Choosing A Brass Instrument To Learn
Zinc and copper mostly make up the alloy used to make brass instruments, and this metal’s properties give the instruments their tone as air passes through a metal mouthpiece into a metal tube. This metal tube is called a bore. Vibrations in the air in the instrument are set in motion by the player’s lips, and the size and shape of the instrument are what causes the unique sound of each one. There are numerous types of brass instruments and for someone who is looking to learn to play one of them, choosing the right one can be challenging. Let’s look at the different types so you can decide on your preference.
Trumpets and cornets
These are by far the most popular of the brass instruments and they are played in both music bands and traditional orchestras. They have three valves and a cylindrical bore. Trumpets and cornets produce the same range of notes, but the cornet is more diminuitive. A trumpet is the idea choice when beginning because it is well-priced, easy to carry, and fairly simple to learn, therefore you will get more instant gratification.
French horn
The French horn found its place in the music of the classical orchestras of the 18th century and was also featured in the music produced by Haydn and Mozart. The sound is much more mellow and distant than a trumpet. It has twelve feet of tubing which is bent into a coil that terminates in a flared bell. It is often used to fill in the middle of the brass sound. The mellophone is an equivalent for a French horn in a marching band.
Trombone
The basic type of trombone does not have any valves unlike the other brass instruments used in modern orchestras. The slide is a section of tubing that the player moves in and out, and this facilitates higher and lower pitches, as well as smooth pitch bends/glissandos. The trombone has a mellower sound that sits slightly lower in pitch than the trumpet.
Baritone horn and Euphonium
These instruments fall in the low and middle range of the brass family and are often used in bands and school orchestras. They are, however, rarely found in a larger orchestra. Their range is the same as the trombone, however, due to their cylindrical shape they produce an even mellower and sweet sound. The baritone horn is a convenient size to carry, despite its lower pitch. The wider bore and gentle sound are the distinct features of the euphonium.
Tuba
This one is the largest of all the brass instruments and is also the lowest sounding of all. It is conical in shape and the sound produced by it is mellower and more distant than the other brass instruments. Although cumbersome and heavy, especially for younger players, it remains popular because it plays the bass parts. For younger players, a sousaphone may be the right choice since it curls around the player with its bell resting on the left shoulder. Because of the tuba’s inherent unergonomic shape and weight, the sousaphone, which wraps around the player making it easier to carry, and which plays a similar pitch, is used in marching bands.
Recording Your Instrument
Brass instruments create a large dynamic range – this is the difference between the quietest and loudest sound. For this reason a home recording studio must have the right recording studio furniture to cope with the sound levels without vibrating in sympathy. Alternatively, you could go to a professional recording facility, but that might be beyond your budget initially.
Whether you chose to learn one of the smaller options like the trumpet, or the large tuba, the choice will depend on your own personal musical preferences. The trumpet should be your main consideration if you want the easiest brass instrument to play. If you want to play in the bass range, often with more simple melodies, choose a tuba or sousaphone. The choice may be any, however, keep in mind that learning any musical instrument requires commitment and hard work on the part of the student.