The same would apply to other wind instruments as well. One reason is probably that trombones used to be pitched in A and D, with A at roughly 466 Hz, and the pitch standard changed around them. Why are brass instruments more comfortable with flat keys?Ĭould B♭ instruments be built in C? Why are they in B♭ in the first place? These related posts do not answer my question: Why are band instruments built in B-flat and E-flat, while orchestral instruments are in C and F? I understand that it makes a lot of sense to have a family of instruments built in alternating keys that are a perfect 4th/5th apart, but I don't understand why Bb and Eb are chosen for band instruments. Saxophones 2: soprano (Bb), alto (Eb), tenor (Bb), baritone (Eb), etc.ġ The 'military band' tubas come in Eb bass and Bb contrabass, whereas 'orchestral' tubas come in F bass and C contrabass.Ģ Saxophones originally came in two sets of seven instruments: a 'military band' set alternating between Bb and Eb, and an 'orchestral' set in C and F (this second set has not really survived).Tubas: euphonium/tenor (Bb), bass (Eb) 1, contrabass (Bb) 1.Saxhorns: flugelhorn (Bb), alto/tenor (Eb), baritone (Bb).The key that they are built in sets the sound of the lowest open note.) (Whether these instruments are treated as transposing instruments or not is irrelevant. Instruments in a military bands (and similar) are usually built in the keys of B-flat or E-flat.

Key of b flat