Brass Instrument
The trumpet is probably the most well-known brass instrument. Early versions of this instrument consisted of just a tube that could play the harmonic series, known as a natural trumpet.
These were seen in baroque and classical music. In the early 19th century, valved instruments took over, and this allowed trumpets to play in all 12 keys.
Trumpets generally use a piston valve system to alter the tube length and pitch of notes. Rotary valves, on the other hand, are used in some eastern European countries.
Some trumpets use fancier materials to provide more resilience to corrosion and offer a nicer feeling when pressing keys. The Yamaha YTR2330 is a good example of this with its Monel valves.
In ensembles, trumpets are often the leading instrument, playing melodies and providing fanfare. They are seen in many, many genres, from classical music to jazz, folk, and pop.
There are times that call for different kinds of trumpets, most often in brass bands or orchestras. These are instruments built on different fundamental pitches, giving you C trumpets and Eb trumpets. They allow you to access different ranges, and they may have slightly different timbres.
If you’re looking for a good quality starter trumpet, check out our Deluxe Trumpet.
Trumpets feature very prominently in the opening to Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra”.
