Brass instruments

A brass instrument is defined by the way the instrument is played and not if the instrument itself is made of brass. Brass instruments are played by the musician vibrating their lips to produce sound. The way the musician holds their mouth or embouchure determines the pitch of the note played. Brass instruments also use valves or slides do achieve different notes or tones on the instrument.

Brass instruments that are played with valves include the trumpet, tuba, french horn, euphonium, cornet, Flugelhorn, baritone horn, sousaphone, mellophone, and the saxhorn. Valves can be either piston or rotary valves. Most brass instruments use piston valves, while the rotary valve is used for the french horn and tuba.

When valves are used, they change the pitch of the brass instrument by changing the length of the tubing used to make the instrument. This lengthens the distance that air must travel through the instrument, thus lowering the pitch. Combinations of valves depressed, along with the musicians embouchure produces different notes or tones.

Brass instruments that are played with slides include the trombone, the sackbut, and the bazooka. These instruments have a slide that when moved by the musician changes pitch. The slide acts as the valves, by lengthening the tubing that the air must travel through lowering the tone. Different slide positions, along with the musicians embouchure are used to produce the various tones and notes.

The bugle is a brass instrument known as a natural brass. The bugle doesn't have valves or a slide and is only capable of pitch that is in the instruments harmonic series. The musicians embouchure is the only thing used to change pitch on a bugle.

Similar to the woodwind instruments, some brass instruments are keyed or fingered. This means that the instrument has holes that are covered by the fingers, or finger operated keys. These types of brass instruments include the cornett, ophicleide, keyed trumpet and serpent and are generally harder to play than valved or slide instruments.

Brass instruments may also be classed by its bore. The bore can be in two different shapes. Cylindrical bores have a constant tubing diameter. It is the same size throughout the instrument. These instruments have a bright tone. A conical bore means that the tubing gradually increases in diameter throughout the instrument. Brass instruments with a conical bore have a more mellow tone than those with a cylindrical bore. 

Brass instruments are made of lacquered metal. Some are made of brass and then lacquered to prevent corrosion. These types of instruments generally cost anywhere from $200.00 into the thousands. Some brass instruments are actually plated with gold or silver and can be very costly, and some high priced specialty orders are even made of wood.

Brass instruments can be played at early ages. Children can begin playing, but because of changes in the child's teeth, the embouchure must be adjusted. It is generally better to begin lessons around age 11 when the permanent teeth are in. Pressure on the teeth can cause problems.