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Valve Combination Tendencies + Overtone Series Tendencies
On previous pages, we talked about how certain valve combinations and different partials cause some pitches to be out of tune. On this page, we will go through 1 octave of each major scales and the chromatic scale (G3-C4) to discover what pitches have a tendency to be flat, sharp or in tune.
Read First!
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Each scale is in the written key, the concert key is provided on each scale for reference.
VT = Valve Combination Tendency OT = Overtone Series Pitch Tendency Final = How the pitch is naturally sound considering both the VT & OT. Pitches are color coded to aid in recognizing the pitch tendencies. Black = In Tune Red = Sharp Dark Red = Very Sharp Blue = Flat Click the icons on the right for a PDF of all the scale to has for yourself. |
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Above is the G3-C6 chromatic scale on trumpet with both the OT and VT provided. This is a great resource to use to memorize what pitches are in each series of the overtones and what the tendencies of each pitch is.
The color of the pitch is the tendency of the pitch considering both the OT and VT.
The color of the pitch is the tendency of the pitch considering both the OT and VT.
Major Scales
C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B-E-A-D-G
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C, B: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the valve combination does not alter the pitch.
D, E: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. |
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F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp.
A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. B, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the valve combination does not alter the pitch. D, E: Flat because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes both to be flat. |
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Bb, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the valve combination does not alter the pitch.
D: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. Eb: In tune because the VT tends to cause it to be flat while the OT causes it to be sharp, cancelling each other out. F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. |
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Eb: In tune because the VT tends to cause it to be flat while the OT causes it to be sharp, cancelling each other out.
F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. Ab: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. Bb, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. D, Eb: Flat because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes both to be flat. |
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Ab: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat.
Bb, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. D: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. Eb: In tune because the VT tends to cause it to be flat while the OT causes it to be sharp, cancelling each other out. F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. |
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Db: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp.
Eb: In tune because the VT tends to cause it to be flat while the OT causes it to be sharp, cancelling each other out. F, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. Ab: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. Bb, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. Octave Db: In tune because the VT tends to cause the pitch to be sharp while the OT tends to cause the pitch to be flat, cancelling each other out. |
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Gb, F: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 6th partial causes both pitches to be sharp.
Ab: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. Bb, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. Db: In tune because the VT tends to cause the pitch to be sharp while the OT tends to cause the pitch to be flat, cancelling each other out. Db: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. Eb: Flat because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes both to be flat. |
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B, A#: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch.
C#, E: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. D#: In tune because the VT tends to cause the pitch to be flat while the OT tends to cause the pitch to be sharp, cancelling each other out. F#: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. G#: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. |
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E: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp.
F#: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. G#: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. B: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. C#: In tune because the VT tends to cause the pitch to be sharp while the OT tends to cause the pitch to be flat, cancelling each other out. D#, Octave E: Flat because the while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes it to be flat. |
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A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp.
B: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. C#, D, E: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp. F#: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. G#: Flat because while the it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be flat. |
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D, E: Very sharp because both the VT and OT tend to be sharp.
F#, G: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp. A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. B: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. C#: In tune because the VT tends to cause the pitch to be sharp while the OT tends to cause the pitch to be flat, cancelling each other out. D: Flat because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes both to be flat. |
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G, F#: Sharp because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 3rd partial causes both pitches to be sharp.
A: Sharp because while it is a fundamental pitch, the VT causes it to be sharp. B, C: In tune because they are both fundamental pitches and the VT does not alter the pitch. D, E: Flat because while the VT does not alter the pitch, being the 5th partial causes both to be flat. |