Big band

A big band, also known as a jazz orchestra, is a large musical ensemble that plays swing music.

Brass section

The brass section is a collective term for the trombones and trumpet sections together. Quite often these sections will be written together playing the same phrases and rhythms, for a powerful rich, brassy sound.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trumpet section.

The trumpet section usually comprises four (or sometimes five) players each playing a separate part. The parts are sometimes arranged in close harmony (called a thickened line) to give a broader impression of the melody. On other occasions, trumpets play in unison, giving a powerful, pure, penetrating sound that cannot be achieved by a single trumpet. Groups of two or three trumpets are some times used. The section leader is usually the first (or lead) trumpet who plays the highest part. The second trumpet player is usually the jazz soloist. The fourth (fifth) trumpet player is usually assigned the lowest pitch parts.

Related Topics:
Trumpet - Unison - Jazz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sound effects

The trumpet sound can be modified by the use of mutes The mutes commonly in use for a trumpet are:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Straight Mute: This is the most common type of mute and is a hollow, cone-shaped object that fits into the bell of the instrument. This results in a more nasal sound, and when played at loud volumes can result in a very piercing note. It thus tends to act as a band pass filter for the raw sound.

Related Topics:
Straight Mute - Band pass filter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Straight mutes have small pieces of cork attached to the end that squeeze against the inside of the bell and hold the mute in place.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harmon mute: a metal mute giving a very thin or hollow tone (with the tube removed) with all the fundamental and most of the lower harmonics removed. A bit like a high pass filter or a band stop with the tube removed.

Related Topics:
Harmon mute - Fundamental - Harmonics - High pass - Band stop

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cup mute: Similar to a straight but with a cup or flange on the end to further modify the sound. A mute giving generally a softer sound extracting both the upper and lower ends of the sound spectrum. Acts like an electronic bandpass filter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bucket Mute: A cylindrical lined mute that absorbs most or all of the high frequencies giving a very quiet muffled sound. Acts like an electronic low pass filter with very low cutoff.

Related Topics:
Bucket Mute - Cutoff

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Plunger: This is a plumbing plunger which when waved in front of the bell of the instrument can give a 'do - waa' effect. Usually only used in solos but sometimes in solis.

Related Topics:
Plumbing - Do - waa - Soli

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Trombone section

This is similar in formation to the trumpet section except that there are three tenor trombones and one bass trombone. Sometimes a section may have four tenors and a bass or just four tenors. Unusually, a French horn is sometimes grouped into the trombome section in place of a tenor or bass trombone. The bass trombone is usually considered a specialist instrument by trombonists themselves because people playing bass trombone use large mouthpieces to help get the low notes, and so their embouchure becomes accustomed to this shape, and they may have difficulty reverting to a tenor trombone where much higher notes (and smaller mouthpieces) are usually required.

Related Topics:
Mouthpieces - Embouchure

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Creating sound effects

The trombone section sound can also be modified by the use of mutes. These are generally a similar range to the trumpet mutes although made larger to fit the increased bell sizes of the trombone. The mutes commonly in use for a trombone are:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Straight Mute: A conical mute inside the bell with no cup. Used for reducing volume and giving a slightly 'nasal' tone to the raw sound.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cup mute: Similar to a straight but with a cup on the end to further modify the sound. A mute giving generally a softer sound extracting both the upper and lower ends of the sound spectrum. Acts like an electronic bandpass filter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Harmon mute: a metal mute comprising three detachable parts: the mute itself, the tube, and the bell. This mute can give a variety of 'metallic' sounding tones, depending on which parts of the mute are used. With the tube and bell in place, a thin or hollow tone is produced with all the fundamental and most of the lower harmonics removed. A bit like a high pass filter. With the tube removed, a band stop effect is produced.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bucket Mute: A cylindrical lined mute that clips over the perimeter of the bell an absorbs most or all of the high frequencies giving a very quiet muffled (or muddy) and 'distant' sound. Acts like an electronic low pass filter with very low cutoff.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Plunger: similar to the trumpet plunger but larger. Famously used for the do-wah effect in Glenn Millers Tuxedo Junction

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hat: A Bowler hat mounted on a stand or hand held to wave over the bell. Gives a softer more muffled, distant sound. Similar to but not as effective as a bucket mute.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~