The cornet looks a little bit like a trumpet, and while it follows the same concept, has a slightly different shape. When it comes to what you can do with a cornet, it's actually very different to the trumpet. The cornet sounds a lot milder - a sound that gave it a prominent role in the early days of jazz but was later taken over by the trumpet. However, the cornet still features in brass bands and fanfares, and sometimes even crops up in some pop music.
Cornet Instruments: The Brass Family
Like all brass instruments, the cornet is played by blowing into a sort of spout-like mouthpiece. The air moves through tubing which colours and strengthens the sound further, and to adjust the pitch of the natural tone, the length of the tubing is adjusted via a series of valves. The sound of the cornet sits somewhere between a trumpet and bugle, and while the sound of the trumpet is generally quite bright and fierce, the cornet is more subtle. However, the sounds are so similar, there is no point adding cornets to the brass section of an orchestra if it already includes trumpets. Cornets are more common in brass bands and similar ensembles.
The Role of the Cornet
The role a cornet plays in fanfares and brass bands is probably the most familiar, but like any musical instrument, it's not limited to one genre or style. The cornet is a serious musical instrument, and anyone who finds the trumpet a little bit too shrill should certainly try one out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cornets
What makes the best cornet?
Just like any acoustic musical instruments, you'll always get a better quality instrument when you're willing to pay more. As the price goes up, so does the quality of sound and playing comfort.
What's the difference between a trumpet and cornet?
A cornet has a milder sound when compared to a trumpet. The cornet repertoire is largely focussed on brass band music. Cornets are also much less common in orchestral music.
Where did the cornet come from?
The cornet is an ancestor of the post horn: a small and simple copper wind instrument that was blown to herald the arrival of stage coaches carrying the day's post.
