Mrs. King's Music Class - Instrument Families

Instrument Families: Brass

Instrument Families: Brass | Keyboard | Percussion | String | Woodwind

Brass instruments get their name because they are made of metal (although not necessarily brass). Today brass instruments have a separate part called the mouthpiece, which fits into the leadpipe, or small end, of the tubing. The player blows air through the mouthpiece, buzzing his or her lips against it.

As with all instruments, the faster the vibration, the higher the pitch, and the shorter the tubing the higher the pitch. While modern woodwind instruments have many keys, modern brass instruments have three or four valves (if any) to help create different pitches. Pushing down a valve alters the pitch by accessing more tubing. Players must also change the speed of the air and the muscle tension in their lips while buzzing them to change pitches.