How is the trumpet held or played?

Answer 1

Basic Trumpet technique has remained unchanged since prehistoric times.

Trumpets, along with all other brass instruments, are "lip reed" instruments. The air column in the tube is set in motion by the vibrations of the players lips.

This vibration is transmitted to the body of the instruments by a cup shaped mouthpiece.

Prior to the inventions of slide (ca.1700s), keyed (also ca. 1700s) and valved (ca. 1800) trumpets, the only notes available were the "bugle notes" of the harmonic series.

The modern valved trumpet is supported by the left hand, the valves being operated by the right hand. Each valve adds a length of tubing into the instrument, lowering the harmonic series by: 2nd valve - 1 semitone, 1st valve - 2 semitones, 3rd valve (or 1st plus 2nd) - 3 semitones, 2nd plus 3rd - 4 semitones, 1st plus 3rd - 5 semitones, and all 3 valves - 6 semitones.

The written range of a modern trumpet is from the F# below middle C to approximately the C two octaves above middle C, depending on the player. Personally, I have a range of just over 3 octaves, those who play jazz sometimes have 3 octaves.

Answer 2

The trumpet is held with the left hand. The pinkie and thumb both control different slides that change the pitch of the sound. The right hand is used to finger the three valves in the center of the tubing. Different combinations of holding down these valves cause different notes to be played. For example, holding down the second valve plays a B and an F sharp, while the first valve can play a B flat and F natural. The mouthpiece goes into the front of the trumpet, and the lips are placed on the end. By making a buzzing sound with your lips, air travels through the trumpet, and the pitch is changed with the valves and slides. There are many different brands of mouthpieces, and they very in width, length, depth, and shape.