Starting out: The Baroque Trumpet

It might seem odd but one of the hardest things when learning the natural trumpet is assembling the instrument. The ways of numbering the different pipes is not standardised throughout different brands leading to much confusion.

As a general rule there are 4 parts to assembling the instrument in the most common keys C and D:

1. The Bell

2. The Crooks

3. The Vent Holes

4. The Leadpipes

For this assembly guide I will be using the Robert Van Ryne method. But remember this is only a guide and different combinations may work better on your instrument.

Baroque Trumpet in D = 415 Hz (for reference)

The Mouthpiece: Modern vs Baroque

In order to achieve the most authentic sound the type of mouthpiece must be considered as well as the trumpet. The shallow cup and flat rim is key to producing an authentic sound, especially in the high ‘clarino’ register, which is more comfortable to play with a shallower mouthpiece. An authentic mouthpiece will also help to achieve a lighter sound which will blend better with the timbre of a baroque ensemble. However baroque mouthpieces are difficult to come across and the majority of modern baroque trumpets are designed to only fit a modern mouthpiece. It is advisable that a student should use a modern mouthpiece whilst they learn the basics, but an authentic baroque mouthpiece is worth considering if you want to pursue professional baroque performance.

Left: Egger Baroque Trumpet Mouthpiece

Right: Bach Modern Trumpet Mouthpiece

Finger position

Before you start to learn the notes, it is important to first look at your finger position over the vent holes. You must make sure that your fingers are covering the vent holes completely otherwise the sound will be airy!

Fingering Chart

N.B. Unlike a modern trumpet which can use different valves at the same time, the baroque trumpet can only have one vent hole uncovered at a time. If more than one is uncovered too much air escapes resulting in loss of sound.