Brass Family Instruments Lesson

The Brass Family

Instruments in the brass family make sound when the player blows into a mouthpiece. The player’s lips vibrate against the mouthpiece, creating a buzzing sound. That vibration travels through the tubing of the instrument and comes out as a musical tone. The length and shape of the tubing determine the pitch of the sound.

The trumpet is one of the most well-known brass instruments. It has a bright, bold sound and is used in orchestras, jazz bands, and marching bands. The player changes pitches by pressing three valves and by changing the tension of the lips.

The trombone is unique among brass instruments because it uses a slide instead of valves to change pitch. Moving the slide in and out changes the length of the tubing, which changes the pitch. The trombone produces a rich, powerful sound.

French Horn and Tuba

The French horn has a distinctive coiled shape and a wide bell that faces backward. It was originally used for fox hunts because its sound resembles a human voice calling across distances. Today it is considered one of the most difficult instruments in the orchestra to play. Its mellow, warm tone is heard in both orchestras and concert bands.

The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched instrument in the brass family. Its deep, rich sound provides the bass foundation for orchestras and bands. The tuba uses rotary or piston valves, and the player must move a large amount of air through its wide tubing to produce its powerful low tones.

All brass instruments share the same basic principle: the player’s lips create the vibration, and the instrument amplifies and shapes that vibration into music. The many different sizes and shapes of brass instruments give each one its own unique voice in the orchestra.

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