Bugle Merit Badge in BSA

[SaintCad]

"The easiest way is just to let him play the calls at whatever "natural" pitch his instrument has. We're only talking a 1/2 step difference. The important thing is that he play them "open keyed" (without pressing any valves), letting the embouchure and natural overtones do the work."

 

Wait a minute. Does that mean that if my son uses a cornet that he can't use the valves to change notes while working on his MB?

 

[Hunt]

"Wait a minute. Does that mean that if my son uses a cornet that he can't use the valves to change notes while working on his MB?"

 

The MB requirements don't impose such a requirement. Unless the pamphlet clarifies this, I wouldn't agree with that interpretation. I suppose a Bugling MBC might argue that you can't "sound" a bugle call by pressing valves, but I think that's extreme. And what's the point? That's not how you play a trumpet or cornet.

[SaintCad]

Scouter.com is invaluable for this thread alone. So my (next) question is since the horn is in Bb but the key for bugle calls is C natural:

 

Will the fingering will be the same as that natural scale? For example, the first note in reveille is a G, so it would be played with all of the valves up but the note played would be Gb.

 

OR

 

Do I need to play a half-step higher? For example, for G would I press valves 2-3 as if I were playing G# on the natural scale?

 

 

[ScoutBugle]

 

The original post in regards to using a Flugelhorn for this requirement: As it turns out, if you really dig deep, a Flugelhorn IS a bugle based on how the tubing flares out. It has valves which it allows to be a bugle in multiple keys, each key combination creates a separate bugle in a different key. You can play one haunting taps with a Flugelhorn. But, if you want to cut through the crowd and be heard, a trumpet OR A TRADITINAL STYLE BOY SCOUT BUGLE is what you need to cut through. (The traditional 1892 style Boy Scout Bugle is actually a trumpet). I'm just amazed a scout who would have a flugelhorn, would't have a trumpet or cornet...it's sort of a rare bird.

 

B-Flat, vs C, vs G/F Treble cleft brass instruments are transposing instruments. So when you look at the bugle call music, everything is written in C or so it seems. To transpose this music you simply figure out what key the bugle in your hand might be in, and you write in the upper left hand corner For bugle in the key of and you have now transposed the music. So essentially the C below the staff is the lowest note for the instrument without going into pedal tones (false low notes for lack of simpler explanation). For the Merit badge the notes required are WRITTEN C, G, C, E, G That's ALL and mostly G, C, E, G (Trivia which call uses low C and how many times? hint at: http://scoutbugle.com/MeritBadge.htm)

 

For why a particular instrument is in a particular key one would have to dig through the history of that instrument and what type of music it was designed to play along with a large dash of tradition. For the starting player, playing a G/F horn makes it simply easier to hit the higher note of the bugle call (G on the staff), so even if playing a a valved trumpet it might be easier to play holding down, let's say, 1&2 valve then playing open. Since the bugler is usually solo, which exact key he's playing in probably doesn't make much difference as long as he can play the notes.

 

One of the problems though is the scout has to THINK in the lower key if transitioning from B-flat to G an embarrassing example: At a Blue and Gold, when I was a committee chair, I had a G bugle but my brain was still in B-flat. The starting note is a written E which on a B-flat trumpet is very close to the G bugle's written G which is where I started off. Took a bit to get back in key, most of the audience didn't notice, but we had several symphony player who were scouters...A viola player wandered by later..Not many packs have a CLAM BAKE for the Blue and Gold

 

-Fred

www.scoutbugle.com

[Gossmaaf]

Opening up this very old conversation.  For Bugling Merit Badge (requirements current to 4/1/25 and not a April fools joke question):

Do all the requirements have to be with a Bugle (or other brass) or can it be any instrument.  I've added notes in italics and bold to highlight specific wording.  Note this is currently the lowest earned merit badge and we need to find ways to make it more accessible to encourage the art of bugling.

Full disclosure, I'm a fan of the bugle.  I earned Bugling as a youth on an actual bugle, i own a 1962 chrome BSA Bugle, i play trumpet and also own a cornet.  I played trombone, baritone, and flugelhorn as well as mellophone.  That said, I'm discouraged that so few scouts want to earn it, and there are others that do but want to stick to their current instrument (like flute).  

1. Give a brief history of the bugle. no instrument required, this is a history discussion

2. Do the following:

• (a) Explain and demonstrate how the bugle makes sound, and explain how the bugle is related to other brass wind instruments.
• (b) Compose a bugle call for your troop or patrol to signal a common group activity, such as assembling for mealtime or striking a campsite. Play the call that you have composed before your unit or patrol.

 

3. Sound 10 of the following bugle calls: "First Call," "Reveille," "Assembly," "Mess," "Drill," "Fatigue," "Officers," "Recall," "Church," "Swimming," "Fire," "Retreat," "To the Colors," "Call to Quarters," "Taps." doesn't say a bugle is required.  Noting the requirements don't call out any other brass instruments.  The key to this requirement is learning the calls and their purpose.

4. Explain when each of the calls in requirement 3 is used no instrument required, discussion only

5. Explain how to care for, clean, and maintain a bugle. need access for a bugle, but doesn't require playing one

6. Serve as bugler in your troop for three months. *

* NOTE: A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements. the use of MAY instead of SHALL makes this a recommendation in legal terms, thus any instrument could be used.

 

[SSScout]

Oh, the tangled webs we weave....   

I have a local reputation, being a Bugling MBCounselor.  I get called and travel some...

"Can I use my guitar"?    Yes, I have had Scouts ask about the "other" wind instruments.  Saxophone?   mmmmm nope.   Trombone?  Maybe, let's hear you.... Baritone?  Sousapohone?   mmmm rather not,  transferring the technique to a Bugle isn't too hard, but you are starting over. 

 I knew I would never be a professional musician (Trombone!) but played thru high school and college marching band and orchestra.  Went places, did things I would NEVER have done without that musical stuff.  I always encourage the Scouts to "srick with it".......   Bugle in Scouts was fun.  I liked some old TV shows where the Bugle was used.... "Boots And Saddles" calvary cowboys....  
" Captain Gallant of the French Foreign Legion".... wow, French Bugle calls... 

I have gone to Merit Badge Colleges (!) and had Scouts show up LITERALLY exoecting a sit and git session.  Two brothers showed up, with new "Cavalry" Bugles (those little one loop things) still in the plastic bags, never even tried to make a buzz before.  We talked, and "discussed". When they left, they could at least make noise.  Many times I have given a "Partial", they always leave with all my contact info. RARELY have I ever had a Scout contact me to complete things. 

The biggest stumbling block, the one thing that seems to be the hardest, is that high G, the highest of the five (or six!) notes for the Bugle repertroire

Then, the occasional young Wynton Marsalis.... . 

Trumpet?   Open valve?  one and three down?    Make the scale....   

Last time, I had a nascent Eagle Scout, he had I think 70 some Merit Badges, wanted to earn all 138...  He played piano, never a brass instrument.  Bugle was his goal today, new Bugle, He made the buzz, he followed my directions, when he left,  I was pleased to give him a partial, he knew he needed to practice, I knew he would do it.  Two months later, I have not heard from him.... 

Edited Tuesday at 08:48 PM by SSScout

[RememberSchiff]

1 hour ago, Gossmaaf said:

* NOTE: A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements. the use of MAY instead of SHALL makes this a recommendation in legal terms, thus any instrument could be used.

 

April 1, 2025:

IMO, this opens the door to the use of unsafe kazoo's.

 

Edited Tuesday at 08:52 PM by RememberSchiff

[SSScout]

Here's one of my "kickers"...

The regulation Bugle has about five feet of brass tubing.....  Take your old garden hose, cut off five feet of hose, smooth one end with some fine sandpaper, jam a kitchen funnel of appropriate size in the other end and PLAY it.  

[skeptic]

The last few years of our scout camp operation, the camp is now gone, they had developed a flag retirement as part of the campfire program.  When it came time for Taps, they had a real bugler, though his back up was a trumpet or coronet; but the interesting part was the response from afar on a trombone, repeating the notes like an echo.  It always moved me.  We lost our troop bugler to age out, and right now none of the few scouts care to learn.  But our official bugle is almost a hundred years old, and we also have  number of others that are newer.  The hardest thing as I understand with the bugle is that most of the work is done with the mouth, though it appears there is a small slide of some sort on the instrument.  We also have locally the what seems now requisite playing of taps with the bagpipes.  

 

[InquisitiveScouter]

Maybe we could counsel the MB with a Scout playing these:

[SSScout]

15 hours ago, skeptic said:

it appears there is a small slide of some sort on the instrument

If it is a regular Bugle, that slide can serve three purposes. 1) it is used to tune the Bugle to the exact tune of other instruments. All wind instruments have something similar. Watch a band or orchestra "tune up".  2)  it also can be used to lower the tone. Being a trombone player (Bass clef) I never worried about this, but I was told the  Bugle (Treble clef) was a G instrument and pulling out the slide makes it an F instrument.  3)  you take the slide out to shake the spit out and when washing out your horn... Green gunk.... 

As to your other comment , ALL of the "work"  is done with the lips/mouth....   This is called one's  "embouchure". and it is, indeed, the biggest stumbling block for young would be trumpeters or Booglers.   Buzzing, alot, SQUEEEEZE and get that high G....  Ain't no valves or slide to change the tone. 

Yes, the "echo" effect is wonderful when done well.   The Bugle can be heard a mile away over open land, less thru the woods.  bouncing off mountainsides or lake.... 

Taps is known, but the Tatoo , can be either an Army thing to getthruquick or played with some mellowness and emotion.