In a brass quintet the trumpets, trombone & tuba play a C (concert Bb) when tuning. The Fr Horn plays what?

Question

I know the French Horn is in F, but what note is asked to be played and what note will that be at concert pitch? In an orchestra everyone tunes to a concert A but it's different in a brass quintet.

Answer 1

If the ensemble is tuning to a concert Bb, then a French horn would play an F. Basically, it's transposed up a perfect fifth.

Answer 2

French Horns play a Concert F (in Bb land that would be open G). This is where the response of the horn is at is maximum for its design. It is also the average natural note that french horn players play when they pick up the horn. And if you notice, the general note most trumpet players is also playing an open G.

Oh and some more information:
Trumpets are in the key of Bb
Trombones are in the key of C
Tubas are normally in the key of Bb, but there has been a lot of migration to a C Tuba these days
French Horns: key of Eb.

A brass quintet is normally a compilation of five players: 2 trumpets, trombone/euphonium, tuba and french horn.

Answer 3

The French horn sounds a Perfect Fifth higher than what it's playing, (its C is actually a G). In band my director ususally has the brass tune to either a concert Bb (a french horn's Eb) or a concert F (french horn plays a Bb).

I'm a bit confused at what you said at first though? Trumpet is usually in the key of Bb, so its concert Bb is a C. But Trombone and Tuba are C instruments, so their concert Bb is a Bb... or do you mean that the instruments are tuning only with each other?

Answer 4

I work by the rule 'See a C, play an F', 'C a C...' and so on. So, to get an A you just go down a minor third. So, as a minor third down from a C is A, a minor third down from an F is D, so you'd play a D to sound at a concert pitch A.

Answer 5

F