What Are the Instruments in the Brass Family?

The brass family covers a surprising range of sounds and shapes, but every member shares the same basic idea: a player buzzes into a mouthpiece and the instrument’s tubing shapes that buzz into a musical tone. Here’s a quick tour of the main instruments.

The trumpet is cylindrical, with three valves, and produces a bright, high-pitched, cutting sound — it’s the instrument most people picture first when they think “brass.”

The French horn is conical rather than cylindrical, coiled into its familiar circular shape, and produces a warm, rich sound. Players shape that sound further by positioning their right hand inside the bell.

The trombone is long and mostly straight, using a slide instead of valves to change pitch, and gives a rich, full-bodied sound that works equally well in classical, jazz, and pop settings.

The tuba is the largest member of the family and the anchor of the low end — a deep, powerful sound that mostly supports the bass line rather than carrying melody.

The baritone horn is smaller and sits in the tenor range, common in brass and military bands, with three valves and a conical bore that gives it a rounder tone than a trumpet.

The euphonium is similar to the baritone horn but larger, with a wider bore that gives it a richer, warmer, more resonant sound.

Each of these instruments brings something different to an ensemble, and together they give the brass family its full range — from the trumpet’s bright edge down to the tuba’s deep foundation.