practice cents · guide
Pitch & tuningTuning band instruments: concert pitch and written parts
How to use a chromatic tuner on trumpet, clarinet, horn, oboe, and mellophone. Concert pitch on the web; where to hold the phone.
Why band rooms need all twelve notes
Brass, woodwinds, and strings do not live on six open guitar strings. Students need a cents readout for ensemble intonation — matching a concert F, not a chord diagram.
Teachers can put one link on the board. Students open Safari or Chrome, allow the mic, and play. No account.
Trumpet, clarinet, horn, oboe, mellophone
Same tuner. Different bells. The web page shows concert pitch so the section can match one reference. Written Bb/Eb/F is on iPhone.
B♭ · concert
Trumpet
Hold the phone near the bell, not in it. Play a steady mezzo-forte. Concert B♭ is what the ensemble hears; you read C. Same transposition as clarinet and tenor sax.
B♭ · concert
Clarinet
Mic near the barrel or bell, away from key noise. Same Bb transposition as trumpet: concert B♭ → written C. Chromatic — not a six-string layout.
F · concert
French horn
The bell faces back — hold the phone by the flare, not at the mouthpiece. Horn is in F: concert B♭ is written F. Watch cents settle; don’t chase every wobble in the right hand.
C · concert = written
Oboe
Concert pitch is written pitch. Phone near the bell, reed stable, air supported. Soft tones on a phone mic often read flat — play at rehearsal volume.
F · marching
Mellophone
Marching mellophone is usually in F, like horn, with a forward bell a phone can hear. Concert B♭ is written F. Treat it as F unless your director issued a Bb mellophone.
How to run a short tune-up
Open the tuner, allow the microphone, and play a sustained concert pitch. Aim near 0¢. Quiet the room when you can; soft tones on phone mics can read flat.
- Phone near the bell or f-hole — not inside the bell
- Steady mezzo-forte
- Watch cents settle before changing embouchure or slide
- A440 by default — nudge A for ensemble pitch (e.g. A442)
Bb, Eb, and F on the needle
The web tuner is concert pitch so trumpet, clarinet, horn, and flute can match a piano or drone. For the written note on the part, use the concert→written table, or written keys in the iPhone app.
After the tune-up
Keep pulse with the metronome. For ear and theory between lessons, open HYKOM samples (grades 6–12). Full paths and Pro tools are on iPhone.
FAQ
- Is there an online trumpet or clarinet tuner?
- Yes — the same chromatic tuner. It hears any pitch. Trumpet and clarinet are Bb: concert B♭ is written C. The web needle shows concert pitch.
- Does the web tuner transpose for Bb trumpet?
- The web tuner shows concert pitch so any instrument can match a reference. Written Bb/Eb/F is in the iPhone app. The concert→written table is on the transposition guide.
- Can a teacher assign a tuner without an app install?
- Yes. Share practicecents.com/tuner. Pair with /metronome for a click.
- What A should we use?
- Default is A440. If the ensemble tunes to A442 (or another reference), nudge A on the tuner to match before you chase the needle.
Ready to practice?
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