Page 508 - (DK) The Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2nd Ed.

MUSIC

Brass instruments

BRASS INSTRUMENTS ARE WIND INSTRUMENTS that are made
of metal, usually brass. Although they appear in many Brace
different shapes and sizes, all brass instruments have a
mouthpiece, a length of hollow tube, and a flared bell.
The mouthpiece of a brass instrument may be cup- Tuning slide
shaped, as in the cornet, or cone-shaped, as in the
BUGLE
horn. The tube may be wide or narrow, mainly Counterbalancing
weight
conical, as in the horn and tuba, or mainly cylindrical, as in
the trumpet and trombone. The sound of a brass instrument SIMPLIFIED DIAGRAM SHOWING HOW A
is made by the player’s lips vibrating against the mouthpiece, PISTON VALVE SYSTEM WORKS
so that the air vibrates in the tube. By changing lip tension,
Piston valves at rest
the player can vary the vibrations and produce notes of
different pitches. The range of notes produced by a brass
instrument can be extended by means of a valve system.
Most brass instruments, such as the trumpet, have piston
valves that divert the air in the instrument along an extra
piece of tubing (known as a valve slide) when pressed down.
The total length of the tube is increased and the pitch of the
Air bypasses
note produced is lowered. Instead of valves, the trombone
piston valves
has a movable slide that can be pushed away from or drawn
PISTON VALVES AT REST
toward the player. The sound of a brass instrument can also
be changed by inserting a mute into the bell of the instrument. Second and third
First piston piston valves at rest
valve pressed
down
Finger button
TRUMPET
First piston
valve
Spring returns
piston valve to
rest position Air diverted through
Second piston first valve slide
valve
Third piston PISTON VALVE PRESSED DOWN
Holes divert air
valve
into valve slides
Flared bell
Little finger Music stand Narrow,
Cup-shaped Mouthpiece support holder cylindrical tube
mouthpiece receiver

Tuning slide

Tuning slide
First valve water key
slide
First valve slide Third valve slide Third valve Third valve
thumb hook finger ring slide slide water key
Second valve
slide

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