The Complete Guide to Professional Trumpets

When Should You Buy a Professional Trumpet?

Once a trumpet player has fully committed to their instrument, is playing very advanced pieces, and is perhaps even ready to make trumpet playing part of their career, investing in a professional trumpet is in order. Professional trumpets can be quite expensive, so be sure you’re ready to commit to a professional model. If you’re not, there are dozens of incredibly high-quality intermediate trumpets to choose from!

With professional trumpets, the metals are much higher quality. The valves, often Monel or stainless steel, are made with more precision and function very smoothly. Pro models may have larger bores so the instrument can be played with more power, but it requires more effort. The bell will likely be one piece (whereas student horns often have two piece bells). Take your time and be sure to research a lot of trumpets out before deciding.

What Family are Trumpets In?

The trumpet is a brass instrument in the trumpet family. It’s a conical or cylindrical instrument, consisting of a metal tube, a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and a flared bell. The trumpet is one of the most recognizable instruments in terms of appearance and sound. The trumpet is light and portable so it’s easy to transport to and from rehearsals, gigs and performances.

No matter whether you are looking for a student, professional, or professional trumpet, the most popular horns are played in the key of Bb. However, you will see C, Eb & D, F & G trumpets on the market, as well as piccolo and bass trumpets. If you’re looking to advance to a professional horn, you’ll most likely be shopping for a Bb trumpet.

Who Plays the Professional Trumpet?

A musician who plays the trumpet can simply be called a trumpet player or a trumpeter. Almost anyone can learn to play the trumpet – kids as young as 8 years old can start on the instrument, though young students would almost exclusively play on student trumpets, which are made of durable materials that make it easier to play. Professional trumpet players who have progressed in their skill on the instrument can play a variety of music genres, including jazz, orchestra, rock, Latin, chamber groups, and pep band.

What Does a Professional Trumpet Look Like?

Most professional trumpets contain the same basic and essential parts. This picture of a trumpet shows you the breakdown of these various parts.

What are Professional Trumpets Made of?

These days, trumpets are almost exclusively made from brass. The most common type of brass used in professional trumpets is yellow brass, which is 70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc. When shopping for a very high quality professional trumpet, you may see a solid gold or silver trumpet – however, you do not need to purchase an instrument made of gold or silver to achieve a top level of play.

Finishes of a Professional Trumpet

Professional trumpets come in a variety of finishes. Lacquer is the most common one and is baked onto the completed instrument. Lacquer finishes can produce an instrument with a darker tone and are available on any category of trumpet. Silver plating, on the other hand, can give a trumpet a much brighter tone and is applied through the process of electroplating. Gold finishes, in addition to their striking visual impact, can slightly darken the tone. On professional trumpets, you may also see interesting finishes like vintage, copper, black copper, or red brass.

What Does a Professional Trumpet Sound Like?

The trumpeter produces sound from the trumpet by buzzing their lips. It is actually the metal trumpet mouthpiece that produces the sound which is then projected through the tubing and the bell. The trumpeter changes the pitch of notes by using the valves to change the length of the tube. In general, the longer the tube, the lower the note. You could describe the trumpet’s sound as metallic, bright and powerful.

Good Trumpet Brands for Professional Players

If you’re looking for a good professional trumpet, there are many instrument makers that craft high-quality instruments. Look for models from Bach, Schilke, Yamaha and Adams if you’re looking for incredible professional trumpets. You can also find affordable professional trumpets from Allora or you could shop for a used trumpet to ease the cost of a pro model.

Professional Trumpet Accessories

Maintenance is an important part of owning a trumpet and there are many care & cleaning accessories that will be needed throughout the life of any instrument to keep it responsive and performing at the highest level. Mouthpiece brushes and cleaning snakes help prevent the build-up of material within the body of the trumpet that can impact air-flow. Valve oil is a necessity to keep the valves’ mechanisms moving freely and quickly.

In addition to these maintenance related items, other common accessories for trumpet players often include items more suited to musical needs, such as different types of mouthpieces and several different variations of brass mutes. Lastly, while many professional cases provide some room for these additional items, cases made exclusively for trumpets can provide ample storage for all the player’s accessories and provide much-needed protection for your instrument.

Print Music for Professional Trumpet Players

For trumpeters who are ready to invest in a professional trumpet, you’ll want to keep adding to your repertoire to advance your skills. We have a huge selection of music books and sheet music.