The Bass Trumpet - Discussion and Demonstration

This video demonstrates and discusses the Bass Trumpet. The most useless member of the trumpet family. An instrument desperately trying to find a place in the world.
This is a cheap example which I bought second hand. In this video I use Herbert Clarke's variations on the Carnival of Venice as a demonstration piece.
In the video I make mention of a definition that I use for defining what a trumpet is. That video is available by clicking on this link: • Soprano Trombone or Sl...
This video is filmed in 1080p at 60fps using my work-provided iPhone camera (which is all I have).
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[@michaeltruong7897]

Play that phrase at 5:20 on a slide trombone and you'll dislocate something

[@nicholastrombone9899]

Yup

[@jacksanne1528]

It makes me want an ice pack and quit trombone e at the same time just thinking about it lol

[@jackevans1716]

He actually did it. Look up carnival of Venice trombone and he actually teaches you how to play it too.

[@artemiosandoval2032]

From a composer's point of view, the bass trumpet isn't useless. To my ear, it has a distinct sound from a trombone, euphonium, etc, it's has that 'trumpet-y' sound. It might be useful as you said in a trumpet only section, say in a piece it would sirve as the bass voice in a trumpet passage that contrasts with trombones or anything else or even as a solo instrument if used in the right context.

[@simgingergirl]

+Artemio Sandoval The instruments a composer uses creates the color of the music. If the composer wanted something in that pitch, and he wanted something piercing as opposed to warm, then the bass trumpet would work.

[@colechristie6903]

You're correct. Bass trumpet is more cylindrical than a trombone, baritone, or euphonium, giving it a more harsh, trumpet-y sound. On a scale from cylindrical to conical, it would go bass trumpet > baritone = trombone > euphonium. On another note, a cylindrical to conical for the high voices would be trumpet > cornet = soprano trombone > flugelhorn, and for low intruments, Contrabass trumpet > ? = bass trombone > tuba. This means the cylindrical family is trumpet, bass trumpet, contrabass trumpet, the half-way family is cornet, baritone, ?, the slide family is soprano trombone, trombone, bass trombone, (contrabass trombone), and the cylindrical family is flugellhorn, euphonium, tuba

[@cyndie26]

The literal translation of "trombone" is "large trumpet".

[@helios5868]

+Cole Christie Historically, the flugelhorn is more in-line with the tenor/alto horn and baritone than with the euphonium. Euphonium is a bit of a large-bore variant of a baritone IMHO, so I'd put it more in-line with the mellophone, which I think of as a marching tenor/alto horn with a much larger bore, and which is definitely not in line with the flugelhorn. I point to Trent's comparison between flugelhorn and mellophone to see what I mean. Cornet is...just kind-of floating in a group all it's own. It comes from Post-horns, which, to my knowledge, didn't really lead to any other instruments. (I'd be interested to see a low eb cornet, if one exists) Here's my version of your same grouping (lower= wider bore): -Valved trumpets (piccolo trumpet to bass trumpet - Cimbasso) -Trombone family (all higher-pitched trombones - Tenor trombone / bass trombones - contrabass trombone) (Bass trombones are often pitched like Tenor, but with triggers for lower pitches. I'd be tempted to put them in a group all their own, but, whatever...) -Cornets -Sax-horns (Flugelhorn - Alto/tenor horn - Baritone) -Expanded-bore horns (Mellophone - Euphonium - Tuba)

[@LowReedExpert1]

cyndie26 true, but that was back when they were saying the idea of flared brass looked like that. Trumpet flower being a good example. In terms of timbres they are fully distinct

[@paulcooper8335]

Why spend 10:45 on a "useless" instrument? As a big band drummer, I usually sat right next to our lead trumpet player who doubled on bass trumpet. He had one of the most glorious tones I've ever heard from a brass instrument. Not "useless" at all in the hands of a true musician.

[@RatPfink66]

But how many of those are there?

[@wwemario12345]

If you have no use for the bass trumpet, I can have it.

[@sogerfoweltami790]

lol

[@rorschach162]

wwemario12345 Yes. Me too.

[@rorschach162]

intense moist Is there an intermediate level bass trumpet?

[@deloserickson]

Trent. Fuck you.

[@pauldavis5665]

If he has another extra one I'll take it too. I don't play trumpet but I will gladly ebay it.

[@homersimpson8561]

Leonhard Paul from Mnozil Brass (the only bass trumpeter I know) plays a bass trumpet which has more of a trombone bell. He switches between trombone and bass trumpet in their concerts for different pieces, so he obviously has a use for it.

[@ericbrown5604]

It may be completely useless but I want it

[@Matthew-ll3fp]

Eric Brown wrong

[@alangiles2763]

@@Matthew-ll3fp A shame Cy Touff (USA) or Ken Wray (UK) are not around now, they might disabuse the view that the bass trumpet is "useless"

[@Hiroyuki_T]

U can use it if you wanna sound like a trombone without using the slide

[@claywilson4738]

brent: this is a bass trumpet my mind being a euphonium player: it's a marching baritone... but with more hate because of the name trumpet.

[@jarperhones5364]

this thing is effectively a marching baritone with rotary valves

[@Tenien77]

Marching baritones are still more conical.

[@ricktheguy4975]

I agree at certain standards

[@MAMelby]

Nah - baritone sounds much better - unless you WANT it to crack, I guess.

[@bun-bun5623]

Flugabone/Marching Trombone with rotary valves would be correct.

[@georgeparkins777]

Much narrower bore even putting aside that saxhorns are somewhat conical.

[@johnries5593]

Exotic instruments sometimes show up in community bands. I even seem to recall that the principal trombonist of one group I played in sometimes brought a bass trumpet to rehearsal.

[@MaxRamos8]

TO clarify, baritones and trombones have a cylindrical tubing while Euphoniums and tubas have conical tubing

[@CaptainApathetic]

That "baritone" is more in between a baritone and Euphonium in terms of conicality

[@bucketofham8470]

Valve trombone is fully cylindrical, euponium is conical, and baritone is less conical than euphonium but its not cylindrical. Also tuba is a whole octave lower and is therefore a different thing all together. Im not sure on trumpet, as i am a low brass (tuba and euph) player, but i will say that this bass trumpet to me sounds most like a valve trombone therefore it probably has a cylindrical bore

[@BrassBoy-ot4sy]

A baritone is technically a conical bore instrument, albeit less so than the euphonium. You could think of it as a bass cornet.

[@coreykrebs9406]

10 years late to this video, but middle school me from the early 00s, feels vindicated after being embarrassed asking my band teacher if a bass trumpet was a thing in front of the whole class then being laughed at! thank you trent!

[@MrLiamTheLlama]

I believe that there is an excerpt for bass trumpet from The Rite of Spring, so not 100% useless... just 99%

[@williamrobinson6059]

MrLiamTheLlama Plenty of late 18th century stuff. 25% of it Wagner.

[@wyattwahlgren8883]

Yes, not only that, but it's muted.

[@mogmason6920]

Ride Of The Valkyries! The Bass Trumpet plays the main melody! I have the score to prove it!

[@Clark_Burns1]

It can also be used as a solo instrument in Jazz as well!!

[@OliverBatchelor]

The only reason that bass trumpet tone sounds much different as you make it louder is because it is much louder than the euphonium, you're not even getting half as loud.

[@noahtaylor6374]

this guy must be good at guitar hero

[@nuclearelevator8898]

He's even better at tenor trombone hero.

[@afchevalier]

Bass trumpets with four valves are used in the Wagner Ring Cycles, Strauss, and in the Rite of Spring amongst other uses in traditional German brass bands. Gebr. Alexander, Thein, and Schagerl have excellent examples of narrow bore rotary trumpets in C with b flat slides. Bach also has a nice valved Bb bass trumpet. One thing to remember is that you need a specific Bass trumpet mouthpiece not a trombone mouthpiece.

[@maximilianschramm8609]

In my opinion the bass trumpet is not useless. It is often used in the bavarian and austrian folkmusic (Volksmusik). It is used either for playing the "Nachschlag" (Upbeats) or it can also play melodys. A good example is the Group "Wüdaramusi" they have a flugelhorn and two basstrumpets playing the melody. A cool song by them is the "Katrin Boarischer", there you can see that the bass trumpet can sound like a member of the trumpet family :D In classical music are also a few orchestra parts for bass trumpet. Richard Strauss, Strawinsky and a few other composers have written for it :) And your argument about ergonomics, are just half true. There are many types of bass trumpets. Yours is one of the biggest i have ever seen. There are also shorter ones. These have the same tubing lenght, but they are bend more often, so that they can be up to half the size of yours ;D

[@JeanPaul-Hol65]

Maximilian Schramm First of all, Wagner is the "main mentor" of this instrument. 😉

[@Xenol1997]

This isn't useless! It was invented by Wagner to fill the gab between the trombone and trumpet.

[@TrentHamilton]

Emperor_Xenolius How does it fill the gap? The bass trumpet is the exact same pitch as the tenor trombone. It's not between the two.

[@Xenol1997]

Trent Hamilton It was originally in C instead of Bb - but I meant it tonally bridged the gap like all three of his instruments. The Contrabass Trom went between the tuba and bass-trom, the Wagner tuben went between the french horn and trom, and the bass trumpet between the trombone and trumpet.

[@8BitMusics1]

+Trent Hamilton If the bass Trompet is useless an cornett is useless too. It has an much brighter sound incomparable to the sound of others

[@TrentHamilton]

That is ridiculous. A cornet is the lead instrument in a brass band.

[@8BitMusics1]

so is this whole video!

[@InFamousProductions]

I played a baritone for a year in orchestra and I loved it, but I def want to try a bass trumpet. sounds killer

[@Maring0418]

Love how Trent's videos always knock about around 0,02 decibels. It's when you watch a completely unrelated video with your speakers on 100% that it becomes a little bit frustrating

[@chief2632]

I have a lot of low notes in my 3rd trumpet part for Sleigh Ride and I have found that the bass trumpet plays those low notes more cleanly. It really is better for its higher register, like any trumpet. You can tell the difference from a valve trombone in this higher register.

[@HowardJohnstone]

The Basstrumpet is now becoming increasingly popular as a 2:nd instrument at the conservatory. Just listen to all the samples on KZbin. In this respect you are wrong that it would be useless. I Think this is a great instument and should be greatly promoted further...

[@mogmason6920]

*Ride of the Valkyries intensifies*

[@junohavana4758]

I really love your videos theyre informational and fun to watch you are really talented and wise when it comes to this stuff

[@TrentHamilton]

Thank you :)

[@marcusfigueroa4839]

Trent Hamilton will you do a brass family including all of ur instruments please

[@vimsa55]

Thanks for warning me Trent! I was thinking I MUST have a basstrumpet, but then I saw this and youre right! You saved me some money there! 👍😁

[@jamesburnett7085]

Bravely done, Prof. Hamilton. If I was offered my choice between a bass trumpet, a valve trombone, a baritone horn, and a euphonium, all in B flat, that would be a very tough choice. Since my heart and soul are slaves to the tuba, I suppose I would take the euphonium.

[@savetheclimate2292]

It is important to not confuse the discussion about differences in valves and differences in tubing. As you point out the difference in sound between these two instruments (bass trombone and baritone) comes with the difference of bore and conical versus non-conical tubing. But it is not so much dependent on the valve system.

[@Jayscweezey444]

In the lower range, I think it sounds like a valve trombone that is sloppily articulate. It's hard to tell whether it would sound better when going from note to note with piston valves or rotary valves.

[@BCSchmerker]

*Thanks for the observation on the bass trumpet.* Kanstul Musical Instruments has a .485" Bb bass trumpet - Model 1088,. if memory serves me correctly - with Monel slide valves that uses standard trombone mouthpieces and probably handles better than its rotary-valve counterpart; I'd team it with the .437" Bb trumpet. Also available from Kanstul is a new take on the tenor saxotromba in the Model 955, a .500" Bb also advertised as the "marching trombone" and the "flugelbone."

[@CraigRodmellMusic]

The only piece I know that uses one is the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky.

[@musicalaviator]

Well Bass trumpets do have a use. They can be used to play in a few specific pieces of Symphony Orchestra repertoire. Including the usual example from Janáček Sinfonietta, Richard Strauss' Macbeth and Elektra. One bit of the 4th Trumpet in Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring'. And some of the opening of Wagner's Das Rheingold. It's every bit as useful as a contrabassoon, or Ondes Martinot. Or maybe Wagner Tuba?

[@Symphing12]

Isn't this the size of the old natural trumpets? Will it mimic the sound of that when played in the very high partials? Or am I just daft?

[@AKHHuffman]

I kind of want to try one using one of those. Great video, by the way!

[@verfuncht]

Sounds like a low trumpet, not a trombone!

[@evanopmr]

It IS a low trumpet, not a trombone :)

[@AJ2ba216]

+SirNerdyGamer his point was.. TH said it's basically a valve trombone

[@jaredmoore6848]

+Anderson Johnson its not a valve trombone but it can play in the same register

[@musicray7345]

I think with this instrument it could just come down to personal preference to people, it is pretty unique and some people like playing unique things, but I see your main points on it.

[@mason11198]

I actually used bass trombone quite a bit in symphonic works, quite useful

[@austinduong-van6071]

Flute: Ffs why do you play Ab?? plays Ab Clarinet/Oboe: woodwinds are better than brass! squeaks Sax: plays careless whisper Bassoon: assembles instrument quicker than a trumpet Bass clarinet: when there's a bass part, 1 Bass CL equals the loudness of 6 low brass players Trumpet: I'm better than you Fhorn: I used to play that! Trombone: plays fortissississimo whole notes Euphonium: when my teacher calls it a baritone I cringe, when my classmates call it a tuba I start getting angry, when my mom calls it a trumpet I cry Tuba: hi

[@josefstaliin9479]

As a tuba player I confirm as well

[@moddim]

Austin Duong-Van alto clarinet: No one can hear me because I’m the only alto Clarinet player

[@osvaldoisaac88]

As a bass clarinetist, tru dat

[@Danny-sy7bg]

Austin Duong-Van as a euphonium that’s the only thing that’s not that accurate

[@mynameisnotbruce6686]

Can not confirm as an oboist: oboes don’t squeak

[@krazychemist78]

Go check out the video of the Metropolitan Opera playing Wagner brass leitmotifs; there are some great examples from Wagner of not only the bass trumpet played properly but also Wagner tubas. That video demonstrates quite well that the bass trumpet can sometimes be perfect for a role.

[@KyokoKirigirie]

Bass trumpet definitely doesn't sound useless. Has much more clearer sound than the baritone/euphonium from what I heard

[@wavecycle]

The trumpet was also more directly pointed at the mic tho

[@dschoepflin538]

Trent, Can you play that bass trumpet with a euphonium, baritone, or trombone mouthpiece to make it sound more bass?

[@jongoldsby]

I have played a Bach B188 bass trumpet and the sound was excellent. Richard Wager thought the instrument was important enough to include in his composition "Ride of the Valkyries"

[@dakodahayes7158]

You can't change wether or not its a trumpet or not. the fact that you don't like it doesn't carry weight as to why it was made, the base reasoning behind it being called a bass trumpet, or the sound of it. it is what it is. your opinion is what your opinion is. and I'm glad you put it out there. so you shouldn't complain about why it doesn't sound like something you like better. it had its own sound. and don't dis the thing that were given to you. if you complain about the condition of the baritone you shouldn't have taken it.

[@PANDORAZTOYBOKZ]

As a Jazz player, the eb bass trumpet in particular seems intriguing as a potential analogue to the tenor/alto sax dichotomy in a jazz combo

[@marnikmeuwissen8452]

Nice video and good explanations. I do agree the instrument has not much added value in a typical concertband and it cannot really be concidered a trumpet. though there is a difference in sound on bass trumpet and valve trombone from my experience. The basstrumpet has a sharper and more nasal sound which let it mix in with both trumpets and trombones and the valve trombone obviously sounds like a trombone only. If there was no difference betweend them the classical pieces that require a basstrumpet would simply use an extra trombone. I've seen it in bigbands, german/austrian polka groups and groups like mnozil brass and use one in one of my bands (skapunk) besides my trombone with a nice result. If somebody would like to own one, I'd advice to buy a chinese or a cheaper european instrument and not to invest in an expensive german professional one unless you are going to use it in a symphony.

[@Nick50B]

There are plenty of orchestral and opera pieces that call for bass trumpet. I definitely wouldn't call it "useless".

[@kowen112]

TheBassTromboneGuy Not for the rotery valves, they have no use. Piston bass trumpets are just better

[@chaspeterson261]

There was a dude named Cy Touff who recorded on bass trumpet for Pacific Jazz back n the 50s.

[@erikhorowitz9657]

i saw a video recently with a man talking about the role of the base trumpet. if what he said was true, they were largely used and often mistaken for trombones. he also said there were many musical pieces featuring them, and have gotten lost over centuries

[@erikhorowitz9657]

also, don't baritones have cylindrical tubing

[@sheilasweeney6731]

Trent: says there’s no difference Me: but I thought one was in Bb and one in C

[@InFamousProductions]

hey it's a cool review, but why are you wearing rings while handling? won't that chip the finish, I can hear the rings clicking on the metal

[@nakedmambo]

Wrong, the tubing length isn't wrapped in curves in a valve trombone and this affects the sound.

[@michaelmcdermott7349]

Take a breath, it was interesting to see and hear. I think the tonal values totally make this horn Unique.

[@legoshaakti]

The bass trumpet is a more compact and practical alternative to a small bore valve trombone.

[@Metal-Possum]

I can see a use for this in one of those jazzy groups with an emphasis on fun. Mnozil brass come to mind. Edit: Mnozil brass use one of these, looks like a giant flugelhorn, but it's mentioned as a bass trumpet.

[@Drchainsaw77]

I can point to one good use for a bass trumpet. I've been playing in various wedding bands on weekends, as a trombone player, and I've used a superbone for the past five years. Some of those bars and clubs are VERY tight. With the sort of rubbish we play, and in very confined spaces, I've been strongly considering a bass trumpet.

[@johnries5593]

Not a bad idea. A bass trumpet is going to take up a lot less space than a trombone.

[@troy3456789]

Makes me wonder how it will sound through a range of mouthpiece sizes and depths to find the best sound

[@carsonj.sullivan5755]

I imagine it uses bass clef. Also Trent keep up the great moves, proud of you.

[@FinlayStafford]

It depends. Some “bass trumpet” orchestral rep was written in transposing treble clef for F or Eb instruments that aren’t really made any more. So someone playing those parts will just transpose to whatever they can read, likely bass clef if they are a trombone player.

[@LauraJolly]

awesome demonstration and discussion!!

[@jazzman99000]

Is that a jinbao?

[@johnkilgore7987]

Wagner, Janacek, Stravinsky all wrote for bass trumpet...

[@nathanhol42001]

The only pieces I know that call for bass trumpet are Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Janacek's Sinfonietta

[@steamboat75043]

they work well with trumpet choirs, tone color seems to blend well.

[@mfredricknew]

I know that this is an older vid.. would you recommend this bass trumpet vs a Flugelhorn in place of a French horn on the field? or would you lean towards the valve trombone which I feel does not produce the same sound. I looking of course for more bang for the buck on the field

[@BigDogCountry]

That's why the Valve Trombone exists. I prefer a Valve/Slide Trombone combo if you have to do that, otherwise, the Dual Trigger works great. 5:43 Baritone Horn Rocks!

[@davidhall4170]

You will also note that the bass trumpet displayed here has no means of adjusting the pitch of the 1st and 3rd valves as does the standard Bb trumpet. The DEG Model 565 Marching Trombone however has a 1st valve saddle and a slot for a third valve ring which allows for proper intonation throughout the scales.

[@SWMP1523]

I know the bass trumpet has no real use in bands, but since I major in trumpet and love it I would own it for the novelty

[@dextertheturbokitty2785]

same

[@aidangreenfield3374]

Trumpeter2016 exactly

[@jonmakkai2541]

Is the bass trumpet easier to get a sound out of for a beginner? I tried learning the trumpet once and found it too difficult to make a sound that I gave up.

[@mrbigtbonevissoc]

Most likely. Try a baritone horn or euphonium some time and see if you have more luck getting a tone. I don't do well on a trumpet either, but I play baritone exclusively.

[@aaronmead861]

All it takes is practice (it does have a little to do with your lips shape but practice can overcome that) I play euphonium and trombone but I’m teaching myself trumpet by first practicing on a soprano trombone and it has gotten easier as I practice more

[@hauke3644]

This bass trumpet looks unusually slim to be. Those that I have been playing were broader, shorter and had a larger bore. This one might be suitable to play in the usual register, so one octave above its basic pitch and get another sound than a regular trumpet.

[@LowReedExpert1]

I'd say the F contrabass trumpet's the most useless, However a real bass trumpet (a correctly made one, thats the flaw of some chinese instruments, they'll just use a valve trombone bell instead of a bass trumpet bell and leadpipe sadly) works very well as a solo jazz instrument for ballads or even in hard swing, especially since it can facilitate much faster runs and valve taps. Aside from calling the bass identical to the valve (in a general sense) i really like the vid!

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Is there a mostly-cylindrical (AKA half-tube) true brass bass equivalent to the tuba in range but of the trumpet family rather that (conical, whole-tube) flugelhorn/tuba family? Also, is there an equivalent bass in the middle (three quarter tube) like a cornet? I always wondered why the trumpets don't have a true bass (an octave below this "bass trumpet" in the video, which is really a tenor).

[@jimpemberton]

Low brass doesn't work well with small bore tubing that has a lot of turns. That's why tubas and baritones work well with large, conical tubing. Trombones work with smaller bores because they only have a couple of turns. This is why F-attachments need to have the larger diameter bore for the instrument all around, and if you have a bass or contrabass trombone, the bore needs to be even larger though it stays relatively cylindrical. The bass trumpet may sound trumpet-like, but so does the valve trombone, and both are more difficult to control in the lower range, though a valve trombone might have an edge with a slightly larger bore. Honestly, the sound is close enough that a good player can get the same sound out of either of them, although a real trombone is going to have a superior resonance and control for a similar timbre at that range.

[@jackearnhart5660]

Hey Trent! Just now seeing this, is that a Brian Bowman mouthpiece (DEG)? If not, it must have been used as a model for the BB1. Thank you!

[@alexmacarthur5136]

There are two in Janacek's sinfonietta

[@MattMinecraft4]

How about Igor Stravinsky ? He used one in "Le Sacre du Printemps". You can hear it clearly in the "Ritual Action of the Ancestors"

[@agogobell28]

Exactly! It also serves as the top voice in the low brass choir in the last part of the “Sacrificial Dance”.

[@mogmason6920]

The Ride of the Valkyries from Richard Wagner’s opera Die Walküre main melody is what it was pretty much invented for!

[@ashtonvarner7033]

Is it in Bb? Because wouldn’t it be pretty much equivalent to a baritone/euphonium. Also if you used one of these would you read baritone music

[@sadiekaye352]

I have a theory about this instrument, that the mouthpiece we use nowadays for it is wrong. my theory goes... the "old" trumpet was in low F with a mouthpiece similar to the ones you see on modern Bb trumpets a 4th higher. (These F trumpets would play in a similar range to the modern ones with a slightly bigger warmer sound.) To extend the range it was natural to make the trumpet longer and increase the mouthpiece size a small amount. But the modern bass trumpet mouthpieces are well over twice the size of a trumpet mouthpiece. I want to try a bass trumpet such as yours with a smaller mouthpiece, like for what is now called an "alto" trumpet, but the problem is finding a m/piece that fits.

[@TheMisterTango]

Seeing 60fps in media other than games makes my head feel weird...in a good way

[@stativemisto3454]

So basically the valve trumpet is a valve trombone in disguise

[@brendo7289]

Isn't the valve trumpet the meta trumpet?

[@demonocity2235]

Also is there a way to use a trumpet mouthpiece in it ?

[@jakepatterson8815]

Are the fingerings for the bass trumpet and the normal trumpet the same?

[@davidcavazos6894]

Just to give another view of the Bass Trumpet you should watch "Hélène Escriva Trompette basse - "La Folia" M.Marais" To be fair, Hélène could probably make a water pipe sound good, but it gives an idea of what it can do in the right hands.

[@RandomYoutube1234]

Bass trumpet definitely not useless. I mean, WAGNER, ROSSINI, BRAHMS. All major composers using bass trumpet.

[@TyngedCai]

Rossini and Brahms?!...no.

[@bugglemagnum6213]

I saw a video calling a marching baritone a bass trumpet and i got so mad but i clearly see that this is a bass trumpet

[@augustburchard426]

Valve trombones were created for trumpet doublers in the jazz kingdom. Additionally, they aid significantly in fast passages with many notes, particularly in jazz or commercial playing. The valve trumpet isn't, "trying to find a place in the world," it exists in 19th and 20th century western-canon opera, most notably the Ring Cycle. The "most useless member of the trumpet family" would more likely be the signature 2 valve bugles in G early DCI corps used.

[@agogobell28]

The G bugles aren’t really part of the trumpet family. They’re another beast entirely.

[@moritz471]

I don't think bass trumpets are useless. In the traditional german music they are often used because they are a good contrast to the german Euphoniums.

[@TheNamesWolf]

I got to put my hands on a bass trumpet that was more like the standard design of a trumpet (pistons over rotors, and a proper place to put your hands) Would your opinion differ if you had this instrument instead of the one you have?

[@TrentHamilton]

+TheNamesWolf The concept behind the bass trumpet remains the same.

[@TheNamesWolf]

Fair enough.

[@chipbipple2593]

Trent Hamilton at first your argument against this instrument struck me as odd, as I imagined it would be better levied at the valve "trombone" which sounds the same and is a trombone for appearance's sake alone. The bass trumpet strikes me as more honest. But maybe the valve trombone's range is better. I haven't touched one myself, but I kind of doubt it. That baritone of yours is lovely, by the way.

[@Paul-rf8xs]

I think it depnds on the player and whether the player can sing. It helps a lot. No instrument can stop a good singer. Gotta put some soul into that thing. Also not to tell you anything but that warble in your sound can be fixed. Get yourself a tuner where it plays a pitch. Then play scales, chords and songs all the while listening to make the tones match up to whatever key signature you are playing in. Our listening and our voices are more powerful than any instrumentalist on the planet. If we let them be.

[@EddieJazzFan]

The only piece that I can remember that uses that is Kodaly's "Hary Janos" suite

[@JeanPaul-Hol65]

margaretsville So you don't know Wagner's Ring, R. Strauss's Macbeth or Elektra, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Janáček's Sinfonietta ... It's such a special instrument, it would deserve much more attention by the composers of our time.

[@loganready5634]

I play trombone and I bought one of these. They are awkward to hold but they sound like a baritone/trombone. I dont think they are usless it is quite fun to play and the rotary valves makes it nice for slurring. But as trent said the low range is pretty bad. I reckon they would fit nicely in a trombones place in an orchestra and a baritone place in a brass band.

[@alexanderkeiser2242]

Is the Bb trumpet you showed the fake Stradivarius?

[@TrentHamilton]

+Alexander Keiser Yes

[@Yelloweststar]

Hiya Trent, I am an aspiring Trombone player who has recently switched to bass trombone. My role in my school band requires me to play higher notes (higher than the high b flat) that I cannot play very good on my bass trombone. Do you have any advice on playing higher notes? I would really appreciate it if you could help me out a bit. Thank you!

[@TrentHamilton]

Sure, send me a private message and I'll help you out :)

[@Yelloweststar]

Trent Hamilton thank you for responding, Trent! I am playing with a Bach 4 g mouthpiece on a school provided bass trombone. Whenever I get above the first position high b flat, The note gets shaky and sounds poor. I am excellent at playing around the low b flat, but my role in the band requires me to play normal tenor trombone music. Any tips on how to get my high notes sounding right?

[@Yelloweststar]

Alright!

[@실대촬실수하는대로촬]

He is so good that the microphone cannot follow

[@crashwebb4715]

I'm that one guy who instead of paying attention to the main point, sees the miter saw in the background

[@GutpileCharlie]

Trent, what are your views and thoughts on the King Trombonium? Yes, I know it is just a valve trombone in a different configuration. I've always thought it was interesting. I especially liked the recording with Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson, "Piece for Two Tromboniums".

[@TrentHamilton]

I don't know. I've never played one.

[@StudentMarioGrandinetti]

im a drummer.. how did i end up here?...

[@captaincumexplosion]

2018 Student Mario Grandinetti Thats what i asked myself as well xD

[@andrewbarrett1537]

That's what they said at Julliard. P. S. I do play the drums... poorly.

[@yepalright624]

you want to know how it feels to play a real instrument

[@paulcooper8335]

See my reply posted two years after yours!

[@sheajordan526]

@@paulcooper8335 See my reply 5 days after yours!

[@downtownjerrybrown6053]

Does the bass trumpet have the same fingering as the Bb trumpet or the same as the French horn? I am assuming the bass trumpet has the exact same fingering as the Bb trumpet. I play the Bb trumpet myself both in concert and marching band.

[@TrentHamilton]

It is the same as the Bb trumpet.

[@downtownjerrybrown6053]

+Trent Hamilton Thank u. I kinda wish I had a bass trumpet myself

[@djdigital3806]

I played the Baritone horn in marching band. Never heard of a bass trumpet 🎺 Interesting 🤔

[@eerotuominen4466]

The bass trumpet is a nice instrument. It's different by sound of the valve trombone. Altough, i would ask, why are the bass tumpets and the trombones shaped like the are? Of course the tube measures are different, but the outlook could be easily be equal. Ermellino

[@bjrnmikkelsen3790]

What if you took the bell of a tuba, the slide of a trombone and the body of a piccolo trumpet

[@turnersugg]

What key are bass Trumpets typically in?

[@ThomasNeal]

3 pissed in valves the struggle is real.

[@benzo277]

I've heard that valve trombones have bad intonation issues which would be alleviated by the bass trumpet.