How brass instruments work - Al Cannon

What gives the trumpet its clarion ring and the tuba its gut shaking oompah-pah? And what makes the trombone so jazzy? Al Cannon shows how these answers lie not in the brass the instruments are made of, but in the journey that air takes from the musician’s lungs to the instrument’s bell.

Lesson by Al Cannon, animation by TED-Ed.

[MadManMax]

As a tuba player who has learned all of this info before, I think it's great seeing it presented like this! Thanks, TED-Ed!

[TheJH]

Shame the answer on the question in the beginning is not given: the bore gives each instrument its characteristic sound. If it's cylindircal, the sound will be clearer and more direct (such as the trumpet and trombone) and if the tubing is a bit conical the sound becomes rounder (like the French Horn) and when the bore size increases a lot over the length of the tubing it becomes very mellow and round like the Euphonium.

[izzzDelta]

As a brass player, it's interesting to know what's actually going on when we play and how the sound is actually produced. Nice vid :)

[TechTonic-vx]

Such a clean explanation of how brass instruments work — beautifully presented!

[harveylopezt]

Wow, respect for musicians who interpret this instruments.

[emill]

As a Horn player, I am deeply insulted that you didn't even mention us! We have a unique form of pitch changes via the rotary valve system, rather than the piston and slide mechanisms of trombones and the others. We are also capable of changing the pitch of the note with our hands, (which is why we always have our hands inside the bell.) That, an we have the longest amounts of tubing than any other instrument. It's remarkable how we can play as low as trombone, and as high as a trumpet.

[susancorgi]

Now i admire brass players more. What a hard work!

[formulafish]

The brass instruments are so fun to play!

[ZachMacLurg]

The trombone in the thumbnail is assembled backwards.

[MrAmazingestperson]

I love how he put o2 for air when we breathe out Co2 genius

[STARPHROST]

I used to play the trumpet when I was younger back in school and I remember it always makes my lips crazy numb after practicing for one hour each school day for the whole week. I also remember that spit valve at the end where you can release the spit that's been built up inside the trumpet per use. We learned Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture which is up until now is one of the things I'm most proud of. Sadly unlike riding the bicycle, I've lost the skill to read music notes now.

[emmydominguez]

Thank you so much!! I have always wondered how it works... I seriously was going to open my trumpet to see how it works! I have always enjoyed your videos in my classroom!

[aidancarter]

LOVE that the picture of the sousa shows the inevitable dents

[dannermassey]

Obviously wasn't done by a musician but still extremely accurate

[lauralynncrytzer]

Sad to see that this video did not incorporate the writings of Arthur Benade, showing the relationships between quantum mechanics and how horns make sound as well as how the players lips, after initial vibration, actually vibrate sympathetically with the resonating column inside the instrument that is returned to them at a nodal point on the bell.

[blazingfire]

I saw the silver tubs in the thumbnail and at first thought it was a euphonium. I got excited because it’s not a well known instrument outside of band and I play so it was nice to see it being recognized here. But nope, just a tuba.

[TiberiusStorm]

I've always wanted to learn the trumpet!

[sooooooooDark]

if u analyzed anything this deeply it would seem like the most awesomest of awesome inventions ever :p

[christopherserbic]

For a 4-minute video. This is perfect.

[tingsteph]

0:07 the fact I genuinely thought that was real life for a second