Contrabass trumpet

The contrabass trumpet is a member of the brass (Hornbostel–Sachs 423.233.2). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the contrabass trumpet makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the contrabass trumpet belongs to the brass (lip-vibrated aerophones): the player's buzzing lips set the air column vibrating – trumpets, horns, trombones, tubas and the didgeridoo.

More broadly it is one of the aerophones (wind instruments), where sound comes from vibrating air.

Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.

From Wikipedia

The contrabass trumpet is the largest, lowest-pitched, and rarest member of the trumpet family, sounding below the bass trumpet. Only a very small number of instruments exist. The instrument appeared in the mid-20th century and has no orchestral or jazz repertoire. Usually built in 12-foot (12′) F a perfect fourth below the B♭ bass trumpet, it has the same length as the F contrabass trombone, cimbasso, or tuba. When built larger still in 18′ B♭, it is sometimes called a subcontrabass trumpet.