Brass Instruments

Brass Instruments

• Brass instruments make up the brass family of orchestral instruments.

• Brass instruments are sometimes made of brass, but also other metal.

• These instruments all have three major sections: a mouthpiece, a length of tubing, and a bell.

• You usually think of them as a “fanfare” instrument.

Brass Instruments

• In their present form, brass instruments have been around for about 1000 years, although there is evidence that similar instruments have been around since the beginning of time.

• These early “brass-style” instruments included conch shells, animal horns and hollow sticks.

A A shofarshofar

An ancient trumpet An ancient trumpet made from rams made from rams

hornhorn

A A conch shellconch shell

A sea shell used as A sea shell used as a trumpeta trumpet

An An AlphornAlphorn

A horn that is A horn that is made of wood and made of wood and is in many section is in many section – still used today!– still used today!

Brass Instruments

• Since their were no microphones in churches 1000 years ago, brass instruments were used instead of singers so that everyone could hear.

• Those songs sounded like this.

Brass Instruments

• There are four major members of the brass family: the Trumpet, the French Horn, the Trombone, and the Tuba.

• Each of these instruments has its own distinct look and sound.

The Trumpet

• Smallest and highest of the brasses, it usually plays the melody or soprano part.

• The trumpet is sometimes made of brass, but usually it’s made of silver.

• It has three valves.

A Sliver A Sliver TrumpetTrumpet

A Brass A Brass TrumpetTrumpet

A Special A Special “Jazz” “Jazz” Trumpet Trumpet used by used by Dizzy Dizzy GillespieGillespie

The French Horn

• The second smallest of the brass family, it usually plays the middle harmony or alto part.

• The French horn is usually made of brass, but some are silver and some are made of nickel.

• It has three valves and is played with the right hand in the bell.

• The French horn is the only “left-handed” instrument.

A “Brass” A “Brass” French French HornHorn

A “Silver” A “Silver” French French HornHorn

The French Horn The French Horn is played with is played with

your right hand your right hand in the bellin the bell

The Trombone

• The oldest member of the brass family, it usually plays the middle harmony or tenor part.

• The Trombone horn is almost always made of brass, but some are silver and some are made of mixture of brass and copper (rose brass).

• The Trombone is the only instrument in the world that uses a slide rather than keys, valves, or strings. (Some trombones have a single valve that allows them to play lower notes)

• The Trombone is was originally called the Sackbut.• The trombone is also the instrument you hear making

the “sliding” noise in Jazz and Dixie Land bands

The The TromboneTrombone

A Trombone A Trombone with a valvewith a valve

Two Original Two Original SackbutsSackbuts

The Tuba

• The largest of the brasses, it usually plays the low harmony or bass part.

• The Tuba is made of brass or silver.

• It has three or four valves.

• Some special marching band tubas, called Sousaphones, are made out of a very thick plastic.

A “Brass” A “Brass” TubaTuba

A “Silver” A “Silver” TubaTuba

A fiberglass A fiberglass SousaphoneSousaphone