The Brass family of instruments includes the trumpet, the French horn, the trombone, and the tuba. Not surprisingly, all of these instruments are made of brass. This musical family is the loudest in an orchestra and they can be heard from far distances without speaker amplification. If you are aspiring to be a brass musician, here are some basic things you should know regarding brass sheet music. 

Brass Sheet Music for Different Brassy Pitches

As an easy way to understand the various pitch ranges in the Brass family, it is important to note the term, “middle C” and “octave.” Middle C refers to the musical C note that is in the middle of the piano keyboard. An octave is a measure between two musical notes with the same letter name. Because of the different pitch ranges between instruments, brass sheet music can look different depending on the brass type you play.

• The trumpet: This is the smallest member of the pack but can play the highest pitches, with a range of about three octaves from the F-sharp below middle C. 
• The French horn: This is bigger than the trumpet and plays lower pitches, with a range of about four octaves starting from the bass F-note three octaves below middle C to the alto F-note one octave above middle C. 
• The trombone: This is the second-largest brass instrument with an even lower pitch range than the French horn. Its range is about two and a half octaves to three octaves, starting the E-note below the bass clef to the B-flat note above middle C. More experienced trombone players can increase the range to the F-note above B flat. 
• The tuba: This is the biggest of the brassy bunch and features the widest pitch range. Depending on the type of tuba, this instrument ranges from five to six octaves. 

The Different Clefs of Brass Sheet Music 

Because of the different pitch ranges between brass instruments, brass sheet music can be seen in various clefs.

• Treble clef: This clef refers to notes that exist above middle C. The notes on the lines for this clef are E, G, B, D, and F. 
• Bass clef: This clef refers to notes below middle C. The notes on the lines of this clef are G, B, D, F, and A. 
• Alto clef: This alternate “C clef” is used for mid-range instruments. The notes on the lines of an alto clef are F, A, C, E, and G. 
• Tenor clef: This “C clef” is used for lower-range instruments. It has the same symbol as the alto clef; however, middle C is moved up a third from where it is on the alto clef. The notes on the lines are D, F, A, C, and E. 

The trumpet and French horn are usually written in the treble clef due to their higher pitch ranges. The trombone is typically written in concert pitch, which is in the bass or tenor clef, but it can also be seen in the alto clef. Most music for the tuba is written in bass clef due to its lower pitch range.