A trumpet is a musical instrument that is played via a mouthpiece by blowing air through closed lips to create a buzzing type of sound. This sound travels through the tubing and starts a vibration outside of the instrument, which results in the unique trumpet sound. Modern trumpets have three valves, which are used for changing the pitch and notes that can be played. However, these instruments date back thousands of years and the early versions did not contain these valves. The trumpet belongs to the brass instrument family, which might give you a clue as to what they are made out of!
What are trumpets made of?
As the hint suggests, trumpets are made from brass. This is an alloy (mixture of two or more elements) of copper and zinc, although small amounts of other elements are sometimes used. The percentage of each metal can be adjusted to vary the properties of the material. The vast majority of trumpets are made from yellow brass, which is a mixture of about 67% copper and 33% zinc. Gold brass (rose brass), about 80% copper and 20% zinc, is also sometimes used to make trumpets with a slightly different sound quality. Nickel brass (also known as silver brass) adds nickel into the alloy to create a trumpet with a silver appearance.
Other materials used in the construction of a trumpet include stainless steel (screws), cork and sometimes mother of pearl.
A trumpet mouthpiece, the part that the trumpeter blows air into, can be made of plastic, stainless steel, titanium, gold plating or silver plating (most common).
Did you know?
Bronze and silver trumpets were found in Tutankhamun’s grave in Egypt, which dates them to around 1300 B.C.. Trumpets from this time period were for military and religious uses and were not used for music.