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Brass Band Instruments

Soprano cornet

Name: Soprano Cornet, commonly abbreviated to the soprano.
Key and pitch: In Eb, the highest pitched of the brass band instruments.
Valve or slide: Valves. Cornets also sometimes have a 'trigger', that helps to improve the tuning on certain notes.
Role in a brass band: Only one in a standard brass band. It will sometimes play the melody, doubling the solo cornets at a higher octave. It can also play the descant or be used to embellish the melody.

Cornet

Name: Cornet.
Key and pitch: In Bb, high pitched.
Valve or slide: Valves. Cornets also sometimes have a 'trigger', that helps to improve the tuning on certain notes.
Role in a brass band: Solo cornets often play the melody line. They are equivalent to the first violins of an orchestra. There is a 'principal cornet', that is the leader, and normally the most accomplished player of the band. The rest of the positions are often referred to as '2nd man down', '3rd man down', '4th man down'. There is normally one rep/repiano cornet in a band. It occupies an independent role- sometimes playing the melody with the solo cornets, sometimes helping out the lower cornets. There are two 2nd cornets and two 3rd cornets. Both mainly have accompanying roles. A typical accompaniment would have the 2nds playing higher in pitch than the 3rds, playing in harmony.

Flugel horn

Name: Flugel horn, commonly abbreviated to the flugel.
Key and pitch: In Bb, high pitched, same pitch as a cornet.
Valve or slide: Valves. The flugel also sometimes has a 'trigger' that helps to improve the tuning on certain notes.
Role in a brass band: The flugel serves as an instrument to blend the conical cornets with the upright tenor horns. It can be found doubling with the front row cornet melody, or playing with the horns. The flugel has a more mellow tone that is particularly suited to soft slow melodies and jazzy solos.

Tenor horn

Name: Tenor horn.
Key and pitch: In Eb. Lower pitched than the cornet.
Valve or slide: Valves.
Role in a brass band: The word tenor is slightly misleading as the horn often plays the role of an alto voice in terms of 4-part harmony. There are normally three horns in a brass band: solo horn, 1st horn and 2nd horn. The solo horn leads the section, with the other two horns offering accompaniment or support.

Baritone

Name: Baritone horn, commonly abbreviated to the baritone.
Key and pitch: In Bb. Lower pitched. Same pitch as a trombone and euphonium.
Valve or slide: Valves. Newer baritones are usually made with a '4th valve', that provides the same role as a trigger on a cornet. It is used instead of certain notes to assist with tuning.
Role in a brass band: This serves often as an accompanying instrument, but can double a number of the other instruments -particularly horn, euphonium and the trombone. There are two baritones in a standard band, each playing an individual part - 1st baritone and 2nd baritone. In terms of 4-part harmony the baritone is regarded as the tenor line.

Euphonium

Name: Euphonium.
Key and pitch: In Bb. Lower pitched. Same pitch as a trombone and baritone.
Valve or slide: Valves. Most euphoniums have a '4th valve', that provides the same role as a trigger on a cornet. It is used instead of certain notes to assist with tuning. Newer instruments can have a trigger on the 1st valve slide to assist with tuning.
Role in a brass band: In terms of musical importance, the euphonium is generally regarded the second most important after the solo cornet. The euphonium has a very mellow tone. It is a versatile instrument with a very varied role. It may play the melody, a counter-melody, an accompaniment with the baritones and trombones, or double the bass line with the basses. There are normally 2 euphonium players who play the same part, although it is common to find some split passages in the music.

Trombone

Name: Trombone, also known as the tenor trombone.
Key and pitch: In Bb. Lower pitched. Same pitch as a euphonium and baritone.
Valve or slide: Uses a slide. The longer the slide, the lower the pitch that can be produced. As with all brass instruments, embouchure also plays a part in obtaining different pitches.
Role in a brass band: The trombone, like the cornet, has a conical bell facing away from the performer and produces a more 'brassy' sound than the upright instruments. Trombones can be used to good effect in louder sections, to add colour and power to the ensemble. There are two tenor trombones in a brass band. They are often employed to play in harmony, with the first player playing higher in pitch.

Bass trombone

Name: Bass trombone.
Key and pitch: In C, the music is written in bass clef.
Valve or slide: Uses a slide. The longer the slide, the lower the pitch that ca be produced. As with all brass instruments, embouchure also plays a part in obtaining different pitches.
Role in a brass band: There is normally one bass trombone in a brass band. It had two main roles -one is to double the basses playing the bass line and the other is to provide the lower harmony part with the two tenor trombones. They can be used to good effect in louder sections, to add colour and power to the ensemble. Bass trombone players have a reputation of being able to play louder than any other player in the brass band!

Eb bass

Name: Eb bass, sometimes referred to as a tuba.
Key and pitch: In Eb. Lower in pitch than the euphonium.
Valve or slide: Valves. Most basses also have a '4th valve', that provides the same role as a trigger on a cornet. It is used instead of certain notes to assist with tuning.
Role in a brass band: The Eb bass tends to lead the bass section. This involves playing mainly the bass line, but it can have the occasional solo. It is usual to find two Eb bassists in a brass band, who both play the same part.

Bb bass

Name: Bb bass, sometimes referred to as a tuba.
Key and pitch: In Bb. The lowest pitched of all the brass instruments.
Valve or slide: Valves. Most basses also have a '4th valve', that provides the same role as a trigger on a cornet. It is used instead of certain notes to assist with tuning.
Role in a brass band: Bb basses normally play the bass line in a brass band. Some players will add 'pedal notes' to the music, which is where they will play the note an octave lower to add a real feeling of depth to the music. It is usual to find two Bb bassists in a brass band, who both play the same part.

Timpani

Name: Timpani or kettle drums.
Key and pitch: In C, the music is written in bass clef.
Valve or slide: Neither! Up to four or five kettle drums (depending on the piece being played), are hit with sticks.
Role in a brass band: The timpani are often used at important points in the music. For example at the climax of a piece, in a loud section, or at cadence points. In places it can double some of the bass line notes. Traditionally timpani would play the root and 5th of the chord, but with the increased use of pedal timpani, a range of notes are available.

Drum kit

Name: Drum kit.
Key and pitch: Untuned.
Valve or slide: Neither! A typical kit consists of: a floor tom, two tom toms, a snare drum, hi hat, crash cymbal and ride cymbal.
Role in a brass band: The drum kit is used to add interest and colour to the music. In certain pieces it plays a very important rhythmic role, for example in arrangements of popular music. Although its role is predominantly an accompanying one, players can have important fills and other solo passages to play.