Category: Trumpet Gear

  • Trumpet Spit Valve Issues

    Trumpet Spit Valve Issues

    Trumpet Spit Valve Maintenance So, maybe you’re here because you have a spit valve issue with your Trumpet. You might be the smart kid who just doesn’t ever want to have a spit valve issue. There are no guarantees, but let’s look at some things. If you’re just interested you might want to start at…

  • Trumpet Players’ Equipment

    Trumpet Players’ Equipment

    That photo shows you the simplest answer to the question about what we need. A Trumpet, a mouthpiece and a case to put them in is the bare minimum. Just as there is no lifetime limit on learning for any musician there is no limit to how much equipment a Trumpet player might want. Fortunately…

  • Clean and Sanitize Your Trumpet Mouthpiece Today!

    Clean and Sanitize Your Trumpet Mouthpiece Today!

    Whether you’re a beginning Trumpet player or a seasoned professional you could be anywhere on the spectrum from sanitizing your Trumpet mouthpiece every day to never really bothering with it. If there’s a goal to this post (nope, that’s not a sports pun) it would be to encourage you to be better than I am…

  • Trumpet Valves (And How They Work)

    Trumpet Valves (And How They Work)

    So, how do trumpet valves work? Let’s look at the mechanism that made the Trumpet able to play all of the notes encompassed in the player’s range. This also applies to valves on tuba, euphonium, a variety of Drum Corps instruments and so on. (The general principles also apply to rotary valves on French horns,…

  • Parts of a Trumpet: The Ultimate Guide to Trumpet Parts

    Parts of a Trumpet: The Ultimate Guide to Trumpet Parts

    This article lists trumpet part names, shows which names refer to which parts, and provides a description of each part of the trumpet. Here are the most basic parts of a trumpet: Mouthpiece Valves Bell While these are the main major parts of a trumpet, there are lots of little details and finicky parts to…

  • Trumpet Range: The Upper and Lower Note Limits for Common Trumpets

    Trumpet Range: The Upper and Lower Note Limits for Common Trumpets

    The most common Trumpet around the world is the Bb Trumpet. It is so named because its lower open notes correspond pretty closely to a Bb triad. There are other trumpets, I’ll get to those in a bit. LOW NOTES Most trumpets have 3 valves which can lower its range to a tritone below its…

  • Gifts for Trumpet Players

    Gifts for Trumpet Players

    … assuming that they don’t already have a bunch of Trumpet stuff. Stocking Stuffers: Bigger (or more expensive) Items: Extreme items: (which should really involve the player and someone who knows more about the Trumpet than your average high school player) Virtual Gifts:

  • Trumpet Lubricants: Valve Oil, Slide Grease, and General Maintenance

    Trumpet Lubricants: Valve Oil, Slide Grease, and General Maintenance

    This article is all about trumpet lubricants (valve oil and slide grease). This subject should be really straightforward, but the more you know, the more you find that there is to know about these things. Most beginning players really only need some kind of Valve Oil and some sort of Slide Grease. If you’ve bought…

  • Trumpet Mutes

    Trumpet Mutes

    Let’s Talk about Trumpet Mutes! Most mutes are used to change how the Trumpet sounds, but they all have the effect of making it quieter as well. Composers don’t always take that into account, they just like having more tone qualities to play with. Mutes for Beginner Trumpet Players If you’re just starting to play…

  • Do You Need a Pocket Trumpet?

    Do You Need a Pocket Trumpet?

    You need a Pocket Trumpet if: you have a physical challenge that makes you unable to hold a regular Trumpet; you want to fit a Trumpet of some type into your luggage so you can practise while travelling; or you think they’re cute and really really want one. Honestly, I can’t think of more good…

  • Trumpet Care: 5 Key Steps to Daily Trumpet Care

    Trumpet Care: 5 Key Steps to Daily Trumpet Care

    There are 5 key steps to daily trumpet care: Read on to learn how to complete each trumpet care step. Daily Trumpet Care Routine 1. Oil Valves Do this every day. The valves should go up and down freely and fast so oiling them is important. Almost any valve oil, or even kerosene will do…

  • Trumpet Mouthpiece Stuck? Here’s How to Remove it.

    Trumpet Mouthpiece Stuck? Here’s How to Remove it.

    Is your trumpet mouthpiece stuck? Need to learn how to remove a stuck trumpet mouthpiece? There’s a right way (and many wrong ways) to remove it. How to Remove a Stuck Trumpet Mouthpiece Most school band teachers and music shops have or have access to a clever tool that is purpose-built for trumpet mouthpiece removal.…

  • Odd Trumpets – Weird & Wonderful Uncommon Types of Trumpets

    Odd Trumpets – Weird & Wonderful Uncommon Types of Trumpets

    Here are some odd Trumpets that show up in various media more often than they do in players’ hands. Pocket Trumpet A Pocket Trumpet is essentially like any other B flat Trumpet, just wound up tighter so that its not as long. Not many professional players use them, but there are some who use them…

  • The Trumpet Mouthpiece: A Beginner’s Guide

    The Trumpet Mouthpiece: A Beginner’s Guide

    The trumpet mouthpiece is a critical and oft neglected piece of essential equipment. If a beginner starts with the wrong mouthpiece there’s not much that’s going to go well. [If you’re here because your mouthpiece is stuck don’t do anything before you look over here…] Used Trumpet Mouthpieces Most new trumpets come with a standard,…

  • How to Clean a Trumpet

    How to Clean a Trumpet

    Wondering how to clean a trumpet? If you’ve been washing your mouthpiece occasionally but it’s been a month or two and you’ve been sick a couple of times… It’s time to clean your trumpet. NOTE: If there’s a concert tonight and you’re just thinking of this now – don’t do it. Leave well-enough alone and…

  • Buying a Second Bb Trumpet

    Buying a Second Bb Trumpet

    You must be somewhere between Zero and Hero – congratulations! You might even be a Trumpet Hero by now in the eyes of the many unfortunates who can’t do what you can. Bask in the glory! The other thing you must be is feeling somewhat limited by the horn you’re playing on. Let’s deal with…

  • Buying a Trumpet: Finding Your First Trumpet

    Buying a Trumpet: Finding Your First Trumpet

    Get a decent student instrument for a beginner. If a student later decides to pursue advanced education as a Trumpet player it’s likely that this first instrument would have to be replaced with a professional level horn. Still, they should have a decent student instrument to learn on. How Much Does a Trumpet Cost? A…

  • Types of Trumpets

    Types of Trumpets

    Types of Trumpets is a yet another big chunk of territory so lets start on an easy trail. In North America almost everyone interested in learning trumpet is playing on a piston valve Bb Trumpet. A few more are playing on Bb Cornets and the odd lucky one also has a Bb Flugelhorn. The technique…