About Trumpets

The Natural Trumpet

A basic or “natural” trumpet is simply a tube with a mouthpiece at one end and a flared bell at the other… and the mouthpiece and bell are optional! You can make a natural trumpet out of a ram’s horn, a conch shell, a garden hose, or even a cardboard tube. The length of the tube determines its fundamental pitch and overtone series. The valves (if it has them) add length to the tube, allowing it to play scales. Check out “How Trumpets Work” from the menu to learn more.

Parts of the Trumpet

Mouthpiece
Leadpipe
Right finger crook
Main tuning slide
Main Water key (“spit valve”)
Valve casings (1st valve casing, 2nd, 3rd)
Valve caps
Valve casing bottom cover
First valve crook, slide, and thumb saddle
Second valve crook and slide
Third valve crook, slide, finger ring, slide stopper, and water key
Bell
Braces

Parts of the Valves

Finger buttons
Valve top cap
Valve spring
Felts
Pistons

Trumpet Attributes

Pitch

The fundamental open-fingered (or first-position) key of the instrument. On trumpet, the open fingering is always played as a written “C” (see above), i.e. the written, open C on an Eb trumpet plays a concert Eb. But on other brass instruments, the written and concert pitch are the same. For example, the lowest open fingering on F horn plays its written F, the lowest open fingering on Bb tuba and the lowest first position on the trombone plays their written Bb.

Bore

The inside diameter of the tubing (small bore vs. medium bore vs. large bore), and how it changes (conical vs. cylindrical; see below). The numerical bore size is measured at the opening of the 2nd valve slide. A smaller bore instrument plays more easily, especially in the high register, but is not capable of as great a volume, and typically exhibits a brighter sound compared to a larger bore. Most professional classical players in orchestra and concert band play medium-large or large-bore trumpets.

Conical Bore

An instrument whose bore gets larger as it approaches the bell (like a cone). There are different degrees of conical bore: how much of the tubing is conical? How fast does it grow? Conical bore instruments create a more mellow, darker sound, usually at the expense of projection and high range. Cornets, flugelhorns, french horns, euphoniums and tubas are considered conical bore instruments.

Cylindrical Bore

An instrument whose bore remains the same for most or all of the distance between the leadpipe and the bell. Cylindrical bore instruments create a brighter, more strident sound that projects well. Includes trumpets, trombones, and baritones.

Bell Geometry

A trumpet with a larger bell flare creates a more omnidirectional sound, whereas a narrower bell is more directional (the sound is much louder directly in front of the player).

Material & Thickness

What metal alloy (or plastic) is the instrument made from (see Trumpet Metals), and how thick is the tubing wall? An instrument may incorporate multiple alloys. Thickness (i.e. gauge) is rarely specified, but makes a difference in the playing qualities (and weight) of the instrument.

Finish

Exterior material and appearance, e.g. silver, lacquer, raw