Guide
How to write a horn section
A horn section turns a good band into a great one. In pop, soul, funk and ska, the horns are usually trumpet, tenor sax and trombone, sometimes with alto sax or a second trumpet. Here's how to write for them.
What horns do in a band
Horns rarely play all the time. They have four jobs:
- Stabs: short, loud chords on the offbeats or on key hits with the drums.
- Riffs: a short repeating line, often in unison or octaves.
- Pads: long chords under the vocal in a chorus.
- Fills: answers between the vocal phrases.
Leave space. Horns are loudest when they enter after a rest.
Voicing for three horns
Put the trumpet on top, the tenor sax in the middle and the trombone at the bottom, in close position (all within an octave):
| Chord | Trumpet | Tenor sax | Trombone |
|---|---|---|---|
| C major | G4 | E4 | C4 |
| F major | A4 | F4 | C4 |
| G7 | F4 | D4 | B3 |
These are concert pitches. Close voicings sound tight and punchy. For a bigger sound, spread them out with the trombone an octave lower.
Unison and octaves
The strongest horn sound is everyone on the same line, in unison or octaves. Use it for riffs and hooks. Harmonise only when the line needs to be fuller.
Ranges that keep players happy
| Horn | Comfortable range (concert) | Written |
|---|---|---|
| Trumpet in B♭ | G3 – G5 | a major second higher |
| Alto sax in E♭ | E3 – E5 | a major sixth higher |
| Tenor sax in B♭ | B2 – C5 | a major ninth higher |
| Trombone | A2 – F4 | as it sounds, bass clef |
Keep the trumpet below about E5 for most of the song and use the top only for the climax. Check your parts with the instrument range checker, and see how to transpose for B♭ and E♭ instruments.
Articulation is the style
Mark it on every note:
- Short and accented (staccato or a hat accent) for funk and soul stabs.
- Long with a fall-off at the end of a phrase for a big band feel.
- Scoops and doits in moderation, for character.
Give them a break
Brass players tire quickly. Never write more than about 16 bars without a rest for the trumpet, and save the high, loud playing for the last chorus.
In a medley
Horns are perfect for transitions: a unison pickup or a two-bar stab figure can carry the band into the next song and the new key. Medley Writer writes horn parts for every song and transition, already transposed for each player.
Let Medley Writer do the transcribing
Upload the songs, choose the parts and the order, and get a full arrangement for your band with the transitions written in. Free during the beta.
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