Which instrument family includes the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba?
Answer
Brass family
The trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba belong to the brass instrument family.
Brass instruments produce sound when the player’s lips vibrate against or inside a cup- or funnel-shaped mouthpiece. The vibrating air column is then shaped by the instrument’s tubing, while valves or a slide change the effective length and therefore the pitch.
The trumpet and French horn use valves in modern orchestral practice, while the trombone is best known for its slide. The tuba has the lowest usual register among the standard orchestral brass instruments.
The family name refers to the playing method and historical construction tradition, not just the material. Modern brass instruments may also be made with other metals, and some older instruments were made from wood or animal horn. This is why classification by sound production is more useful than classification by appearance alone.