Welcome to our Product Knowledge Center!
Our team here at Instrumental Savings is excited to share with you all
that we know about trumpets.
Making an informed decision is critical to any investment and this is
no exception. We will aim to answer the questions below in order to give
you insight and recommendations on trumpets so that you can make a
well-informed purchase.
•What is a trumpet and what are its parts? •What are the different types of trumpet and which type is for me? •Why do some trumpets cost more than others? •Which brands make good trumpets? •How do I take care of my trumpet once I have it?
What is a trumpet and what are its parts? The
trumpet is a brass instrument. A brass instrument is such because of
how it produces sound and not simply because it is made of brass.
Instruments in the Brass family produce sound by the vibration of air in
tubular resonators along with the vibration made by the player’s lips.
Other popular brass instruments besides the trumpet are: French horns, trombones, tubas, cornets, flugelhorns, euphoniums, and sousaphones.To understand the trumpet more, it is important to know its parts and their functions.
Let’s take a look at the parts of a trumpet
Trumpet Mouthpiece
– this is the part of the trumpet that comes into contact with the
player’s lips. It is what the player buzzes into to produce sound from
the trumpet. The mouthpiece has different parts namely the rim, cup,
throat, backbore and shank.
•Rim
– this is the part of the mouthpiece that comes directly into contact
with the player’s lips. It is the circle that is made at the top of the
mouthpiece. The shape of the rim offers different things to the player: Wide Rim– increases endurance (helping the player play longer) Narrow Rim– improves flexibility and range (helping the player play more notes)
•Cup
– this is the part of the mouthpiece that forces the air produced by
the player to go into the backbore through its concave shape. The cup’s
shape and depth offer different things to the player: Deep Cup – darkens tone especially in low registers Shallow Cup – brightens tone especially in high registers Semi-Spherical Cup – makes notes that are easy to tell apart Conical (or cone-shaped) Cup – makes notes that are harder to tell apart
•Throat
– this part of the mouthpiece determines how smooth the air flows in
from the cup. The throat size offers different things for the player: Large – increases volume and sharpens tones in both high and low registers Small – increases resistance, endurance, and brilliance, but flattens high register tones
•Backbore
– this part of the mouthpiece is responsible for spreading or
channeling the sound. The shape of the bore influences the sound it
produces: Conical backbore – makes the sound more “full” Cylindrical backbore – makes the sound more “choppy”
•Shank – this part of the mouthpiece is the long piece of hollow metal that extends from the cup and connects to the instrument
Bell
– this is the part of the trumpet where the sound comes out from. Bells
are made out of brass that is lacquered in either gold or silver. The
lacquer makes a difference: Gold Lacquer – will give a warmer and darker tone Silver Lacquer – will give a brighter tone and more projection
Lead Pipe – this is the tube from the mouthpiece to the tuning slide.
Tuning
Slide – this is the slide located at the end of the lead pipe opposite
the mouthpiece and is where you can set your main tuning. For fine
tuning, the valve slides are used.
Valve slides – the three valve
slides of the trumpet take part in producing sound and with them, the
player is able to control the pitch of the notes.
Valves – there
are three valves in a trumpet. Each valve changes the air blown by the
player to different slides. So when each valve is pressed down, it
lowers the pitch of the instrument. Each valve has a different purpose: 1st valve – lowers the highest note by a whole step 2nd valve – lowers the highest note by a half step 3rd valve – used to make notes in lower registers
Valves can either be Piston or Rotary:
•Piston
Valve – this is the most commonly used valves for trumpets. In a piston
valve, a cylindrical piston within a chamber moves laterally to open or
close a pathway through the chamber. •Rotary Valve – In a rotary valve, there is a plug that rotates within a chamber and the pathway is altered when it is engaged.
*Another
type of valve that you may encounter when inquiring about trumpets is
the Monel Valve. Monel is a material that valves are made out of. This
material is a nickel-copper and zinc alloy that is hard to get and
manufacture (which makes it more expensive) but highly resistant to
corrosion. The student model with monel value we recommend would be:
Finger Rings –
allows the player to play the trumpet with just one hand. This is
important so that the other hand of the player can be used to turn music
sheets.
What are the different types of trumpets and which one is for me?
Now
that we know what a trumpet is and what its parts are for, we can
discuss what the different types of trumpets are. In finding the trumpet
you need, you must first ask yourself what kind of trumpeter you are
(beginner, intermediate, or professional). Here, we will go through the
trumpeter levels and find suitable recommendations for each to help you
determine which trumpet is best for you.
•Made for beginners and is more affordable •Reasonable
quality in craftsmanship (as compared to intermediate and professional
trumpets that have better quality in craftsmanship) •Designed for durability and for easy production of tone •Manufactured in large quantities with some compromises on manufacturing in order to keep the trumpet’s price affordable
•Made
for players that want something more advanced than a student trumpet
but not quite ready yet for a professional level of trumpet •Features better quality in material and craftsmanship •These trumpets are usually silver-plated and come with better cases •Some intermediate trumpets have a “seamless” bell for even vibrations in all registers •More desirable with Monel valves
The Professional Trumpets •Made
for the professional trumpeter and is best for those who are committed
to playing the trumpet as they are a long term investment •Available in different notes and not just in the usual Bb •They are largely hand-made (which takes more time to make them) thus these trumpets cost more •More
options for valve slides as professional trumpets usually come with a
1st and 3rd valve slide triggers that are designed for fast adjustments
(such as altering the pitch of notes) while playing •More desirable with Monel valves
•Most popular and commonly used trumpet •Most trumpets (regardless of type or level) are Bb which makes it the standard •Most trumpet music is written in the key of Bb •Known for its warm tone and good response •This trumpet is also good for beginners •Frequently seen in Jazz ensembles, Rock bands, and Classical orchestras
•Second-most common type of trumpet after the Bb trumpet •Slightly smaller than the Bb trumpet which gives it a brighter sound •It is pitched differently from the Bb and has a different set of fingering •Used in orchestral work since it is written in the same key as the piano, strings, and other orchestral instruments
•Piccolo trumpet is the smallest trumpet and has a very high pitch •They come in different keys but are most popular as a Bb instrument •These trumpets are usually used for Baroque Classical music and Christmas-themed music
•The Pocket Trumpet is a short Bb trumpet •The tubes are tightly wound to make it concise and produce a unique tone quality that is articulate and warm •Mostly used in marching bands because it is easy to carry and transport
Less popularly, other trumpets also come in D, E-flat, E, F, G or A
Why do some trumpets cost more than others?
Varying prices according to level
Prices
of trumpets according to their level will vary. Student trumpets are
built more inexpensively because they do not have the same quality of
craftsmanship that the intermediate or professional trumpets have. Also,
Intermediate and especially professional trumpets cost more because
they have more features to suit the more complex needs and tastes of
more experienced players.
Prices
of trumpets also vary because of their finish. All trumpets come in
either lacquered brass (gold-colored) or silver-plated exteriors.
Student trumpets are mostly in lacquered brass because they are cheaper
to manufacture than silver. Most companies do not see the need in
investing their resources on student instruments which why is they are
usually made in lacquered brass. So since silver-plated exteriors cost
more to manufacture, they are more costly trumpets.
It is
important to note that the finish of a trumpet also affects its sound.
Lacquered brass will produce a slightly warmer and darker sound than a
silver-plated trumpet. While silver-plated trumpets produce a brighter
and more resonant sound.
Which brands make good trumpets?
Bach Trumpets •All USA made in Indiana •Played in most professional orchestras and in high school and college ensembles •Leading #1 brand in orchestral horns in the United States •Known for making different models of trumpets with various combinations of parts (such as lead pipes and bells)
Yamaha Trumpets •Construction quality is first-rate and consistent •Known for making a line of limited production Artist model trumpets. •They have the largest stable of artists and tend to listen to
their comments about design
See all Yamaha Trumpets Conn Trumpets •Like Bach, they are known for making various combinations of parts for models •Like Yamaha, they are a large corporation with huge product lines making it easier to find and purchase their horns
Keeping
your trumpet well-maintained is very important in order to keep it
clear-sounding. To prevent dents on your trumpet, always keep it in the
case when it is not in use. Most trumpets available for purchase come
with cases for them so finding a case will not be a problem. Lubricating
your trumpet is also very important. Valve oil should be used to keep
the valves well-lubricated. Do this whenever the instrument is played or
as often as you can. It is also recommended to wipe or clean the
mouthpiece regularly with a mouthpiece brush and cleaning snake. To
clean the entire trumpet, you can soak it in soapy water for 15 minutes
and then proceed to wiping its parts with special brushes and leaving
them to dry.
