Have you ever wondered what makes that unique, warm British brass band sound? Unlike an orchestra or a wind band, a traditional silver band uses a very specific lineup of instruments. Here is a quick guide to who is who on the stage!

The Cornets

If the band were a choir, the cornets would be the sopranos. They handle the majority of the main melodies.

• The Principal Cornet: These players lead the band, often playing the most intricate and soaring melody lines.
• The Back Row: These cornets provide essential harmonies and rhythmic backing, filling out the bright top end of the band’s sound.
• The Soprano Cornet: There is only one of these in the band! It is pitched higher than the rest and adds a brilliant, sparkling layer to the very top of the music.

The Flugelhorn

Sitting next to the cornets is the single flugelhorn. While it looks like a large cornet, it has a much wider, conical shape. This gives it a beautifully dark, mellow, and almost jazzy tone. The flugelhorn acts as the musical “glue” bridging the bright cornets and the middle of the band.

The Tenor Horns

Not to be confused with the French horns used in orchestras, our tenor horns are held upright. They sit right in the middle of the band and provide the crucial alto voice. They often play the rhythmic “off-beats” in traditional marches, but they also get stunning, lyrical solos that show off their velvety tone.

The Baritones

Often mistaken for small tubas or euphoniums, the baritone horn has a narrower, more cylindrical tube. This gives it a lighter, brighter sound than the euphonium. The baritones work hard in the engine room of the band, blending the sounds of the horns above them with the heavier brass below.

The Trombones

The trombones are the only instruments in the band that use a slide instead of valves. They bring punch, power, and a brilliant “edge” to the music, cutting right through the texture when a bit of extra volume or drama is needed.

The Euphoniums

If the cornets are the violins of the band, the euphoniums are the cellos. They sit near the front and are responsible for playing soaring counter-melodies and spectacular solos. It is a wonderfully rewarding instrument to play, whether for a seasoned musician or an adult beginner just starting out, because its rich, warm, and singing tone sits right at the very heart of the band’s signature sound.

The Basses (Tubas)

These are the biggest instruments on the stage and the absolute foundation of the band.

• Eb Basses: Slightly smaller, these handle the walking basslines and connect the bottom of the band to the baritones and euphoniums.
• Bb Basses: The largest, deepest instruments. They provide the incredibly rich, resonant, and rumbling bottom notes that you can actually feel in your chest when sitting in the audience.

The Percussion

Tucked away at the back, the percussion section is the rhythmic driving force. Depending on the music, this section can feature a bit of everything! They use the standard drum kit to lay down the backbeat for modern pop and rock arrangements, as well as timpani, cymbals, xylophones, and glockenspiels to add color and rhythm to our concert programs.

Did you know? In a British brass band, almost every single player reads music in the “Treble Clef” – even the massive Bb Basses! This tradition was started in the 19th century so that working-class musicians could easily swap instruments if the band was short of a player, without having to learn to read an entirely new language of music.