Flugelhorns

Buy flugelhorn at session

What are flugelhorns and how are they constructed?

Flugelhorns belong to the family of brass instruments. At first glance, similarities to trumpets can be seen due to their technology . If you take a closer look at the instruments, flugelhorns appear more “compressed”. The scale length of the flugelhorn is conical . This means that the pipe widens towards the end. On the trumpet, however, the tube is cylindrical . Because the diameter of the trumpet only increases towards the end, the otherwise very similar instruments sound very different. The cornet sits somewhere between the flugelhorn and the trumpet. This can be attributed to the fact that half of the scale length is conical and the other half is cylindrical.

Pump or rotary valve?

Flugelhorns and trumpets also share other similarities. Both instruments are available in two different valve variants. Most flugelhorns are equipped with pump valves. These are also called Pèrinet valves. The other variant uses rotary valves.

Basic tuning and pitch range of flugelhorns

Other similarities between the two brass instruments are the basic tuning and the pitch range . In addition, flugelhorns and trumpets are also categorized as soprano instruments . This categorization has something to do with their sound . Due to their tuning (usually B ), both flugelhorns and trumpets are responsible for the high pitches. The term “ high sheet metal ” is therefore often used in professional circles.

Mouthpieces for flugelhorns and what you should consider

The mouthpiece of both the flugelhorn and the trumpet is not entirely insignificant for the sound . These are called kettle mouthpieces . They are differentiated by their shell depth , their bowl diameters and edge widths . The deeper the shell, the more voluminous the sound. Conversely, the sound of a flatter shell can be described as compressed or harder. The edge width is very important for the embouchure of the flugelhorn. Every player should decide whether they prefer a wider or narrower rim based on their personal comfort. It should be noted that narrower edges allow for more flexible playing techniques. But don't worry, a flugelhorn mouthpiece can be replaced quickly. It is simply plugged onto the leadpipe. It is still advisable to try out a flugelhorn before buying it.

The sound of a flugelhorn

When describing the sound of flugelhorns, one often speaks of a warm but concise and assertive tone. The horn's assertiveness can certainly be traced back to its descent from the signal horn . Since the 18th century, the different "wings" of a hunting party have been coordinated through the forest using the various signals of the horn. The name of the flugelhorn can certainly be derived from this. The military later copied this technology. From there, the flugelhorn made its way through military and marching bands , to modern wind orchestras and big bands . To this day it serves as a counterpart to the deeper sounding tenor horns and, when used together, provides a little more variety of sounds. Its pleasantly warm character is particularly popular in traditional brass music . Flugelhorns often take on the part of the melodic line in this Bohemian music, which has also given them a respected reputation as a solo instrument in jazz .

Discover flugelhorns for beginners and professionals at session

In our range you will find flugelhorns for beginners , advanced players and professionals . When creating our range, we tried to combine our qualitative ideas about a high-quality flugelhorn with the price considerations - for both beginners and professionals - in an appropriate product selection. Beginners will find flugelhorns from the brands Chicago Winds , Yamaha and Jupiter . In order to meet the professional demands of our advanced players, we stock various flugelhorns from the brands Miraphone , Melton and Schagerl . Special bags for flugelhorns and mouthpieces for flugelhorns , as well as an extensive range of accessories round off our selection. So that you can enjoy your flugelhorn for many years to come, we have summarized the most important steps and tips in our guides “Cleaning and caring for brass instruments” .