Flugelhorn, Cornet, Trumpet and Trombone: A Comparison

That flugelhorn sounded so nice! makes me wanna switch from trombone and start playing the flugel.

Thanks dude. I was wondering about these 4 instruments and your vid had everything I needed.

Very cool video! Great to hear a compare and contrast of timbre back to back.

Timestamps: 0:36-Flugelhorn 1:07-Cornet 1:39-Trumpet 3:40-Trombone

Thank you! Was listening to Chet Baker do "Angel Eyes" on his Essential Standards album and could have sworn I heard a trombone. But no, it was Chet on the flugelhorn. Amazing sound. Thanks so much for this comparison. :)

I really appreciate your videos and you help me out a lot! Thank you.

Thank you for posting that very interesting video, Jonathan... I'm not a brass player but a keyboards player but I've met and played with brass players. When I was young, I did'nt discover flugelhorn through jazz music but when listening to american composer Burt Bacharach who's often been using this instrument in his orchestral arrangements.. I think that singer and trompet player Herb Alpert has been using it too... Thanks again for what you do...!

Classic Milam. Always flexing on me

Great, great video. Exactly what I was hoping to see. I'm a musician completely new to horns. I love the sound of the flugelhorn and think it could contribute nicely to some smooth, mellow bossa nova arrangements. My second favorite sound was the cornet as it was warmer than the trumpet and more versatile, it seems. Though I loved the flugelhorn sound, I think I might look more into the corner because I could do more and you said it's less expensive. Thanks for the video, I'm intrigued.

As a Trombone player ( Trombonist? ) , I love hearing the sound of a Flugelhorn at our concerts , Sadly we no longer have a flugelhorn player in our concert band. Quick question!! Don't know if you mentioned this at all , but do you play any musical instruments? Great sound and tone!

Thank you this was very helpful! 

Lincoln Jazzy; Thank you.  The trumpet I played in this video is marketed as a "French Besson".  It's made by Kanstul, some call it 'The Stamm Horn' - and it is a very nice trumpet, an excellent value.  I did a review on it a couple months back if you want to check in my list of videos.  It's a brass horn with gold lacquer - not a silver plated horn.  If you can find one they're usually at a good price; I bought mine used for $500 - and it plays as well as many horns that'll cost $1,000 or more.  And yes; I think the intonation on it is about as good as it gets.  Thanks for your comment!  :)  Jonathan

I really love playing slide trombone but for those of you who want the sound but aren't used to slide, you can try valve trombone.

Kris Gil; Greetings.  The problem with switching mouthpieces from one brass instrument to another is that they rarely fit well.  If they're too small you can sometimes wrap tape around the stem of the mouthpiece as a temporary fix, but if the mouthpiece isn't a snug metal-to-metal fit, sometimes you're tone won't come out solid.  A flugel mouthpiece, or on trumpet the newer 'flugle-trumpet' is very similar to a French Horn mouthpiece; a very deep V cup.  Hope this helps!  

You must have a good video camera because even with my tin ear I could clearly distinguish between the flugelhorn, cornet, and trumpet. Nice video. 

Hi Jonathan, loved the demonstration. It's been years since I touched a horn, and now that I've saved up a bit I'm considering getting one. I played a trumpet from Grade 6 through 12 so that's 7 years of modest practice that I'd like to utilize once again. I remember trying both a trumpet and cornet, but haven't tried the flugel--is it much different playing it? I also really wanted to pick up trombone towards the end of high school and practiced a bit on my own time, but it seems less of a toy to pick up and fiddle with. Do you have a favorite among the 4? Or just a personal one you prefer to pick up and play over the others? I'm looking on craigslist now for something, but it's difficult to distinguish what a good deal is with such a price range. I do enjoy the mellower sounds, and the compactness of the cornet, so I'm heavily considering that. Some muted jazzy licks I hear from time to time just inspire me to get into the groove of it all.

Thank´s. Sometimes it´s good ear how it´s the sound of diferent instruments.

Very informative video! Thank you. I've played trumpet and trombone but now I want to but a flugelhorn. It sounds a little sultry and warm to me.

Jonathan Milam, i play the Tuba and im really good at it. and i watched this beacuse i did not know what i fluglehorn is. is it the same way of playing like a buzzing of all brass?

Hey Jonathan, are ever gonna do any vertical belled instruments such as the Euph or Tenor horn? If not it is OK.