Difference Between Trumpet and French horn

Trumpet vs French horn

Trumpet and French horn belong to the brass family of instruments. Though these belong to the same family of brass instruments, they have many differences.

While the trumpet is played at both bands and orchestra, the French horn is mainly used in orchestras.

While the tubes in a trumpet bent twice into an oblong shape, the tube in French horn coils into a circular shape, which comes out in the shape of a bell at the base. While a trumpet’s mouthpiece comes in cup shaped, it is funnel shaped in a French horn.

The notes on a trumpet are changed by altering the fingerings on the three valves in the brass instrument and also by changing the lip tension. In a French horn, the notes and pitch can also be changed by altering the three valves and by changing the lip tension.

When talking about the size of the two brass instruments, the French horn is larger than a trumpet. This means that the French horn is pitched lower than the trumpet. Moreover, the mouthpiece of a French horn is smaller than a trumpet.

Coming to the history of Trumpets, they were used since ancient times and had been part of rituals in many parts of the world. It was in medieval Europe that various versions of trumpets began to develop. By 1800s, the new look of the trumpets was got with the addition of valves. Unlike the trumpet, the French horn is only a recent addition of brass instrument. It was developed in the 1650s in France. But the French horn that we see today was only developed in the 19th century with the addition of valves.

Summary:
1. The tubes in a trumpet bent twice into an oblong shape, the tube in French horn coils into a circular shape.
2. While a trumpet’s mouthpiece comes in cup shaped, it is funnel shaped in a French horn.
3. The French horn is larger than a trumpet.
4. Trumpets are high pitched than French horns.
5. The mouthpiece of a French horn is smaller than a trumpet.

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