Euphonium

The euphonium is a member of the brass (Hornbostel–Sachs 423.232). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the euphonium makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the euphonium 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 euphonium is a tenor- and baritone-voiced valved brass instrument pitched in 9-foot (9′) B♭ an octave below the B♭ trumpet or cornet, employed chiefly in brass, military, and concert bands. As with any brass instrument, sound is produced with a lip vibration or "buzz" in the mouthpiece. The euphonium is a member of the large family of valved bugles, along with the tuba and flugelhorn, characterized by a wide conical bore. Most instruments have four valves, usually compensating piston valves, although instruments with four or five rotary valves are common in Eastern and Central Europe.