Tenor horn

The tenor horn is a member of the brass (Hornbostel–Sachs 423.232.2). Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

How the tenor horn makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the tenor horn 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 tenor horn (British English; alto horn in American English, sometimes E♭ horn) is a brass instrument in the saxhorn family pitched in E♭ with three piston valves. It has a bore that is moderately conical, like the cornet and baritone, and normally uses a deep funnel-shaped mouthpiece. In continental Europe it is known as the Althorn and commonly has rotary valves and an oval shape.

It is most commonly used to play inner harmonies and off-beats in British brass bands and Mexican banda music, reading transposing treble clef, whereas the horn dominates in concert bands and orchestras. In the late 20th century it began to be considered as a serious solo voice, and has amassed a repertoire of contemporary concertos and other solo works.