Trumpet anyone?

Whitecat · July 2020

Still have a burning desire to learn the trumpet despite the fact that I live in a residential neighbourhood amongst other humans. My skill level is such that I can make an embouchure and produce a sound - but not much else. I can already play a bit of saxophone but it’s been a long time since... not sure if it has much or anything in common with that.

My son’s primary school has a brass programme that he’ll be growing into in a couple years. Would be cool to know some basics ahead of time and share a bit of that journey.

What do I look for in a trumpet? New or used? At what price does diminishing returns kick in and what am I getting for extra cash?

I know they can sound decent and are cheap but I don’t want a plastic one - must have a fairly classic look.

Any thoughts welcome.

Hootsmon · July 2020

It wasn't me!

sev112 · July 2020

Buy a plastic one for about £120, seriously good for a beginner.

payed one in the posh music shop in Manchester a couple years back and was astonished. Gigging trumpeters use them for their midweek pub gigs.

If you carry it on, then you can spend hundreds and hundreds - just like guitars
except they all look the same

although you can get silver ones and that sort of pinkish brass colour that I can’t remember it’s name

Winny_Pooh · July 2020

@merlin plays a number of wind instruments IIRC?

EricTheWeary · July 2020

I was going to say the plastic one - having had a similar conversation with a very good trumperterist that was the outcome: they are better at that price point than more traditional ones.

I have a friend who is a music teacher and can get a tune out of most things although the trumpet largely defeated him. So, not easy I guess.

Funkfingers · July 2020

Whitecat said:

I can already play a bit of saxophone but it’s been a long time since... not sure if it has much or anything in common with that.

Not really. Note pitches are achieved differently on trumpet.

sev112 said:

Buy a plastic one for about £120, seriously good for a beginner.

Split the difference. Build on your existing woodwind experience by trying a MIDI Controller instrument. Casio, Roland and Yamaha all make them.

stratcat · July 2020

I went through music college as a brass player (tuba) and have taught all brass instruments to kids in high school.
I'd recommend a ptrumpet too but if you are set on brass then I'd suggest a Yamaha. They make great instruments. A couple of hundred quid should get you a fab trumpet.
When buying 2nd hand look for dents, make sure the valve and tuning slides all move and that the valves feel free with no sticking and that the valve caps can be loosened. There isn't much to go wrong with them as long as they've been looked after.
Give it a bath in hand warm water and washing up liquid once a month, buy a pull through to clean it out.

Find your local brass band, wind band or big band. They'll probably have someone who'll give a bit of tuition and you will progress so much faster playing with others.
Don't be shy, from what I can tell there is a burgeoning scene of adult beginners in these bands.
Let me know if I can help more.

Whitecat · July 2020

Thanks everyone for their thoughts! Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to rule out the plastic jobbies...

Gonna park this idea over the summer holidays but revisit in the autumn if I'm lucky... and if the wife ever goes back into the office, as that's currently a problem for me as a learner.

robinbowes · July 2020

Whitecat said:

Gonna park this idea over the summer holidays but revisit in the autumn if I'm lucky... and if the wife ever goes back into the office, as that's currently a problem for me as a learner.

Surely it's more of a problem for her?

Jalapeno · July 2020

Trumpeters - noisy bastards ! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43571144

Make sure you get effective mutes with whatever you choose

Whitecat · July 2020

robinbowes said:

Whitecat said:

Gonna park this idea over the summer holidays but revisit in the autumn if I'm lucky... and if the wife ever goes back into the office, as that's currently a problem for me as a learner.

Surely it's more of a problem for her?

You see I TRIED to spin it that way...

VimFuego · October 2020

bumping this, been listening to a lot of hot jazz/ tuba skinny type stuff and it's wakened my desire for the trumpet/cornet. Was wondering how the OP got on.

Whitecat · October 2020

VimFuego said:

bumping this, been listening to a lot of hot jazz/ tuba skinny type stuff and it's wakened my desire for the trumpet/cornet. Was wondering how the OP got on.

Welp I'm afraid the can is still being kicked... wife has been given indefinite WFH orders from her office, so unless I can fully soundproof my studio room I think I'm gonna have to wait a while longer! It's still a couple years before my son begins mandatory brass at school... when that happens at least I'll have a better excuse, but I wanted to get ahead a little first.

VimFuego · October 2020

Whitecat said:

VimFuego said:

bumping this, been listening to a lot of hot jazz/ tuba skinny type stuff and it's wakened my desire for the trumpet/cornet. Was wondering how the OP got on.

Welp I'm afraid the can is still being kicked... wife has been given indefinite WFH orders from her office, so unless I can fully soundproof my studio room I think I'm gonna have to wait a while longer! It's still a couple years before my son begins mandatory brass at school... when that happens at least I'll have a better excuse, but I wanted to get ahead a little first.

probably just as well, had a look on the john packer website and they were sold out of those plastic trumpets with a note saying due to covid they don't know when they'll get any in.

merlin · October 2020

You have no excuse.

octatonic · October 2020

I mixed a couple of small pub gigs that had trumpets in the band.
The rest of the band went through the PA, the trumpet didn't and was louder than everything else.

Jalapeno · October 2020

octatonic said:

I mixed a couple of small pub gigs that had trumpets in the band.
The rest of the band went through the PA, the trumpet didn't and was louder than everything else.

See ? Told you they were noisy bastards !

Whitecat · October 2020

VimFuego said:

Whitecat said:

VimFuego said:

bumping this, been listening to a lot of hot jazz/ tuba skinny type stuff and it's wakened my desire for the trumpet/cornet. Was wondering how the OP got on.

Welp I'm afraid the can is still being kicked... wife has been given indefinite WFH orders from her office, so unless I can fully soundproof my studio room I think I'm gonna have to wait a while longer! It's still a couple years before my son begins mandatory brass at school... when that happens at least I'll have a better excuse, but I wanted to get ahead a little first.

probably just as well, had a look on the john packer website and they were sold out of those plastic trumpets with a note saying due to covid they don't know when they'll get any in.

Must be a supply rather than demand thing as brass programmes at schools are all currently suspended...

ROOG · October 2020

My suggestion is if you must buy a Trumpet buy a used one, I sold my Boosey & Hawkes for very modest money a couple of years ago. I didn't mind as I hadn't used it for years and the chap wanted it as a gift to his son, allegedly. He even brought a trumpet-playing friend with him, who when asked is it any good?, said: "its a nice instrument, buy it!"

Having started in a brass band playing Cornet and Fluegelhorn I have to say that the trumpet is the more difficult instrument to master but seems to be de regueur for orchestral and big band. To my ear the Flugelhorn the nicest sounding.

Nothing like playing the sax btw :0)

VimFuego · October 2020

merlin said:

You have no excuse.

that actually looks really good, I am even more tempted now. Have to have a hunt around, see if I can find anyone with a plastic trumpet in stock.

merlin · October 2020

VimFuego said:

merlin said:

You have no excuse.

that actually looks really good, I am even more tempted now. Have to have a hunt around, see if I can find anyone with a plastic trumpet in stock.

Go for it. I don't think a plastic trumpet will be noticeably quieter though...

VimFuego · October 2020

merlin said:

VimFuego said:

merlin said:

You have no excuse.

that actually looks really good, I am even more tempted now. Have to have a hunt around, see if I can find anyone with a plastic trumpet in stock.

Go for it. I don't think a plastic trumpet will be noticeably quieter though...

sorry, meant the plastic trumpet combined with the mute thingy. Is there a good standard text to start learning from? I'd probably end up going for lessons, but there are none near me. I'll be moving soon and should be able to find a tutor when I do.

ewal · October 2020

I play in a brass band. Trombone (what I play) is generally regarded to be the loudest instrument, although the cornets have numbers on their side.

I wouldn't like to learn/ practice using a mute for any length of time - the instrument has a completely different feel.

PFAllen2 · October 2020

Practice facing the wardrobe with the wardrobe doors open. The hanging clothes act as a sound absorber.

merlin · October 2020

I wouldn't start from tutorials or text book.
A good teacher will guide you to develop good habits and techniques early on.

VimFuego · October 2020

merlin said:

I wouldn't start from tutorials or text book.
A good teacher will guide you to develop good habits and techniques early on.

fair do's. Probably best to wait till I move then.

proggy · October 2020

I bought one a few years ago - but I think I wasted my money really.

I've never been one to blow my own trumpet......

Chalky · November 2020

I decided to learn brass instruments last year. I'd recommend a cornet first, plenty of Blessing cornets (US-made) and Boosey and Hawkes cornets (UK) for around £100 or less on Ebay. The cornet is less shrill in novice hands and a bit easier to play quieter - more acceptable to others around you. The trumpet is a bit like a violin in that beginners can make it sound really annoying until they've built much better skills.

The other key thing is finding the mouthpiece cup diameter that fits your lips. Again the right mouthpiece that fits your lips will make playing easier and playing quietly easier. You can only find the right one by trying them but I'd suggest Denis Wick or Yamaha mouthpiece to start. The right fitting mouthpiece will accelerate your learning.

Cornets and trumpets are very directional so pointing into curtains or a wardrobe of clothes as someone said above will certainly take off the high end and its usually the high end screech or out of tune notes that seems to annoy others.

I use Berp oil as it is not smelly and less hazardous in the home, and a well oiled brass cornet will play much nicer than the plastic versions.

An alternative is to learn the tenor horn first. The fingurings are the same but the pitch is lower and mellow and my experience is that no-one ever complains about the tenor horn but they will occasionally say it sounds good!

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Trumpet anyone?

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