At first glance, the features of a flugelhorn vs. trumpet may not seem much different. But actually, they do vary quite significantly, and they’re good to be aware of if you’re trying to find the best brass instrument for you.
In a nutshell, the trumpet has a smaller bell and a more compact shape, whereas the flugelhorn features a wider design and a larger bell. But what does it mean for the instrument and how does it affect its sound? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the differences between these two instruments to help you determine which one is best suited to you.
Quick comparisons
Flugelhorn | Trumpet | |
---|---|---|
Material | Brass | Brass |
Bore | Conical | Cylindrical |
Mouthpiece | Deep funnel Shape | Shallow cup shape |
Sound | Warm and round | Bright and cutting |
Use cases | Brass bands and jazz | Orchestras and jazz bands |
Flugelhorn recommendations
Beginner: Flugelhorn by Gear4music
Key features
- Gold lacquered finish
- Monel piston valves
- Mobile third valve with a smooth trigger
- Tuneable leadpipe
- Hard carry case
The Flugel Horn by Gear4music is an excellent choice for beginners. It delivers a warm, easy-to-produce tone thanks to its wider bore and included mouthpiece. Features such as the smooth third-valve trigger and tunable lead pipe make it easier for new players to confidently tackle intonation challenges.
Complete with a robust gold lacquer finish and a durable hard case, this instrument combines functionality with affordability, making it ideal for students starting their brass journey.
Intermediate/professional: Yamaha YFH-631G Professional Flugelhorn
Key features
- Two-piece gold brass bell
- Medium bore
- Durable Monel alloy pistons and slides
- Hand-lapped components
- Includes Yamaha case and FH-11F4 mouthpiece
The Yamaha YFH-631G Professional Flugelhorn combines quality and versatility, making it an excellent choice for professional trumpet players. Its medium bore ensures easy playability, while the two-piece gold brass bell produces a warm, expressive tone.
Hand-lapped pistons and slides offer reliable intonation and smooth handling, promoting good technique. Additionally, the YFH-631G comes with a sturdy case and premium mouthpiece, providing a solid, professional-grade foundation.
Trumpet recommendations
Beginner: Student Trumpet by Gear4music
Key features
- Durable yellow brass body with clear lacquer
- Stainless steel valves
- Medium-large bore
- Includes 7C mouthpiece
- Lightweight hard foam case with shoulder straps
The Student Trumpet by Gear4music is a fantastic entry-level instrument. Its yellow brass body and medium-large bore produce a resonant, warm tone that’s well-suited to beginners. Plus, the stainless steel valves are extremely smooth to operate, making it ideal for practising fast passages.
This trumpet comes with a mouthpiece and a lightweight protective case, providing everything needed to start playing straight away. It’s an excellent choice for new players.
Intermediate/professional: Bach Apollo 170S43GYR Trumpet, Silver Plated
Key features
- Two-piece bi-material bell
- Innovative #6R leadpipe
- Silver-plated finish
- Utilises Stradivarius annealing techniques
- Lightweight design with high-quality brass components
The Bach Apollo 170S43GYR Trumpet provides advanced players with an exceptional balance of rich, resonant sound and precise performance.
Its two-piece, bi-material bell, crafted from gold and yellow brass, offers impressive tonal versatility, while the innovative #6R leadpipe ensures a quick and agile response.
Featuring a silver-plated finish and a lightweight build, it blends professional craftsmanship with excellent playability.
Flugelhorn vs. trumpet
Materials and construction
As with most instruments, the materials of the flugelhorn and trumpet play a huge role in shaping their sound. Both are typically crafted from brass, though some models may incorporate other alloys to enhance durability or alter tonal characteristics. Brass contributes to their rich, resonant sound, but flugelhorns often use slightly heavier or thicker brass, giving them a darker timbre.
The valve systems on both instruments are similar, usually featuring three piston valves made from durable materials like stainless steel or monel. They’re smooth and precise to operate. However, the flugelhorn sometimes includes additional mechanisms, like a third-valve trigger, for intonation on lower notes.
Mouthpieces are also where things differ. Trumpets use a smaller, shallower mouthpiece, which gives them their bright, piercing sound. Flugelhorns, on the other hand, have deeper, funnel-shaped mouthpieces that soften the attack and deliver that signature mellow tone. You’ll also find that flugelhorns often have more adjustable tuning slides, making it easier to fine-tune their broader tonal range.
Shape and size
The flugelhorn and trumpet may share the same tubing length, but they’re structured differently, and these changes in shape and size give them unique tonal characteristics.
The most noticeable difference lies in the bell and bore. The flugelhorn features a larger, more conical bore that gradually widens throughout the instrument. This creates a warmer, darker sound with less edge, making it great for lyrical and expressive playing. Its bell is also wider and slightly flared, further emphasising its mellow tone and softer projection.
In contrast, the trumpet has a narrower, cylindrical bore that maintains a consistent diameter until it nears the bell. This design results in a brighter, more focused tone with greater projection, ideal for cutting through ensembles in jazz or orchestral settings. The trumpet’s smaller bell complements its compact size, aiding its sharper and more brilliant sound.
The flugelhorn has a more rounded and bulkier form than the trumpet’s streamlined, angular shape. This impacts playability: the flugelhorn is slightly heavier and responds best to a gentler playing technique, while the trumpet’s lighter, more compact build allows for agile and precise performance.
Playability
We’ve touched on playability, but it’s not just the shape and size of these brass instruments that affect how comfortable they are to play, the weight and mouthpiece also play a role.
The trumpet is lighter and more compact, with its straight, angular shape allowing you to play the instrument with a secure hold. This lightweight design, combined with its smaller bore and mouthpiece, also enables greater agility and responsiveness, making it ideal for fast passages of music.
On the other hand, the flugelhorn is slightly heavier and bulkier due to its wider bore and larger bell. Its rounded design means it may take a little longer for you to figure out a comfortable holding posture. However, its deeper mouthpiece and more substantial weight encourage a softer playing approach, which helps produce its rich, mellow tone.
It’s for these reasons that the trumpet is well-suited to beginners. If you play the trumpet, you might find it easier to move to a flugelhorn than you would with no brass experience.
Sound
The trumpet produces a bright, piercing sound with exceptional projection. Its narrow, cylindrical bore and smaller bell help it cut through dense textures, making it an essential voice in jazz bands, orchestras, and marching ensembles. The clarity and brilliance of the trumpet suit energetic and melodic passages, while its powerful projection ensures it stands out even in large ensembles.
You’ll find the trumpet in genres like classical, jazz, and pop. If a song requires a brass instrument with a crisp, articulate tone, the trumpet is a go-to.
In contrast, the flugelhorn offers a warm, mellow sound with a softer, darker timbre. Its conical bore and larger bell reduce any brightness and contribute to its rounded tone. Here, you’ll find that the sound is less cutting. Rather, it blends seamlessly within an ensemble, making it perfect for jazz ballads and brass bands and as a complementary texture in wind ensembles.
Flugelhorns are also beautiful solo instruments in intimate settings because they’re so lyrical in sound.
Flugelhorn vs. trumpet – which one is right for me?
When choosing any instrument, you need to look at the type of music you want to play and the environments you’ll be playing in.
If you’ll be primarily doing ensemble work and need a brass sound that cuts through, the bright, powerful tone of a trumpet is ideal. However, if you need something more mellow and expressive that blends well with other instruments, you might want to consider the flugelhorn.
You should also think about your ability level and experience. If you’re a complete beginner, you’ll find the trumpet easier to play thanks to a compact, lightweight build. On the other hand, if you’ve played a brass instrument before and think you can handle the heavier construction of a flugelhorn, go for it!
Both instruments have a lot to offer, so choosing the right one really comes down to your preferences. If you’re just starting out, think about the type of music you love – chances are, this will be the type of music you gravitate towards when learning to play.
The good news is that the trumpet and flugelhorn work well as doubling instruments. So, if you start with one, it’s pretty easy to pick up the other later and enjoy the best of both worlds!
FAQs
Who is famous for playing the flugelhorn?
Chuck Mangione is famous for playing the flugelhorn. Known for his smooth jazz style, Mangione popularised the instrument with hits like “Feels So Good”. Other notable players include Art Farmer and Clark Terry, who played the flugelhorn in jazz and classical performances.
Is a flugelhorn easier to play than a trumpet?
A flugelhorn is not necessarily easier to play than a trumpet. Its larger bore and conical shape produce a warmer sound but require more air control and embouchure flexibility. While it can feel more comfortable for some, others may struggle with the correct holding posture.
Can a trumpet player play flugelhorn?
A trumpet player can play the flugelhorn as the two instruments share similar fingerings and playing techniques. However, the flugelhorn’s darker tone and air demands may require adjustments. Trumpet players often switch seamlessly but may need practice to refine their sound on the flugelhorn.
Final thoughts
If you’re trying to decide between the two instruments, we hope our flugelhorn vs. trumpet guide has shown you the key differences between them! The one that’s “right” for you is subjective; you might even find that you start on one and eventually learn to play both!
For more information on brass, check out these related guides:
Brass Instruments – What Are They?
The 9 Types of Trumpets Every Brass Player Should Know
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