Sounding Taps at Ceremonies
As a bugler, you may be asked to sound Taps at a funeral, memorial service, or wreath-laying ceremony. With the number of veterans funerals rising and the number of active-duty military buglers declining, many non-military musicians are asked to perform at the services. The following are guidelines I have written based on the procedures followed by military buglers over many decades. I have modified them to cover those civilian buglers who may be called into service to sound Taps at funerals or memorial services.
1. Bugler is to prepare before the funeral, making sure to have the proper uniform and outerwear in case of inclement weather. Uniform, appearance, and instrument should meet or exceed the military standards as outlined in regulations. That is, make sure you look neat and presentable. A dark suit, quasi-military uniform (without rank), civilian band uniform, or Boy Scout uniform is acceptable. Retired military members may wear their uniforms. (Note: The provisions of Title 10, Section 771 of the U.S. Code prohibit the wearing of the uniform or a distinctive part of the uniform of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Air Force or of a uniform any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of such uniform by a person who is not a member of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Air Force.)
Here is information for regarding uniform wear
for retirees and veterans:
UNIFORM WEAR
2. Bugler is to report promptly to the funeral site at the appropriate time and report to the Officer In Charge (OIC) or Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC). If you are a civilian bugler performing at a military ceremony, always check in with that person to coordinate when Taps is to be sounded.
3. Bugler is to position him/herself near the gravesite, angled from the firing party (ideally the bugler, firing party, and funeral party will form the three points of a triangle). The bugler should take care to stand in a location where the sound will carry to the funeral party and where he/she can be seen. The bell of the instrument should be pointed toward the casket.
4. Bugler will render a Hand Salute as the casket is carried to the gravesite. If you are in civilian dress, place your right hand over your heart. The bugler will stand at ease during the funeral service.
5. When the service is complete, the OIC or NCOIC will Present Arms. The firing party will come to attention and fire three volleys. Bugler will sound Taps after the third volley and after the NCOIC of the firing party executes Present Arms. After sounding Taps, the bugler will render a Hand Salute * (if in civilian dress, place your right hand over your heart) and Order Arms (bring the bugle down to your side as the firing party does with their rifles) on the command of the NCOIC of the firing party.
6. When a firing party is not available, the bugler will sound Taps on completion of the service and at an arranged signal by either the OIC, NCOIC, or officiating person. After sounding Taps, the bugler will render a Hand Salute* and Order Arms on his/her own. A recording of a firing party should not be used.
*recent legislation allows for veterans to offer a Hand Salute if not in uniform.
Bugle or Trumpet?
What type of instrument should you use for sounding Taps? A trumpet, cornet, or flugelhorn is a good substitute for a bugle when one is not available. Don’t use a trombone or saxophone (it’s been tried), as this is a bugle call. Finding a good bugle can be a problem but there are now companies making good bugles. Refer to Bugles for Performing and Collecting for types of bugles to use.
The Army is the only service that still uses bugles (made by Bach Stradivarius) to sound Taps at Arlington National Cemetery. These bugles are based on the regulation 1892 model, but pitched in B flat. The other services use regular B flat valved trumpets except for the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps (who perform at Standard Honors Funerals at ANC); they use two-valved bugles pitched in G.
Other Logistics to Consider
Any fee charged should cover the time needed to travel and expenses incurred as part of the performance. Even though Taps takes less than a minute to play, time is needed to find the cemetery, meet with the funeral director or person in charge of the ceremony and drive home. This does not count the time spent in getting information about the funeral and waiting for the funeral party to arrive at the cemetery. Sometimes you may wind up waiting for a few hours if a church service runs long.
My advice is to get as much information ahead of time as possible about the time of the service at the church or funeral home, the address of the cemetery, and phone numbers just in case of transportation problems. Finding the cemetery on a map or through a search on the computer is helpful too.
Remember – you can be two hours early for Taps but you can’t be two minutes late!
Overall Performance Guidelines
1. The sounding of Taps at ceremonies is the most sacred duty a bugler can perform. Every effort should be made to sound a perfect Taps in keeping with the solemn and impressive occasion of a military ceremony.
2. The call should be sounded with conviction and not rushed. Every effort should be made to perform musically and with good intonation.
3. Careful attention should be paid to the rhythm of the seventh, eighth, tenth, eleventh, thirteenth, and fourteenth notes of Taps to ensure that they are played as straight eighth notes.
I love your website; it is very informative and it shows you are knowledgable, credible and a true historian!
My Dad’s service is being held April 28th and I have 4 questions for which I am having trouble finding answers. I sincerely appreciate any information you can provide:
1. I am learning to play Taps for my Dad’s (a WWII Navy Veteran) private service at my sister’s home with military honors. Thanks to you, I contacted Tom Day at “Bugle Across America”; and he generously sent me a bugle with proper mouthpiece, books and CD! I want to assure all protocol is done correctly. QUESTION: At what point in the service is the flag folding and presentation? The civilian funeral director (where my parents prepaid for everything-a blessing!) says it is done simultaneous to the playing of Taps? I question that.
2. My Dad has been cremated. QUESTION: Where is the flag placed during the service? And where do I point the bell of the bugle?
3. Everything I have read about who to contact to provide uniformed military personnel for the flag ceremony and/or bugler (in case I can’t learn to play it perfectly) says to contact your funeral director and they will make appropriate contact; I read it is done through the DOD. It sounds like ours is not sure or hasn’t had many requests; and said they would contact a Naval office or VFW. QUESTION: Can you tell me who the appropriate contacts are?
4. We would like to have the 3 volleys fired, but can’t find where to request this. If the military can’t provide it, QUESTIONS: Do you know if they provide this; and if not, is it appropriate for civilians to do it with the proper attire and rifles; same as a civilian playing Taps?
Thank you in advance for your reply to my inquiries. My Dad was an amazing man; a true hero from the best generation that we are so rapidly losing. He deserves to be honored with all proper protocol. He was almost 91; and is also MY HERO!
Gratefully,
Jan Emerson
jemerson303@hotmail.com
(303) 888-3523
521 Peninsula Drive
Lake Almanor, CA 96137
I have a question regarding when taps is to be played. Is it to be the last item of the ceremony, or may a hymn [e.g. Amazing Grace] or prayer or blessing follow? Thanks for any information.
Hi
Maybe you didn’t read all the pages of this post
Please read:
http://tapsbugler.com/taps-performance-guidelines/3/
My question is what should a civilian wear while playing taps at a memorial service. Our town is dedicating a veteran memorial on 11-11-11. The school band will be performing. My son and another student (boy scout) is playing taps at the end. I have concerns with what my son should wear. Every man in our family has served in a branch of the military. I want to make sure my son (born at walter reed) shows the correct respect while playing taps.
Is there guidelines for who’s funeral taps may be played. I always thought it was military or service oriented (fire, police, etc.) I read in local paper today they plan to play it at a coon dog’s burial on Oct. 20th. I would like to stop this if you can give me something to use to do so.
Do not use a mute. NEVER depress any valve or valves partially when playing TAPS. A valve is ment to be depressed complertely if it is depressed at all. There are a few specific exceptions to this rule, none apply when playing TAPS.
Once is enough according to protocol. It was done that way because the bugler didn’t know better….
We had a military funeral for my Dad on the side of a mountain in Pennsylvania. They played taps twice, once toward the grave and once toward the mountains. Can you tell me why it was played twice? I have only seen it done once.
I was wondering ..we have a barbershop quartet..and there is a arrangement
of “taps”..note for note..and there are appropriate words for it..
Is it ok to sing this song in palce of the normal bugle?
Can it be sung for non-military funerals?
Thanks dale
Day is done..gone the sun..from the lakes..from the hills..from the sky..
all is well..safely rest..God is nigh
I have a question maybe someone will know the answer to: My Dad was a bugler in the US Army during WWII. He never much spoke of it. Can it be presumed that simply by virtue of being an Army bugler, he would know and be called upon to play Taps? Never had the chance to ask him and he has been gone for many years now. I live near a military installation, and every night at 10 pm I can hear the faint strains of Taps…always makes me wonder. Thank you for any answers you are able to provide.
Taps should be played as it is an AMERICAN bugle call and is our national song of remembrance. Plus so many of those killed on 9-11 where military and first responders…
I am not musical and have a Taps question. We were thinking of playing Taps at a ceremony in remembrence of 9/11. One of our planning members questioned if Taps could be played for civilians and not military members without being direspectful to the military. I have not found and answer and you seemed to be a great person to ask. What are the recommendations for playing Taps?
Thanks
none
Which valves are depressed on a cornet to play taps ?
It’s not traditionally done
I’m a member of American Legion Post 404, MO. I have a question about taps. Is it appropriate to have a drum roll before taps is played?
What is a good brand trumpet for playing taps?
I am an ICC (SS) USN Ret. As a member of the PGR, ALR,VFW,and presently Commander of the Southern Tier Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. on many occasions in the past have attended Funerals and memorials where no bugler could be obtained. In my 75th year I found that try as I might I was unable to condition my lips to play the bugle. Therefor I purchased an electronic bugle and case. The recording of taps was made at Arlington and is above reproach. It also has a volume which control which allows use indoors and outdoors. The horn I purchased is nickel plated and is the size of a baratone bugle without the valves. It can be played as a regular bugle. There have been NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK to date. Email me for info. at cobssbn610b@mkl.com with BUGLE in the subject block.
I am an avid American Civil War (ACW) re-enactor. As a non-veteran, is it appropriate to wear an ACW uniform and use an ACW period bugle when playing Taps at a military funeral?
I understand the great significance of the playing of Taps to honor those veterans that have passed, and have participated in many memorial services in the past. It wasn’t until Nov of 2010 while performing at a Veteran’s Day service that I had to step in for a bugler who couldn’t be in attendence. My designation on that particular occasion was to play Amazing Grace for the Veterans on the bagpipes, which I felt was a great honor in itself. When I was asked to play Taps, I admit it a bit unusual to hear on the pipes, but to those in attendence it meant so much especially to the Veterans. For future reference the music can be played as written without any transposition of notes to accomodate the bagpipes.
Getzen makes an excellent bugle which they call a “Field Trumpet”. It comes in two diffenent models in both laquered brass or silver. It is pitched in Bb and has an optional G tuning slide. I have not yet purchased one but am still doing Taps on my trumpet & sometimes cornet. I’m proud to be a member of “Bugles Across America” You have a really fine web site!
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Monson’s statement, beautifully said Sir. As a military reenactor and as the Bugler on our American Legion Post’s Honor Guard I do take a tax deduction for my mileage and uniform expenses but I would consider it a great dishonor to ever accept any monetary compensation for my services. As has been already said, if I’m thanked by the family or friends of the deceased veteran I always reply, “It is my honor and privilege”.
Thank you for this all inclusive information. As I am embarking upon performing Taps at veterans’ funerals without charge and have duly noted your overall performance guidelines and protocol for presentation, especially the remark that a veteran may give a Hand Salute when not in uniform. Very helpful, indeed.
Thank you for the guidelines. I am a civilian volunteer and have played TAPS for 43 1/2 years to date. For me, once it is time to play, the eyes close and nothing exists except the instrument and those 24 notes played to the best of one’s ability. It is and has been an honor and a privilege to play. I hope to continue playing as long as I am needed and am able to do so.
SING (play) the words [Day vs tay] [Gis is closer than dis] “D”one; Same with rhythm patterns: ” from” is longer than “the” (not quite dotted eighth to sixteenth, but not two eighth notes either [written music is only shorthand - it cannot describe the feeling (emotion) that is in the music. You are unaccompanied so the solo is yours. Pauses, fades (esp the last note) phrasing are all yours. . . HOLD EACH NOTE IN PITCH FOR THE DURATION. Always remember you are the last person on earth to speak to the deceased [but don't dwell on it or it will break you].
NO mute, and one would only “halfway depress” the valves on a trumpet if you are trying to do the “horse whinney” in Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”
That information is incorrect. Do not use a mute. Play on the open horn.
If you are playing Echo Taps and the other bugler is using a Boy Scout or similar bugle in “G”, a (Bb) trumpeter should play the call with the first and second valves fully depressed, lowering the trumpet one and one half steps to match the key of the bugle.
I have heard that playing taps on the trumpet you need to either have a straight mute, or halfway depress the first, second, and third I would like to know if that is true or just another myth as an eagle scout, and marine that is going to start playing at military funerals I want to do everythiing I can to get it. Right