6 Easiest Brass Instruments to Play in a Band

I failed at the saxophone so I don’t need the 6 easiest brass instruments to play in a band. But maybe you do. Maybe you, unlike me, did not fail at saxophone. Maybe you will pass or even succeed! Think of the heights someone who is not me could reach playing the saxophone–such heights!

I played it for two weeks in the 6th grade and it wasn’t pretty. A saxophone requires a wooden reed which is like half of a tongue depressor–only one hundred million times thinner. I broke it basically every time I touched the instrument and my miserly music teacher made me purchase more from him at 50 cents a pop. Mind you, 50 cents just happens to be the exact price of the cafeteria ice cream bars, so I don’t think I’m wrong to suspect a conspiracy. While playing I had to have my back to my “audience” usually some poor family member, not because of stage fright, but so I wouldn’t start laughing. I also complimented my routines with a slightly cracked gray plastic fedora. The image of a thin 6th grader plugging away at the sax wearing a broken plastic top hat must have been absolute class.

However, if you are looking for a new creative hobby for you or your child, you may want to check our list of 6 easiest brass instruments to play in a band. Brass instruments are the ones made fully out of brass looking like long pipes, that widen at the end in a shape of a bell. They are played by buzzing lips against the metal mouth part. There are valves on the pipes which open and close different parts of the pipe creating the wider range of sounds, along with buzzing lips harder or softer. If brass instruments aren’t your tune then check out 10 Easiest Instruments to Learn How to Play.

They are mostly used by marching band players, jazz musicians, and the orchestra members where they are described as the loudest of all instruments. The first time they were introduced to a wider audience as a part of the orchestra of classical music was when presenting Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The first two major British Brass Bands were Besses o’ th’ Barn Band and the Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. What makes brass instruments perfect for the musical beginners is initially their physical structure. Long curved pipes with only a few valves each allow the player to easily handle it and control it by mostly using his own breath. For making a sound you don’t need to lose your breath. Choosing between deeper and shallower breath is your own choice and you make it by deciding whether you want louder or a softer sound.

According to the public opinion, the most popular brass instruments include tuba, french horns, euphonium, trombone, saxophone, trumpet, cornet, bass trombone, baritone horn and air horn. Each of them has specific sounds and way of playing, but all of them make a richer musical experience.

Learning to play any of the brass instruments requires plenty of time to practice, but they are not as hard as they seem to be. That’s why they are highly recommended by most instructors.

As for our methodology we initially based it on Brasscrest which made the list of the must-have instruments in any brass band and then cross-referenced it with Norman’s list of the easiest brass instruments to learn based on the size of mouthpiece, size of the instrument and the valves, we can now give you the list of 6 easiest brass instruments to play in a band.

6. Baritone

Even though is rather big, the baritone doesn’t weight that much, so it can usually be held on the lap with right hand free to use on the valves. It can easily be played both with and without valves. When playing without, baritone makes a harmonic series of B♭, the sound which makes it perfect for military and marching bands.

5. Cornet

Cornet is the smallest of all brass instruments which initially became popular in solo acts on our list of easiest brass instruments to play in a band. It has three valves which are pressed by fingers of the right hand while playing. It can create various sounds, initially B♭ and E♭, but allows more lowering by pressing two or three valves at the same time which makes it one of the favorite instruments in U.S. and England military bands.

While playing, the cornet should be held straight with valves being vertical for easier use and correct sound. Every band includes at least two cornets- one for soprano and second for alt voice.

4. French horn

Next in line on our list of easiest brass instruments to play in a band is French horn that has the strangest shape of all brass instruments.

Similar to every other brass instruments, it initially has three valves, but sometimes there is the forth for the thumb. While playing, a musician has to hold his left hand on top of the bell.

It is usually made as single or double. Singles are more popular and easier to play. They come as a B flats or F horns, which are highly recommended by most of the instructors. It is usually range in the third octave which is the reason why it is so popular among bands, military, and Hollywood composers.

The French horn usually has three parts: the first one is always the highest, second lowest and third part which is lower than the first, but higher than second.

3. Trombone

Even though it is harder than some other instruments on our list of easiest brass instruments to play in a band, the trombone deserved to be on the list of the 6 easier brass instruments to play in a band because of the way you play it. Unlike the other mentioned instruments, a trombone is playing particularly by hearing. It doesn’t have any valves and the sound is made by simply moving the slide in and out. Some include the ”F” attachment or a valve.

It is one of the brass instruments with the widest range of usage. You can see it in orchestras, jazz bands, brass orchestras, marching band and as a solo instrument.

2. Flugelhorn

This brass contains three to four valves, which allow it to slide through two and a half octaves and to bring tones from soprano to f or e flat–that makes a more mellow sound. It is placed among the most popular instruments of military and march bands as well as jazz orchestras. Now, let’s see the number one on our list of easiest brass instruments to play in a band.

1. Helicon

Although bigger instrument, but most easy to carry. It is a type of tuba that wraps around the musician and is held on his shoulder. It is perfect for all kind of ”walking bands” such as marching, horse riding and comes in every size, for the purpose and the wish of the musician. You can have it in  B♭, E♭, F, tenor sizes and other, which makes it No.1 on our list of 6 easiest brass instruments to play in a band.