by dls91

So you (or your child) want to play a brass instrument, and tubas are too big and trumpets are too common? Consider a euphonium or baritone––there are many great used ones available on eBay for a fraction of the cost of a new horn.

Euphoniums, Baritones, Tenor Horns and Tromboniums are middle brass instruments almost always pitched in B-flat (Bb) with roughly the same range as a trombone, an octave below a trumpet and an octave above a BBb tuba. They are used to play accompaniment parts in school bands, military bands, brass bands and community orchestras, and the euphoniums are also often given beautiful countermelodies and occasional solos to play. Orchestral music seldom has parts for these instruments, and for the few that do, orchestras either bring in a euphonium specialist or assign a tuba or trombone player to that part.

The difference between these instruments is primarily the size of the tubing and the rate of “flare”, or how fast the roughly conical bore opens out into the bell. Euphoniums usually have larger bores, flare out rapidly, and appear “fatter” in the bell region, and have a “mellower” sound than the “brassier” tromboniums used in marching bands. Baritones are usually somewhere between these two extremes, but many manufacturers call their instruments euphoniums, presumably because it is a fancier name, even though experts would call them baritones. In school bands, this distinction between the two is seldom made, and whether baritones or euponiums are specified in scores, either instrument may play the part. There are few professional euphonium players in the United States except for military bands and a very few travelling soloists, but English brass bands employ both baritones and euphoniums with distinct sounds (and seperate parts).

Most professional euphoniums have bells which point up toward the ceiling, but many baritones and beginner-level euphoniums have a “bell front” configuration in which the bell is tipped toward the audience. Some marching baritones used only by drum and bugle corps (or the occasional jazz band) are made in the shape of a large trumpet and held out in front of the player. Beginner level instruments usually have three valves, can play over a 2+ octave range, and because they are cheaper, are especially suited to younger players who have not yet decided on an instrument to play throughout their lifetime. Occasionally you will see a european-style “Wagner Tuba” or baritone with a distinctive oval shape. These are seldom used in the U.S.

Intermediate and professional level euphoniums (and some baritones) have four valves, which extends the instruments range downward, and provides alternate fingerings for some pitches which may be slightly out of tune. Whether all four keys are placed together so they can be operated with the right hand, or whether the fourth key is below the others and must be operated with the left hand, is a matter of preference by the manufacturer and player. Some manufacturers offer a “compensating piston” arrangement in which pressing the last valve redirects the tubing back through a different set of tuning slides so that lower pitches can be brought into correct tune without readjusting the slides. This usually adds considerable weight (and cost) to the instrument, and some players do not like the added air resistance or “stuffiness” involved. If you are interested in one of the higher-end instruments by manufacturers such as Willson, Sterling, Hirsbrunner, Besson (and their predecessor Boosey and Hawkes), Meinl Weston and Yamaha, you probably do not need this guide. You should, however read David Werdon’s Guide to Choosing a Euphonium (at http://dwerdon.com) before investing in an instrument which may run many thousands of dollars.

The finish on most euphoniums is either lacquer or silver plate, with some custom horns being offered in brushed silver. Silver instruments cost a bit more, but few people can tell any difference in the sound. You will occasionally see a double-bell euphonium with both narrow and wide bore bells and an extra valve to switch from one to the other. Although they look pretty, they command a premium, and nowadays are mostly collector’s items.

If you are a school student looking for an instrument better than the dented up clunker in the band closet that the director gave you, or a graduate wanting a horn to play in a community band, there are many used entry and intermediate level baritones and euphoniums (and even a few new ones) available on eBay, usually at a considerable discount from the price of a new horn. The manufacturers you will see most often are Yamaha, King, Jupiter and Holton, but others are available. An elementary or middle school student may often settle for a three-valve instrument like a Yamaha YEP-201. A high-school or adult in a community band may prefer an intermediate four-valve model like the Yamaha YEP-321. Most Britsh brass bands, however, want their players to use a specific model of baritone or euphonium, and you should consult the director before buying, if that is what you are after. In fact, consulting your band director or music teacher (if you have one) before buying an instrument is a must. You should also try as many models of instruments at music stores or from brass-playing friends as possible so you can become familiar with different instruments, since many on-line sellers do not offer money-back guarantees, and even if they do, you will have to pay the shipping charges each way if you don’t like the horn you buy.

Most sellers will offer a “hard case” to carry the instrument in, but read the listing carefully to see if that case is in usable condition. Some players prefer a light “gig bag” for ease in carrying, but the hard case will better protect the instrument against denting. Always store it back in the case when you are done playing! If the instrument does not have a mouthpiece, you must buy one (there are usually a few available on eBay). In fact many players have several mouthpieces of different designs which they feel fit certain types of music better. Be alert. Some instruments take a “small shank” mouthpiece and others a “large shank”. Measure your horn (or ask the seller) to be sure which you want. (If you are going to be playing outdoors at football games or carol sings, plastic mouthpieces are available that don’t stick to your lips!)

Monitor the Baritone-Tuba category on eBay (look at the completed listings to see selling prices) for a few weeks , to give you an idea of what instruments are going for before jumping in and bidding. Check other on-line music stores to find out what the costs of typical new and used instruments are as well. You will see some instruments offered at a low prices with unfamiliar brand names which originate in India or China. Some buyers have reported shoddy workmanship and poor response from these while others say their quality is improving. If you do not want to take a chance, stick with the established brand names, since even though one may cost more, it will hold its price well (if you take care of it!) and you can resell it later.

Used instruments come in many conditions from “like new” to “suitable for hanging on a bar wall”. If the seller does not state that the valves and tuning slides move freely, be sure to ask. Instruments not played for a long time will often have frozen valves which should be unstuck by a professional. Pay close attention to the photos provided by the seller. A few small dings in the tubing will usually not affect the sound but should mean a cheaper price. A repairman can roll out unattractive dents in the bell, but mangled tubing near the valves may be hard to fix. Well-made instruments fifty years old may still be in playable condition, but ask if the valves leak. They may have to be plated or straightened. Professionals, or people selling their own instrument can probably give you better information about the listing than someone who is just a reseller and says he knows nothing about musical instruments.

When you receive your instrument, inspect and test it at once and notify the seller immediately if there is any problem. Buy a few practice books or music with play-along records if you are shy about immediately plunging into a band environment. Some baritone/euphonium scores are written in the bass clef like trombones, and some are written in a transposing Bb treble clef like trumpets (but sound an octave lower). If you have previously played a trumpet or cornet, the treble clef will be the simplest to start with, since the fingering is similar, but a serious student will want to learn to read both types of music. Join a low-brass group like TubeNet (http://forums.chisholm,com) and go to your local TubaChristmas to meet other members of your guild! Good luck and happy playing!

If you have any questions about this guide or low brass instruments in general, email me (dls91) and I will be happy to help you if I can. I bought a tuba listed on eBay several years ago and have had a lot of fun with it since.