Choosing a brass instrument for any musician depends on a combination of factors: price, musical tone, and quality of construction.

Set yourself a budget; decide how much you want to spend on a brass instrument before you shop. Expect to pay less for a beginner brass instrument which you intend to upgrade than those brass instruments you buy as a long-term investment. Dont forget to include the price of a good instrument case in your budget. You'll also need brass instrument cleaning products and brass instrument lubricants, such as valve oil or slide cream to maintain your brass instrument. Mouthpieces are also an essential piece of equipment and although most instruments come with one it may not be that one that suits you.

Selecting a brass instrument

Choose a brass instrument that produces sounds you like to hear.

� Trumpet: has a bright, crisp sound. This type of instrument has three valves on top that produce different notes when pressed in different combinations. The Trumpet can be used in orchestras, wind bands, jazz bands and many popular genres.

� Cornet: Similar in construction to the trumpet, the cornets tube grows much wider toward the end. Cornets produce a richer, thicker sound than trumpets, and are tuned to the same pitch. The Cornet can do the same things and play the same music, but is really at home in the brass band.

� French Horn: The French Horn produces mellow sounds an octave lower than the trumpet and cornet and can challenge beginners. French horns are made up of a tube of coiled brass with a flared bell at one end and a mouthpiece at the other. It has three valves. Double horns are also available that have four valves. The French Horn can be used in orchestras and wind bands

� Tenor Horn: Also known as Eb Horn, its smaller than a Baritone but has a narrower bell, producing a slightly brighter sound. The Tenor Horn can be used in brass bands.

� Trombone: produces mellower sounds than the trumpet and makes a great choice for beginning or young musicians. The straight trombone is the simplest to master, with no tubing inside the main section. The F-rotor trombone, by contrast, has extra tubing within the main loop. Students usually learn on a straight tenor trombone and later challenge themselves with an F-rotor trombone. The Trombone can be used in orchestras, wind bands, jazz bands, brass bands and many popular genres. 

� Euphonium: Also known as the Tenor Tuba is larger in size than the tenor horn and can produce a lower range of notes. It has a warm and mellow sound. The euphonium has the advantage of being able to play solo melodic lines yet also has the versatility to play various parts of an ensemble. The Euphonium can be used in orchestras, wind bands and brass bands.

� Baritone: The Baritone has the same amount of tubing as the Euphonium but has a narrower bell, producing a slightly brighter sound.  The Baritone can be used in wind bands and brass bands.

� Tuba: the largest member of the brass instruments family, it produces bass sounds and can be fairly expensive. Each Tuba has three valves and a long tube of brass that widens as it gets to the flared bell end. For more advanced players there is an option of a four valve system. The Tuba can be used for orchestras, wind bands, brass bands and some jazz bands.