A3 on the B♭ Trumpet
To play Low A (A3) on trumpet, press valves 1 + 2.
What’s a partial?
With the same valves down your lips can buzz several notes. Each one is a partial, counted from the lowest. Low A is the 2nd.
Play along: hear the note for 2 beats, then you play it for 2.
Second partial with 1-2, a minor third below open C4. If the note will not start, the slot is too tight — drop the jaw slightly instead of blowing harder.
Second partial with 1-2, a minor third below open C4. If the note will not start, the slot is too tight — drop the jaw slightly instead of blowing harder.
Sound and display
Next moves
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Alternate fingerings for A3
Each alternate has its own link. Send it to a student and the page opens with that fingering on the big diagram.
Same fingering, different note
Your lips choose between these notes: the fingering stays the same.
More for advanced players
Written and sounding pitch, and how the note works
About this note
Low A is written A3 and sounds concert G3. It is the 2nd partial.
Second partial with 1-2, a minor third below open C4. If the note will not start, the slot is too tight — drop the jaw slightly instead of blowing harder.
- Primary fingering: Valves 1 + 2
- Written pitch: A3 · Concert pitch: G3
- Sounding frequency: 196.00 Hz
- Harmonic partial: 2: the valves set the tube length, but your air and embouchure (the shape of your lips) select the partial.
Alternate fingerings for A3
- 3: Valves 3. Valve 3 alone lowers the same minor third as 1-2 and often sits truer in tune this low; many players use it as their standard low-A fingering.
Questions
How do you play Low A on trumpet?
To play Low A (A3) on trumpet, press valves 1 + 2. Low A is written A3 and sounds concert G3. It is the 2nd partial.
Is Low A written or concert pitch?
The name on this page is the written note you read. On B♭ trumpet it sounds concert G3.
Is there another fingering for Low A?
3: Valve 3 alone lowers the same minor third as 1-2 and often sits truer in tune this low; many players use it as their standard low-A fingering.
B♭ Trumpet fingering data last updated . Every diagram here, in the printable PDF and in the chart image comes from one dataset, so the paper and the screen cannot disagree.