract chart.
To listen through the whole chromatic scale from lowest note to highest, press the Play all button. This will allow you to check spacing between pitches in this range. To play a single note, press the Play note button to loop it. You can then repeat the note to work on your air support or lip position in your head.
The buttons at the top allows you to switch from Flats to Sharps. It will change labeling of accidentals in the chart, but not fingering or pitches themselves. Select whichever labeling option you prefer or that aligns with your sheet music. Finally, the volume control to the right let you change the volume. Adjust it according to your setting.
Navigating is also much quicker using keyboard rather than clicking a mouse. To move around cells and navigate between controls press the tab key. When you have highlighted a button or note, just press space or enter key to perform that action. It’s easy to leap from one pitch to another in no time at all. There is no need to hunt around with mouse to change notes.
One aspect of high trumpet playing are its reliance on air speed, rather than a forceful squeezing of the mouth. Observe number of notes in this range that has the same valve combination. For instance, C,G and high C are all an open position. It is all down to your airstream and embouchure. Use this as a reminder of repeating fingering as you rise up.
Fullscreen toggles between full-screen and normal view, increasing the chart size so it is easier to see the valve diagrams, especially on smaller devices. This section provide more information about how harmonics work in this register. If you’re not sure why certain notes shares fingerings, read this. As you move through the scale notice the valve changes and practice playing slow in both directions. Observe also that the fingering grow easier towards the highest notes of this instrument.
It is a common problem for many players who attempt to alter their fingerings for each semitone. Here it repeats. The repeating pattern is what this widget draw your attention to. Explore all the pitches slowly. Let yourself hear how sound of each note is generated by synth. Before you play on your instrument check that your mind’s map of the upper register is correct using the tool. Then when you are confident in the layout have a go at improvising simple melodic ideas in this area. It would of build confidence in your performance.