Question

A bugle has no valves, keys, slides, or finger holes then how can it play a song?

Answer 1

Songs for the bugle are limited to harmonics of the fundamental frequency because the bugle has no control over frequencies by means of valves, keys, slides, or finger holes.

The player obtains different notes by changing the tension in the lips as the bugle is played, in order to excite different harmonics.

The normal playing range of a bugle is among the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth harmonics of the fundamental.

For example — "Reveille" is played with just the three notes-D $(294 \mathrm{~Hz})$, $\mathrm{G}(392 \mathrm{~Hz})$, and $\mathrm{B}(494 \mathrm{~Hz})$, and "Taps" is played with these same three notes and the $\mathrm{D}$ one octave above the lower D (588 Hz).