I have this simple question in my mind for so long time, this time postings shall clear my mind.

1. French horn music pieces are always in F, if they are written in Eb you must transpose it to F by lowering the written notes one whole step. If the piece contains one flat, add 2 more. But are there really no fingerings in Eb???

2. Trumpet fingerings can be used in Bb fingrngs for horn but many articles uses other key combinations for Bb?

As far as I know, No, there are no Eb horn fingerings. A band I participate in has several pieces that have Eb horn parts and I transpose as I play and it sucks.

Trumpet fingerings can be used for French horn in F or the Bb side of a double French horn. But I've never tried it for a piece for Bb horn...I don't think that I've ever played a peice in Bb LOL If it works for you, that's awesome!

Well, yes there are "Eb" fingerings. But, for your purposes it is much easier to transpose.

Overtime you can learn a completely different set of fingerings for any key. But, here is the issue, you are playing an instrument keyed in F, so Eb fingerings do you no good. IF you had a crook and changed your instrument pitch to Eb then you could use Eb fingerings - which are the same as F fingerings.

If you transpose into Eb often enough, you'll eventualy develop your own fingerings in your head. It's almost automatic for me now becuase I've practiced doing it on scale patterns just a few mintes every day.

And, yes, I use trumpet fingerings (F horn fingerings) on the Bb side of my horn whenever I transpose to Bb horn. It's so much easier than trying to think down a fifth or up a fourth.

I also use Bb fingering on the F side of my horn to transpose to horn in C.

Valerie

I've heard about those extra crooks and pipes that completely changes the French horns key LOL