Trumpet - Is it bad practice to transpose tunes down for your register?

Question

Is it bad practice to transpose tunes down for your register?

I've been going through a fake book and learning the melodies to jazz tunes I like. A lot of them are in registers that I cannot hit (I still can barely hit a high C). I've been transposing to anything between Low G and C depending on how low the tune goes.

Answer 1

You say you're learning the tunes. This in itself has good and bad sides. When you're sightreading a tune initially, and transposing at sight, it's a great skill to practise. However, once you've learned that tune, you will know it in the 'wrong' key - as in others later will want to play it with you, but they'll most likely be in the original key.

However, all the time you're doing this, it's making you play better, and read and transpose better, so it's no bad thing right now. Then, when your range improves, you'll be able to read at sight, transpose at sight, and play the tunes in the key the rest of the guys prefer. Keep it up!

Answer 2

I am not a trumpeter but it is hard to see a problem; it's still practice. If you improve, you can always come back and try again as written. Transposing to make things easier is common in music for learners. For example, on the piano the register is not an issue but pieces are often transposed to C just to make them easier for beginners to read.