The Trumpet

THE TRUMPET

The trumpet is one popular example of a brass instrument. The most common type of trumpet is Bb trumpet, meaning that if the player plays a C, it will sound like a Bb in concert pitch. Other types of trumpets include low F, C, E and G trumpets. Trumpets play an important part in jazz music.

The trumpet contains three keys called valves that the player can press to change the pitch. Many years ago, when the use of instrument music was growing popular trumpets became very important. Trumpets were long and without valves. This meant that a player had to control the pitch of sound with only his mouth which was very difficult. However, in 1814 a new trumpet was invented by Stoelzel and Bluhmel which had valves and therefore, made notes easier to play on the trumpet.

Sound is produced by blowing air through closed lips, producing a buzz into the mouthpiece and starting and wave vibration in the air column inside the trumpet. Some famous trumpeters include Louis Armstrong, Donald Byrd, Miles Davis, Maynard Ferguson and Dizzy Gillespie to name a few.

Brass instruments include the French horn, the trombone, the trumpet and the tuba.