Types of Trumpet

Different Trumpets, Different Tasks

Just as there are countless genres in the world of music, there are different types of trumpets to suit every style.

Click on the tabs below to discover basic information about the different types of trumpets. Who knows, maybe you will decide to specialize in the piccolo trumpet! But before we continue, it's important to know some important points:

- Trumpets come in different tonalities.

- When using trumpets that play in different tonalities, transposition is necessary.

- Transposition is an advanced note reading technique. For more information, you can look up the term “transposition” in the glossary.

- Timbre refers to the character of the sound. For example, “The timbre of your playing is very warm and soft.”

Bb Trumpet

B♭ Trumpet
Uses: General use, jazz, solo performances, concert band, marching band, mariachi music and orchestra (depending on the orchestra and country).

Timbre: Generally known as the “classic trumpet sound”, although it varies depending on the brand, mouthpiece and other factors. It gives the typical trumpet sound you hear in concert and jazz ensembles.

Info: This is the most common type of trumpet, and most people learn to play the trumpet on this instrument.

C Trumpet

C Trumpet

Areas of Use: Orchestra, symphony and solo performances.

Timbre: The B♭ has a brighter tone than the trumpet and can be heard clearly even in a large orchestra.

Info: The C trumpet sounds one full tone (one step) higher than the B♭ trumpet. It is especially preferred in classical music and orchestras.

Eb Trumpet

Eb Trumpet

Areas of Use: Solo performances and orchestra/symphony music.

Timbre: It has an extremely bright tone and produces a very loud sound compared to the B♭ trumpet.

Info: The B♭ has much shorter pipes than the trumpet, so it sounds 3.5 full stops louder. It is used especially in old classical solo works such as the Haydn and Hummel concertos. 🎺

Flugelhorn

Flugelhorn

Areas of Usage: Primarily used in jazz music.

Timbre: It has an extremely soft, warm and dark tone. It is one of the indispensable instruments of the smooth jazz genre.

Information: The flugelhorn has a conical shape, meaning that its horn widens as it moves towards the bell. The B♭ trumpet, on the other hand, is cylindrical, meaning that the pipe width remains constant until it approaches the bell. The warm and full sound of the Flügelhorn is due to this conical design.

Piccolo Trumpet

Piccolo Trumpet

Areas of Use: Baroque solo works, orchestral/ symphony and occasionally pop music.

Timbre: It has a very high-pitched, bright and piercing tone. It really sounds like a tiny trumpet.

Info: The B♭ is half the size of a trumpet and is often used to play works from the Baroque period. It has also been used occasionally in pop music; for example, the famous solo in The Beatles' song “Penny Lane” was played on a piccolo trumpet.

Cornet

Cornet

Uses: Beginning instrument for young children, concert band and solo performances.

Timbre: B♭ is similar to the trumpet, but has a softer and less bright/piercing tone.

Info: Its small size makes it an ideal instrument for children whose hands are not yet big enough for the trumpet. Many of the world's best trumpet players started their musical career on the cornet.

Pocket Trumpet

Pocket Trumpet

Areas of Use: Generally used for entertainment purposes.

Timbre: The B♭ is similar to the trumpet, but has a tighter and narrower sound.

Info: Its small size makes it easy to carry, but it is not considered a professional instrument. If you can't take your big B♭ trumpet on vacation, a pocket trumpet will do for a few days.

The Rotary Trumpet

The Rotary Trumpet

Areas of Use: Orchestral and solo performances.

Timbre: It has a very soft tone and the transitions between notes are much smoother.

Info: This instrument uses rotary valves, similar to the French horn, instead of piston valves. There are also different variants, such as the piccolo trumpet with rotary valves. It is especially popular in European orchestras.

Herald Trumpet

Areas of Use: Ceremonies and official events.

Timbre: It has a sound character very similar to a B♭ or C trumpet.

Information: The small hooks on the bell are designed for hanging flags or banners during ceremonies. It is often used by royal musicians or army bands and is played to announce the entrance of important people. The extra weight on the front (and the flag) can make it more tiring to hold the instrument steady.

The Bass Trumpet

The Bass Trumpet

Areas of Use: Special trumpet ensembles, brass ensembles and some orchestral works.

Timbre: Very low frequency and produces a sound more similar to a tenor trombone than a trumpet.

Info: The B♭ plays a full octave (8 notes) lower than the trumpet. Because of its large mouthpiece, it is usually preferred by trombone or euphonium players rather than trumpet players.