The trumpet is a brass instrument often found in classical and jazz music groups. Trumpets vary in size and sound, from the small piccolo trumpet, which produces the highest notes in the brass family, to the larger bass trumpet, which sounds one octave lower than a standard B♭ or C trumpet.

Trumpet-like instruments have been used for thousands of years as tools for signaling in battles or during hunting. These instruments became musical tools in the late 1300s or early 1400s. Today, trumpets are used in many types of music, including orchestras, concert bands, chamber ensembles, and jazz groups. They are also common in popular music and are often part of school band programs. Sound is created when a musician vibrates their lips inside the mouthpiece, causing a sound wave to travel through the instrument’s tubing. Since the late 1400s, most trumpets have been made from brass tubing shaped into a rounded rectangle.

There are many types of trumpets. The most common type is a B♭ trumpet, which has a tubing length of about 1.48 meters (4 feet 10 inches). The cornet is similar to the trumpet but has a different shape inside its tubing—its bore is conical, while the trumpet’s bore is cylindrical. Early trumpets could not change pitch because they lacked valves, but modern trumpets usually have three or four valves to adjust pitch. Most trumpets use piston-style valves, though some use rotary-style valves. Rotary-valved trumpets are often used in orchestras, especially in German-style ensembles, though this varies by region. A person who plays the trumpet is called a trumpet player or trumpeter.

Etymology

The English word "trumpet" was first used in the late 1300s. It came from the Old French word "trompette," which is a shortened form of "trompe." The word "trump," meaning trumpet, was used in English as early as 1300. "Trompe" in Old French meant a long, tube-shaped musical instrument played with wind. This word is related to similar words in Provençal and Italian, such as "tromba." These words likely came from a Germanic language, as seen in Old High German "trumpa" and Old Norse "trumba," which also mean "trumpet." The word may have been created to sound like the instrument's noise.

History

The earliest trumpets were made over 4,000 years ago. Examples include bronze and silver trumpets found in the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt, bronze lurs from Scandinavia, and metal trumpets from China. Trumpets from the Oxus civilization in Central Asia, dating to the 3rd millennium BC, had decorative swellings in the middle but were made from a single sheet of metal, which was an impressive achievement for that time.

The Salpinx was a straight trumpet about 62 inches (1,600 mm) long, made of bone or bronze. The earliest written description of its sound appears in Homer’s Iliad, from around the 9th or 8th century BCE. These trumpets were used in contests during the original Olympic Games. The Shofar, made from a ram’s horn, and the chazozra, made of metal, are both mentioned in the Bible. They were played in Solomon’s Temple about 3,000 years ago and are still used during religious ceremonies today.

The Moche people of ancient Peru included trumpets in their artwork from around AD 300. Early trumpets were used for signaling in military or religious events, not for music as it is known today. The modern bugle continues this tradition of signaling.

During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, improvements in instrument design and metalworking made trumpets more useful as musical instruments. Natural trumpets of this time had a single coiled tube without valves, limiting them to playing only notes from one set of harmonics. To change keys, players had to use different parts called crooks. The development of a higher, "clarino" register by skilled trumpeters, such as Cesare Bendinelli, helped the trumpet become popular during the Baroque era, known as the "Golden Age of the natural trumpet." Many musical compositions were written for talented trumpeters during this time. Natural trumpet playing was revived in the mid-20th century and is now practiced worldwide. Some modern players in Germany and the UK use natural trumpets with small holes to help adjust the tuning of notes.

During the classical and romantic periods, the trumpet was often used in a supporting role by composers because of the natural trumpet’s limitations. Berlioz wrote in 1844:

Construction

The trumpet is made from brass tubing that is bent twice to form a rounded shape. Like other brass instruments, sound is created when air is blown through the player's lips, which are slightly apart. This causes a buzzing sound that enters the mouthpiece and starts vibrations in the air inside the trumpet. The player can choose different pitches by adjusting the size of their lips and the tension of their mouth (called the embouchure).

The mouthpiece has a circular rim that helps the lips vibrate comfortably. Behind the rim is the cup, which directs air into a narrow opening called the back bore or shank. This opening gradually widens to match the size of the trumpet’s lead pipe. The shape and size of these parts affect the sound quality, how easy the instrument is to play, and the player’s comfort. Usually, a deeper and wider cup creates a darker, richer sound.

Modern trumpets have three (or sometimes four) piston valves. When pressed, each valve adds more tubing, which lowers the pitch. The first valve lowers the pitch by one whole step (two semitones), the second by one half step (one semitone), and the third by one and a half steps (three semitones). With three valves, there are eight possible combinations (including using none), but only seven different lengths of tubing because the third valve alone creates a length similar to the combination of the first and second valves. In practice, there is often a slight difference between these combinations, and players choose the one that best tunes the note. If a fourth valve is present, as on some piccolo trumpets, it lowers the pitch by a perfect fourth (five semitones). These valves allow the trumpet to play all twelve notes of the chromatic scale, making it capable of playing any note in classical music.

The overall pitch of the trumpet can be adjusted using the tuning slide. Pulling the slide out lowers the pitch, while pushing it in raises it. The player can also slightly change the pitch by adjusting the embouchure.

To improve tuning and reduce the need for slides, Renold Schilke designed the tuning-bell trumpet. By removing the brace that connects the bell to a valve, the bell can be adjusted to tune the instrument. This allows the player to tune the trumpet using the bell while keeping the slide nearly closed, improving the instrument’s tuning and responsiveness.

When the trumpet is pressed to the lips, it acts like a closed tube, so it naturally produces only every other note in the harmonic series. The bell’s shape helps make the missing notes audible. Most notes in this series are slightly out of tune, so modern trumpets have slide mechanisms for the first and third valves. These slides can be extended or retracted using the left thumb and ring finger to correct the tuning.

Trumpets can be made from materials other than brass, such as plastic.

Types

The most common type of trumpet is the B♭ trumpet. Other types, such as A, C, D, E♭, E, low F, and G trumpets, are also available. The C trumpet is frequently used in American orchestras, where it is played alongside the B♭ trumpet. Orchestra trumpet players are skilled at changing the key of music while reading it, often playing pieces written for A, B♭, D, E♭, E, or F trumpets, as well as for B, C♯, F♯, or G trumpets (which are used less often) on the C or B♭ trumpet.

The smallest trumpets are called piccolo trumpets. The most common models can play in both B♭ and A, with separate leadpipes for each key. The tubing in a B♭ piccolo trumpet is half the length of a standard B♭ trumpet, making it sound one octave higher. Piccolo trumpets in G, F, and C are also made but are less common. Most piccolo trumpets have four valves instead of three. The fourth valve lowers the pitch by a fourth, allowing players to reach lower notes and use alternate fingerings for trills. Famous trumpet players known for their skill on the piccolo trumpet include Maurice André, Håkan Hardenberger, David Mason, and Wynton Marsalis.

Trumpets in the key of low G are also called sopranos or soprano bugles, named after their origin from military bugles. These are traditionally used in drum and bugle corps and use either rotary or piston valves. Trumpets in low F were common in the 19th century, with parts written by composers like Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, and Anton Bruckner. These parts are in the upper register (unlike parts for alto trumpets, which are in the lower register) and are now usually played on B♭ or C trumpets.

The bass trumpet is the same pitch as a trombone and is often played by trombone players. Its music is written in treble clef. Most bass trumpets are pitched in C or B♭. The C bass trumpet sounds an octave lower than written, and the B♭ bass trumpet sounds a major ninth lower, making both transposing instruments.

The slide trumpet, likely developed in the late 14th century for use in wind bands, had a sliding leadpipe. This design was awkward, as the entire instrument moved, and the slide range was probably no more than a major third. Original slide trumpets were likely pitched in D to match other instruments. No surviving examples from this period exist, so scholars debate whether the Renaissance slide trumpet actually existed. Some slide trumpet designs were used in England during the 18th century.

The pocket trumpet is a small B♭ trumpet. Its bell is smaller than a standard trumpet, and the tubing is tightly wound to reduce the instrument’s size without shortening the total length. Pocket trumpets vary in quality, and some models have poor intonation, tone, and dynamic range. However, professional-quality pocket trumpets are available. Though not a replacement for full-sized trumpets, they are useful in certain situations. The jazz musician Don Cherry was known for playing the pocket trumpet.

The herald trumpet has a straight bell section, making it long enough to hold a hanging banner. It is used mainly for ceremonies like parades and fanfares.

David Monette designed the flumpet in 1989 for jazz musician Art Farmer. It combines features of a trumpet and a flugelhorn, is pitched in B♭, and uses three piston valves.

Rotary valve trumpets, also called German trumpets, are often used in professional orchestras in Germany and Austria. Other types include alto and Baroque trumpets, as well as the Vienna valve trumpet, which is used in Viennese ensembles like the Vienna Philharmonic and Mnozil Brass.

The trumpet is sometimes confused with the cornet, which has more conical tubing compared to the trumpet’s cylindrical shape. This, along with extra bends in the cornet’s tubing, gives it a slightly milder tone. However, both instruments are nearly identical in length and pitch, so music written for one can be played on the other. The flugelhorn has even more conical tubing than the cornet and a milder tone. It may include a fourth valve to improve the accuracy of lower notes.

Playing

On modern trumpets, cornets, and flugelhorns, pressing the valves shown in the diagram below produces the written notes listed. "Open" means no valves are pressed, "1" means the first valve is pressed, "1–2" means the first and second valves are pressed together, and so on. The pitch that is heard depends on how the instrument is tuned. If an instrument has a fourth valve, pressing it usually lowers the pitch by a perfect fourth. Within each set of overtones, different pitches are created by changing how the player shapes their lips and mouth.

Each set of overtones on the trumpet starts with the first overtone. The lowest note in this series, called the fundamental, cannot be played except as a very low pedal tone. Notes in parentheses represent the sixth overtone, which has a frequency seven times that of the fundamental. This note is close to the written note but slightly lower than the standard tuning system used in music. These fingerings are usually not used.

The way valves are pressed depends on the length of the tubing inside each valve (longer tubing creates a lower pitch). Pressing valve "1" lowers the pitch by one whole step, valve "2" by one half step, and valve "3" by one and a half steps. This system, along with the overtones, allows for different ways to play the same note. For example, the note C can be played without pressing any valves or by pressing valves 2 and 3. Notes that are normally played with valves 1 and 2 can also be played using only valve 3, as both methods lower the pitch by the same amount. Alternate fingerings may help players play difficult passages or adjust the pitch to sound more accurate. When using fingerings that include valves 1–3 or 1–2–3, slightly extending the third valve slide can lower the pitch slightly to improve tuning.

Some notes in the harmonic series that a modern B♭ trumpet can play match the standard 12-tone equal temperament system, while others do not.

Mutes

Different types of mutes can be placed inside or over the bell of a trumpet. This makes the sound quieter and changes how it sounds. Trumpets have many kinds of mutes, such as straight mutes, cup mutes, harmon mutes (also called wah-wah or wow-wow mutes), plungers, bucket mutes, and practice mutes. A straight mute is often used when no specific type is mentioned. Jazz and commercial music usually require more types of mutes than classical music, and many mutes were created for use in jazz performances.

Mutes can be made from materials like fiberglass, plastic, cardboard, metal, and "stone lining," which is a name for a product made by the Humes & Berg company. Cork is often used to hold mutes in place. To help the mute stay secure, some players blow warm, moist air onto the cork.

A straight mute has a cone shape and is usually made of metal, such as aluminum, which creates a bright, sharp sound. If made from other materials, it produces a darker, more muffled sound. A cup mute looks like a straight mute but has an extra cup-shaped part at the end, making the sound even darker. A harmon mute is made of metal, such as aluminum or copper, and has a stem that fits into a large chamber. The stem can be moved in or out to change the sound. Moving the hand near the mute creates a "wah-wah" sound, which is why it is sometimes called a wah-wah mute.

Range

Using a common method, the lowest note played on a brass instrument is written as F sharp below middle C. Brass instruments can play very high notes, but most fingering charts, which show how to press keys or use valves, usually include notes up to high C two octaves above middle C. Many trumpeters are known for their skill in playing extremely high notes, including Maynard Ferguson, Cat Anderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Severinsen, John Madrid, and more recently Wayne Bergeron, Louis Dowdeswell, Thomas Gansch, James Morrison, Jon Faddis, and Arturo Sandoval. It is also possible to play very low notes, called pedal tones, below the low F sharp. These low notes are sometimes used in modern music pieces for brass instruments.

Extended technique

Contemporary music for the trumpet often includes advanced techniques that extend the instrument's capabilities.

Flutter Tonguing: The player rolls the tip of the tongue (like rolling an "R" in Spanish) to create a growling-like sound. This method is frequently used by composers such as Berio and Stockhausen.

Growling: The player produces a tone while using the back of the tongue to vibrate the uvula, creating a unique sound. Many trumpet players use a plunger with this technique to achieve a sound common in 1950s Chicago Jazz.

Double Tonguing: The player uses the syllables "ta-ka" repeatedly to articulate notes.

Triple Tonguing: Similar to double tonguing, but the syllables used are "ta-ta-ka" repeated.

Doodle Tongue: The player tongues as if saying the word "doodle," creating a very soft sound similar to a valve tremolo.

Glissando: Trumpeters slide between notes by partially pressing valves and adjusting lip tension. This technique is widely used in modern music.

Vibrato: Contemporary music often specifies how vibrato is used, such as fast, slow, or rhythmic patterns.

Pedal Tone: Composers have written notes as low as two-and-a-half octaves below the standard low F♯. Extreme low notes are produced by slipping the lower lip out of the mouthpiece. Composer Claude Gordon included pedal tones in his trumpet practice routines, building on lessons from Herbert L. Clarke. This technique was first developed by Bohumir Kryl.

Microtones: Composers like Scelsi and Stockhausen use the trumpet to play very small intervals between notes. Some trumpets have a fourth valve that allows for quarter-tone steps. Jazz musician Ibrahim Maalouf uses a trumpet designed by his father to play Arab musical scales.

Valve Tremolo: Trumpeters can create a tremolo effect by alternating between different valve combinations on the same note. Composer Berio uses this technique extensively in his work Sequenza X.

Noises: Trumpeters can produce sounds that do not resemble traditional trumpet tones by hissing, clicking, or breathing through the instrument. These sounds may require amplification.

Preparation: Composers sometimes ask trumpeters to play underwater or with modified instruments. Some preparations involve unusual designs, such as double bells or extra valves.

Split Tone: Trumpeters can play two tones at once by vibrating their lips at different speeds. The interval is usually an octave or a fifth.

Lip-Trill or Shake: Also called "lip-slurs," this technique involves quickly changing pitch by adjusting air speed without altering valve positions. The speed and range of the trill can vary.

Multi-Phonics: A note is played while humming a different note simultaneously. For example, a middle C can be sustained while humming a major third (E).

Circular Breathing: A technique used by wind players to maintain continuous sound without pausing for breath. The player stores air in the cheeks, then inhales rapidly through the nose while exhaling through the mouthpiece.

Common trumpet method books include Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet (Cornet) by Jean-Baptiste Arban, Technical Studies by Herbert L. Clarke, Grand Method by Louis Saint-Jacome, Daily Drills and Technical Studies by Max Schlossberg, and works by Ernest S. Williams, Claude Gordon, Charles Colin, James Stamp, and Louis Davidson. A beginner-friendly method is Walter Beeler's Method for the Cornet. Virtuoso Allen Vizzutti has also written instruction books. Complete Method for Modern Trumpet by Merri Franquin was largely forgotten until musician Maurice André promoted it.

Players

In early jazz, Louis Armstrong was famous for his skill and his ability to make up music on the spot during the Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. His switch from playing the cornet to the trumpet is often mentioned as a key moment when the trumpet became more popular than the cornet in jazz. Dizzy Gillespie was a talented improviser who could play very high notes in a musical way. He was inspired by Roy Eldridge's style but added more complex musical patterns. Gillespie greatly influenced many trumpeters who came after him, both through his playing and by teaching younger musicians. Miles Davis is widely seen as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. His unique style was copied by many others. His way of phrasing notes and the way he used space in his solos became examples for many jazz musicians. Cat Anderson was a trumpet player known for his ability to play very high notes and very loud sounds. He played with Duke Ellington's Big Band. Maynard Ferguson became famous for playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra before starting his own band in 1957. He was known for his ability to play very high notes accurately.

Repertoire

The trumpet has two types of music: pieces played by one person and parts played in groups, like orchestras or bands. The trumpet has been around since 1500 BC and is the brass instrument that can make the highest sounds.

In the 1790s, Anton Weidinger created the first successful keyed trumpet, which could play all the notes in a scale. Joseph Haydn wrote a Trumpet Concerto for Weidinger in 1796. This piece surprised audiences because it used melodies that moved up and down step by step, played in the lower range of the trumpet.

In art

• The Last Judgment, a painting by Hieronymus Bosch in Bruges, created around 1500 to 1510
• Trumpet-Player in Front of a Banquet, a painting by Gerrit Dou, made around 1660 to 1665
• Picture from The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner, found in a 1887 children's book version of Aesop's Fables
• Statue of Louis Armstrong in Algiers, New Orleans
• Statue of Miles Davis in Kielce, Poland