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| how to buy your first trumpet - a guide for beginners |
As the trumpet is not as commonly played as say a guitar or piano the
prospective trumpet player, such as yourself, is often found wanting of
the information necessary to choose your first instrument. The
first thing you must consider is what pitch of trumpet you choose to
play. There are 8 different pitches but the most common is the Bb. The
Bb trumpet is used in almost every style of music from jazz to rock to
marching and symphonic. This choice will afford you the greatest range
of music to play and for the beginning player is often the best choice.
Trumpets are generally ranked in three levels student, intermediate, and professional models. These levels are not set in stone but are often a good starting point when considering the instrument and its value. Student trumpets are exactly that. They are generally not as high in quality but are, in most cases, durable and easy to maintain. Intermediate trumpets are designed for those who are ready to move past the basics into more complicated and advanced playing. They often require more maintenance but are of higher quality. Professional trumpets are designed for the most serious players. These instruments are built to the highest standards and use only the best quality materials. These guidelines are a good way to begin you decision on you instrument.Looking past these general guidelines you, as the prospective player, must consider the different parts of the trumpet and their effect on both the overall timber (sound quality) of the instrument and you comfort using it. A trumpet consists of 4 main parts the bore, the mouthpiece, the valves, and the bell as well as the finish. Each part affects both the timber and you comfort with the instrument. Bore The first trait of a trumpet you must consider is the bore. The bore of any brass instrument is diameter of the tubing used throughout the instrument. Most trumpet players use a trumpet with a bore around .459" to .460". The size of the bore affects the power of the instrument and in turn the effort needed to play the instrument. The larger the bore the more effort you will need to play the trumpet and the more power will be conveyed threw your playing. For new or younger players though a small bore should be a definite consideration. Mouthpiece The next part you should look at is the mouthpiece/mouthpipe. The mouthpiece is long slender pipe which bridges the gap between you mouth and main tuning slide. There are several things you must consider when purchasing a mouthpiece. Trumpet mouthpieces are comprised of several variables you must consider; the material it is made of, the rim diameter and couture, the shape, size, and depth of the cup, the size of the bore, and the size and shape of the back bore. Most mouthpieces are made from yellow brass, red brass, or sterling silver. Red brass is the most common for beginner players because it is easy to maintain and less susceptible to corrosion. Yellow is then more common in intermediate and silver is generally the highest quality. The size shape and depth of the cup should be your next consideration. A larger mouthpiece is usually recommended for beginning players because a larger mouthpiece produces a higher quality tone. The added size generally makes higher notes more difficult to attain but is a good investment once you learn to compensate for its larger size. Finally you should remember that the size and shape of the bore and back bore are related to you trumpet and its size. Valves Now we move onto the valves. Though much of the change in pitch is done with your mouth, the valves afford you an even greater range of notes. The greatest difference in valves is the material they are made of. Most student trumpets come with nickel-plated pistons because they are hard, durable, and  tolerant to infrequent cleaning. These qualities make nickel-plated valves considerable easier to maintain but, with proper care, the softer Monel alloy with last longer and wear in for more comfort. The Monel style valves are often seen on more expensive, higher level trumpets, but can be found on student models.Bell The bell is the final part of the trumpet and is the part where sound exits the instrument. The material it is comprised of and the technique used to make it affects the overall tone of the instrument. The most commonly used material is a yellow brass in every level of trumpet, but if you want a darker, warmer tone to your trumpet rose brass is the way to go. There are also silver bells but these are usually only seen in high-grade horns. But more important than the material is the way the bell is made. Most student trumpets have what are called welded bells which are less expensive, but don’t provide as high a sound quality. For the best performance you want to look for a one piece, hand-hammered bell. But these are usually only seen again in high-grade trumpets. Finishes The final thing you should consider when purchasing a trumpet is the finish. Although the finish is not necessarily a part of the trumpet, it dose affect the quality and the sound of the instrument. Most trumpets have a clear lacquer finish over a buffed brass. But a sliver plate finish is often considered better because it dampens the vibrations less than the brass lacquer. The silver plate finish will also help you stand at the front of the performance. |