Trumpets

The trumpet is a brass instrument with valves and a bright, cutting tone that you hear in brass bands, jazz, symphony orchestras and pop bands. This page brings together B-flat trumpets, C trumpets, piccolo trumpets and plastic trumpets from Yamaha, Latone, Bach, Jupiter, Roy Benson, Cascha, Amati and pTrumpet. Most models come with a mouthpiece and a hard case or a soft gig bag in the box. Related instruments with a shorter body and a softer sound are cornets and flugelhorns.

B-flat, C or piccolo trumpet?

Most trumpets on this page are pitched in B-flat. Students at music schools learn on them, and most sheet music for brass bands, big bands and pop is written for the B-flat trumpet. The C trumpet is used mainly by players in symphony orchestras – it sounds slightly brighter and its music doesn't need to be transposed; it is made by both Yamaha and Roy Benson.

The piccolo trumpet plays an octave higher than the B-flat trumpet. It comes into its own in Baroque music and festive pieces where the trumpet soars high above the orchestra. On this page it is represented by Yamaha and the Czech maker V. F. Červený.

Which trumpet should you start with?

The pTrumpet plastic trumpet is light and durable, which is why children start on it, along with anyone who wants to try the trumpet first. It is played just like a metal one, with valves and a mouthpiece. Metal trumpets such as the Yamaha YTR 2330, Latone LTR 500 or Roy Benson TR-202 are chosen by students who are serious about playing, while more advanced players reach for the Yamaha YTR 4335 GII, Latone LTR 800, Jupiter or Bach. They have a brass body and valves made of hard-wearing Monel or stainless steel; some models also come with valve oil, a cleaning cloth or gloves in the box.