Brass instruments, such as trumpets, trombones, and tubas, produce sound through a combination of buzzing the lips and the resonance of the instrument itself.
The lips produce the sound source
When a player blows air through the instrument, it passes through a small, cup-shaped mouthpiece that is placed against the lips. The player then buzzes their lips together, causing them to vibrate rapidly. This vibration creates sound waves that are amplified by the instrument’s shape and size.
The sound waves then travel through the instrument’s tubing, which is coiled and shaped in a specific way to produce different notes and tones. By adjusting the tightness and tension of their lips and the air pressure they use, the player can change the pitch and volume of the sound.
The instrument amplifies and shapes the sound
The metal construction of brass instruments also affects the sound they produce. The material and thickness of the brass can impact the tone and resonance of the instrument, creating a unique sound that is characteristic of each type of brass instrument.
The player can change the length of the instrument by using valves or a slide, which will change the pitch of the sound.
So how do brass instruments produce sound?
Brass instruments cannot produce a sound on their own. They need the player’s lips to buzz against each other to produce the sound source. From there, the instrument itself takes over to mold and shape the sound into what we hear in the audience.