Best Trumpets: Trumpets are popular beginner instruments, especially in schools that have a band. Most musicians also learn to play the trumpet (besides their main instrument) as it suits genres such as jazz and classical. So if you’re musically inspired by Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis, or Herb Alpert, you will need a quality trumpet between your lips. We have listed a range of trumpets (models for beginner, intermediate, and pro performer) that will let you share your musical talent with the world. Learn the essentials about trumpets and how to choose a trumpet. You may skip to the best trumpet on Amazon.
Best Trumpets
Jean Paul USA TR-330 Student Trumpet
Jean Paul USA TR-330 Trumpet (with case) is perfect for the beginner student. While its no Bach Strad, its available for cheap and is a good starter instrument for School band (its good even for intermediate players looking for an inexpensive buy).
The trumpet produces a lovely, warm, and bright sound, and comes with a variety of accessories that allows you to play the instrument right out of the box.
Jean Paul are known for their customer service. So in case your trumpet faces any problem (though its unlikely), they will quickly fix it for you.
The Trumpet has a lacquer finish, stainless steel spigots and features yellow brass slide tube receivers and bell material. The case is designed to easily and safely transport the trumpet when on the go. See Price on Amazon.
For the price, the trumpet’s finish looks flawless, its operation is smooth, all the slides work, and the tone is bright and resonant.
- Pros: Great value for the price, good construction and sound, good mouth-piece
- Cons: For beginners
What you get in the bundle?
Trumpet. mouth piece. gloves to wear while playing (to avoid smudges and finger prints). shining cloth for cleaning / polishing, oil for the valves. Sturdy case with the Jean Paul insignia.
Key Features:
Key: Bb, Level: student, Finish: lacquer
Lead pipe: standard taper, Lead pipe material: rose brass
Mouthpiece: 7C, Valves: stainless steel
Bell material: yellow brass
1st valve slide: thumb saddle, 3rd valve slide: adjustable ring with slide stop, Yellow brass slide tube receivers
Includes contour carrying case and valve oil
1-year manufacturer’s warranty
Buying Links
This trumpet is recommended for ALL beginners, and those who want to play a nice resonant horn right through school; the sound will definitely beat any rented instrument. If you are an intermediate player, you should consider getting the next higher model – TR-430 trumpet.
Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Series Bb Trumpet (Silver Yellow Brass Bell)
The Bach 180 series trumpets are the most popular professional trumpets in the world. The Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Series Bb Trumpet Silver Yellow Brass Bell is what the more experienced musicians and professionals use in big music concerts.
This trumpet produces a warm sound with great projection and is suited for various genres – jazz, concert or solo playing. If you have been looking for the best trumpet, to play something soulful, and that has a deep sound, this is what you should consider buying. The sound is excellent in low, middle, and high registers.
- Depth of sound, coupled with the even intonation and response, that professional trumpet players needs.
- The #25 leadpipe provides slight resistance that is effective in centering tone production.
- A .459-inch medium-large bore allows the player to produce a well-rounded sound.
- The Monel valve material helps produce a more efficient “seal”, resulting in less air leakage that could cause performance problems
Vincent Bach was both an accomplished musician and a talented engineer, and he used his unique talents to create brass instruments of unparalleled tonal quality. Bach Stradivarius instruments today remain the top choice of artists worldwide. The Bach 180 series Bb trumpets are versatile and built to meet the demanding needs of today’s most discriminating players.
- Pros: In-depth sound. Excellent overall tonal quality. Elegant finish and color. Has even intonation and response.
- Cons: Although the case is well padded, it doesn’t have much room for accessories like mutes, oil, slide grease, and extra mouthpieces.
- Best Uses: Accompaniment, Jazz clubs, Concert Band, School bands
Video review of Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Series Bb Trumpet
Features:
- Key:Bb, Bore:459-inch, Leadpipe Material: Yellow Brass, Finish: Silver
- Leadpipe: #25 Standard Taper
- Bell Material: Yellow or Gold Brass, Valves: Monel Piston
- 1st Valve Slide Adjustment: Thumb Saddle or Trigger
- 3rd Valve Slide Adjustment: Fixed Ring or Trigger with Adjustable Slide Stop
- Dimensions: 36.5 x 63 x 23.5 inches, Weight (shipping):13.4 pounds
- Includes a case and mouthpiece and is available in silver finish.
Buying Links
Trumpet: Buying Guide
How Does a Trumpet Work?
A trumpet is basically a long tube that is wrapped around. It has a bell shaped flare where the listener/audience is, and a mouthpiece. Three valves, operated by the right hand fingers, alter the pitch in conjunction with the player’s airstream pressure and velocity.
Where a sax or clarinet uses a reed to produce a vibration of the air column, a trumpet relies on the player’s lips and surrounding facial muscles to support the airstream vibration.
Different metal alloys, gauges, internal bore sizes (medium, medium-large, large, extra large) and designs respond differently to the way each player produces their own individual airstream.
Various Types of Trumpets
The most common trumpet is in the key of Bb. However, other types of trumpets are also available. Here we take a look at the different types of trumpets:
- Key of Bb: Most common, and most beginners start learning on these. The Bb trumpet is used in different genres of music such as classical, jazz/blues, rock/pop, fusion, and more.
- Key of C: The C trumpet is commonly used in orchestral or classical music, makes playing classical a little easier due to the instrument being keyed a half step up.
- Piccolo: Commonly used in classical music, a Bb piccolo is pitched an entire octave above a regular Bb trumpet. You can furter change the key of your piccolo from Bb to A by a simple exchange of a leadpipe. You also get piccolos in key of C, F, and G.
- Flugelhorn: Produces a mellower sound compared to a traditional (french) horn. Its commonly used in jazz and pop music, in slower ballads, because of its mellow tone.
- Cornet: Produces a mellower sound, although not as mellow as a flugelhorn. Music for both the instruments are written in the same key, so they are interchangeable. A cornet has more conical tubing that features more bends compared to a regular trumpet.
- Pocket Trumpet – This is basically a more compact Bb horn, which suits younger musicians or musicians looking for a compact horn to travel with.
- Soprano: Usually keyed in the key of G, the soprano is based on the old military bugles. They can also be heard in the modern drum and bugle corps.
- Bass: A bass trumpet is an alternative to the trombone, and is actually played with a shallow trombone mouthpiece.
- Slide: A slide trumpet is a combination of a trumpet and a trombone. It has a trumpet body, but uses a slide instead of valves.
- Rotary: Rotary trumpets (also known as the German trumpet) are commonly abailable in the key of Bb or C. A rotary trumpet utilizes rotary valves, similar to a french horn, instead of the piston valves of a regular trumpet.
Watch: Buying a new Trumpet
History and Development of the Trumpet
Long back, some fishermen blew a sea animal out of a shell and it made a noise, sort of voice distorter, which eventually gave rise to the Conch Trumpet. Shell trumpets are still used around the world, especially for religious purposes.
Subsequently hollow trumpets made of various materials such as bamboo, bones, and metal started getting made.
During the 1400’s, trumpets made of brass were available in Europe. During this time, trumpet players were used on watch towers as lookouts (to keep an eye on fire and advancing armies).
The Natural Trumpet or Baroque Trumpet was the most popular trumpet during the Baroque period. It was a long, cylindrical tube built in a loop which flared out into a bell. Subsequently, the trumpet underwent several changes (vented trumpet, two valve trumpet, echo trumpet, and so on).
The modern trumpet in Bb is pitched a sixth above the Natural Trumpet in D.
Internationally renowned trumpet soloists
Jens Lindemann
Internationally renowned trumpet soloist Jens Lindemann is a German born Canadian trumpet soloist now based in Los Angeles.
Considered to be one of the world’s great virtuosos:
- Jens also has a Grammy nomination to his credit
- He was recently named “International Brass Personality of the Year”.
- He has performed as soloist and recording artist with classical stars such as Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Angel
- Romero, Doc Severinsen, Charles Dutoit, Gerard Schwarz, Eiji Oue, Bramwell Tovey and Jukka Pekka Saraste.
- He has played in every major concert venue in the world – Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, and
- Berlin to Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and even the Great wall of China.
“The trumpet is capable of being played with the virtuosity of a violin, the tenderness of the human voice and the stylistic flexibility of the piano. It allows me an endless range of communication with audiences.”
– Jens Lindemann
Classically trained at the renowned Juilliard School in New York, Jens performed as a soloist with orchestras at numerous festivals while still in his teens. A prizewinner at numerous classical trumpet competitions including the prestigious ARD in Munich, Jens also placed first, by unanimous juries, at both the Prague and Ellsworth Smith (Florida) International Trumpet Competitions in 1992.
Jens holds degrees from McGill University and Juilliard and has also served on the faculties of the Santa Barbara Music Academy of the West, University of Toronto and the Banff Centre for the Arts, and later was also appointed ‘Professor with Distinction’ at UCLA in Los Angeles.
Lindemann is internationally endorsed by the Yamaha Corporation and performs exclusively on 24K gold plated trumpets.
Watch: Shinkansen played by Jens lindemann
“In my experience as a performer, success lies in the exchange of energy between artist, audience, and music. Transcending the boundaries of style, language, and culture is, for me, the ultimate challenge in musical communication. The tonal colors inherent to the trumpet make it an ideal instrument for such diverse musical expression.”
Lindemann is married to pianist Jennifer Snow.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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