ScoutBugle

For those looking at the US Made Kanstul Bugle that BigBovine purchased understand they come in two keys.

http://scoutbugle.com/GetKan.htm

The traditional Boy Scout Bugle is in G/F. (But getting down to the "F" doesn't do much good for the tone quality). So for a the younger/starting out player the G bugle will work out better than the B-flat.

For an player who is a solid brass player in their own right who can NAIL a G on the staff on their trumpet, than one may consider the B-flat Bugle. I say that because while the bugles LOOK sort of the same, in reality they were both designed from the ground up and the B-flat (IMHO) Is the best playing bugle on the site. However, unless the scout is one of the top player in their high school (not just a player) it's unlikely they would do better with this horn.

So: Younger Player "G" Bugle, Solid Player Consider "B-Flat" but a G will do fine.

@FotoScout.

Thanks for posting the link, but it's been taken down so

just go to www.scoutbugle.com

The original post in regards to using a Flugelhorn for this requirement: As it turns out, if you really dig deep, a Flugelhorn IS a bugle based on how the tubing flares out. It has valves which it allows to be a bugle in multiple keys, each key combination creates a separate bugle in a different key. You can play one haunting taps with a Flugelhorn. But, if you want to cut through the crowd and be heard, a trumpet OR A TRADITINAL STYLE BOY SCOUT BUGLE is what you need to cut through. (The traditional 1892 style Boy Scout Bugle is actually a trumpet). I'm just amazed a scout who would have a flugelhorn, would't have a trumpet or cornet...it's sort of a rare bird.

B-Flat, vs C, vs G/F Treble cleft brass instruments are transposing instruments. So when you look at the bugle call music, everything is written in C or so it seems. To transpose this music you simply figure out what key the bugle in your hand might be in, and you write in the upper left hand corner For bugle in the key of and you have now transposed the music. So essentially the C below the staff is the lowest note for the instrument without going into pedal tones (false low notes for lack of simpler explanation). For the Merit badge the notes required are WRITTEN C, G, C, E, G That's ALL and mostly G, C, E, G (Trivia which call uses low C and how many times? hint at: http://scoutbugle.com/MeritBadge.htm)

For why a particular instrument is in a particular key one would have to dig through the history of that instrument and what type of music it was designed to play along with a large dash of tradition. For the starting player, playing a G/F horn makes it simply easier to hit the higher note of the bugle call (G on the staff), so even if playing a a valved trumpet it might be easier to play holding down, let's say, 1&2 valve then playing open. Since the bugler is usually solo, which exact key he's playing in probably doesn't make much difference as long as he can play the notes.

One of the problems though is the scout has to THINK in the lower key if transitioning from B-flat to G an embarrassing example: At a Blue and Gold, when I was a committee chair, I had a G bugle but my brain was still in B-flat. The starting note is a written E which on a B-flat trumpet is very close to the G bugle's written G which is where I started off. Took a bit to get back in key, most of the audience didn't notice, but we had several symphony player who were scouters...A viola player wandered by later..Not many packs have a CLAM BAKE for the Blue and Gold

-Fred

www.scoutbugle.com

If you're going to use an electronic bugle, you might as well just program in some Ring Tones to act as bugle calls.

I've been frustrated trying to get a scout as a bugler, though some have tried a little bit..no one has committed.

I try to bring a bugle on a regular basis for To the Colors for the flag ceremony and First Call to get them back to the meeting room. Every once and a while I'll make an appeal for a bugler.

One or two kids will come up. I'll give the my phone number as a Merit Badge Counselor, I'll direct them to http://scoutbugle.com/MeritBadge.htm, I'd make a bugle available to them...and then...never hear from them again. This has been going on for years. I've demoed bugles at pack meetings and reminded them when they are scouts they could contact me for the merit badge....NOTHING.

This is a 50+ troop with some 10 Eagles last year...but no bugler.

I always wondered how much you can screw up and embouchure by playing different brass insruments. I'll offer as exhibit one Maynard Ferguson who went between trumpet and valve trombone (and bari-sax) within ONE song..and played as an expert on all of them.

Keep up the fight for a REAL bugler.

-fred