The Brass Band

Students playing brass band instruments are often misunderstood by music teachers and can have trouble fitting in to school music programs. One reason for this is that low brass instruments in the brass band are played in treble clef - pretty much the same as trumpet music. Also the tenor horn is often quite unknown - it's a horn, but is pitched in E flat. This section gives you an overview of the layout of the brass band and the instruments used.  

This diagram is  an approximate seating layout for a brass band. 

The term “brass band” used in this this website refers to the British-style of brass band that was formalised in the late nineteenth century. Below are images of the instruments played in the brass band, including (in brackets) the number usually included and their clef and pitch.

Soprano Cornet (1)
(treble clef E flat)

Cornet (8 or 9)
(treble clef B flat)

Flugelhorn (1)
(treble clef B flat)

Tenor Horn (3)
(treble clef E flat)

Baritone Horn (2)
(treble clef B flat)

Euphonium (2)
(treble clef B flat)

Tenor Trombone (2)
(treble clef B flat)

Bass Trombone (1)
(bass clef concert pitch)

E flat Bass (2)
(treble clef E flat)

B flat Bass (2)
(treble clef B flat)

Percussion
(as required in the score)

There are some instruments used within a brass band that are played in other ensembles: the trombone, baritone horn, euphonium and tuba are also played in concert bands and orchestras, the difference being that in the brass band these instruments read transposing treble clef. An exception to this in the brass band is the bass trombone, which remains in bass clef and concert pitch. The cornet and flugelhorn are played in the brass band, but are also used in other ensembles, particularly jazz. Exclusive to the brass band is the soprano cornet, a small high-pitched cornet in E flat, and the tenor horn, also pitched in E flat. The tenor horn has an upright bell and resembles a small euphonium or tuba.