Learning to play the trumpet can be a rewarding and lucrative experience.  Beginners who are just learning to play will want to consider several factors before making their very first beginner trumpet purchase.  Choosing the type and quality of trumpet to learn on is very important, and making good choices at this stage will help players throughout their period of study.  Take into account the following tips for buying a beginner trumpet and you will be well on your way to becoming an accomplished trumpet player.

When you’re buying a beginner trumpet to learn on, there are several considerations that should come into play.  First of all, you should look for a beginner trumpet with a small bore lead pipe and piping.  Now, don’t be concerned, the “lead” here is pronounced “leed”.  It is not made out of the metal known as lead.  The bore size of the trumpet represents how well the trumpet is free blowing.  Advanced players tend to choose larger bore sizes, as the sound from these bores is considered to be better, but they are much more difficult for beginners to master.  A beginning trumpet player should look for bore sizes that are labeled “medium” or “medium small” (which may be short hand labeled as “M” and “MS”).

Make sure to comparison shop, and know all about the type of trumpet you’re looking for.  Before you buy online, it might be a good idea to hold and feel an example of your chosen type of trumpet in order to get a good feel for quality.  Make sure to ask the online seller questions about the condition of the trumpet.  You want to make sure you avoid dented or frozen slides, loose parts causing unnatural movement, peeling lacquer, or poor seals in the spit valves and tubing.  Ask for pictures of the trumpet from different angles so you can get some idea of the quality for yourself.  Your first trumpet should be something that you can learn on comfortably and reliably, and there’s no reason at all for you to put up with any form of defects.

The trumpet itself is not the only thing that you need to consider buying.  You will also want the tools to maintain your new or used trumpet, such as a cleaning brush and some valve oil.  And a well braced trumpet case is essential for protecting the instrument, preferably one with a lock to discourage others from opening the case and fiddling with it’s contents.  The case should be sturdy for a beginner, rather than just a soft leather bag.  It would also be prudent to invest in a method book, as well as a music stand for the purpose of practicing the instrument at home.

Know the type of trumpet that you’re looking to play.  There are many different kinds, from flugel horns to cornets, and each one has different properties that can lead to different kinds of sounds.  Something like a flugel horn may be too advanced of an instrument for a beginning player, so make sure to read up on the types available and pick one that suits you the best.

There are many great brands of used trumpets available.  The Yamaha 2335 and 2320 are wonderful choices, as well as the Bach TR300.  These are very high quality trumpets that will last for years on end, and can often be purchased for less than $300.  Ask your music teacher what brands and types of trumpet are best for his musical arrangement.

If you consider all your options carefully and make sure that you’re an informed consumer, you should be able to find yourself a new or used trumpet that you will be happy to learn on.  Learning to play a new instrument like a trumpet can be a richly rewarding experience, so make sure you take your purchase seriously so that you can enjoy yourself all the more.