The mouthpiece, leadpipe, and bell are the three basic elements that make up a trumpet. The pitch of musical notes is controlled by valves, valve casings, and pistons. A tuning slide is used to ensure that the instrument is properly tuned. The use of a finger hook allows for one-handed play. A spit valve is used to vent the moisture that has accumulated.
A mouthpiece is one of the trumpet’s parts that is shared with other brass instruments. Mouthpieces come in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing for a variety of musical effects. In each, the player blows into the mouthpiece through closed lips. Within the instrument’s tubing, this causes a standing, or stationary, wave vibration.
The leadpipe of a trumpet is the tube that connects the mouthpiece to the tuning slide. A trumpet, like any other instrument, cannot be permanently tuned to perfect pitch. Adjustments to the tuning slide can be made by slightly extending or retracting its length. The tuning slide is located between the leadpipe and the valve casings in regular construction.
The bell, out of all the parts of a trumpet, may be the most important in producing the instrument’s distinctive sound. The flare of a bell is the rate at which its diameter grows. Large flares have a mellow tone, whereas small flares have a sharper, brassier tone. The bell of a trumpet can be plated or lacquered, though it is usually made of brass. Silver-plated bells have a lighter sound, whereas gold-plated bells have a richer tone.
A tuning bell is used instead of a tuning slide in a few trumpet designs. These bells are attached to the trumpet just beyond the valve casing and can be removed. The bell is slid in and out of the instrument’s interface to tune it. Because they are detachable, the sound of the instrument can be changed by substituting a different flare or component material for the bell.
The parts of a trumpet that produce the individual notes within its harmonic range are valve casings, pistons, and slides. The valve casings are the three cylinders that house the pistons. Air is routed through the valve slides when a piston is depressed. The overall length of the tubing is lengthened, resulting in a lower pitch note. Each valve, both individually and in combination, produces a distinct change in pitch.
The finger hook is one of the trumpet’s parts that serves no musical purpose. It’s included to make playing with one hand while turning music sheets with the other easier. This enables the musician to keep his or her fingers in the proper position over the valves. The spit valve, which allows for the easy purging of accumulated saliva, is another non-musical but very useful component.