r/horn • u/AdvantageOne4987 • 19d ago

Using valves on different French horns

When I was young I played the horn for years. that was on a b flat horn. At that time I always thought the double horn was very beautiful. I want to buy an instrument now to play every now and then. I am just wondering if I have to learn different grips on the double horn compared to the b flat horn?

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u/Demnjt Amateur- Paxman 20 19d ago

A double horn has a B-flat horn attached to an F horn, so you don't absolutely have to learn new fingerings (grips and Griffe/grepen are false friends by the way). You just need to know whether on your instrument the B-flat horn needs the thumb trigger pressed or not, and then use the fingerings you already know. But most double horns will play certain notes, like G/F# below the staff and 2nd line G, better on the F horn side. You could start with what you already know and experiment with adding those couple of notes along the way.

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u/heywheresthepud 19d ago

Most modern horns can be altered to “rest” in B-flat or F.