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Home Baritone/Euphonium
Why Join Band?
The baritone is a member of the brass family. As with all brass instruments, the sound is
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produced by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece. The baritone works in the same
Sound Clips manner as a trumpet but it’s twice the length. It plays the exact same notes as a
trombone and even uses the same mouthpiece. The biggest difference is that the
About BeginBand baritone uses valves rather than a slide to change the length of the air flow. The
Contact Us baritone is relatively easy to learn for beginners. The deep beautiful tone from a
baritone is attractive to many students who like the sound of a lower voice. Many
students who like the tuba start out on the baritone with plans to switch to the tuba after a year or
two of band. The tuba is the same as a baritone in nearly every way. It’s just twice the length.
Instruments
Taking care of a baritone is easier than a woodwind instrument and very similar to a trumpet or tuba. It
Overview is stored in the case in just two pieces. The only regular maintenance required is to oil the valves now
and then and grease the slides as needed.
Strings
Violin The baritone is played with the right hand on the valves. The left arm usually supports the bottom of
the instrument. There are a number of shapes and sizes of baritones. Some have vertically angled
Viola valves with the mouthpiece attaching on the left side of the instrument. Others have diagonally angled
Cello valves with the mouthpiece attached on the right side of the instrument. The bell on baritones can be
either straight up or bent forward. None of these differences really matter for younger players. Good
String Bass brands of instruments are made with all of these configurations.

The difference in sizes for baritones is caused by how tightly the the tubing is coiled. Very small “baby”
Woodwinds
baritones look about half the size of a regular baritone but they are really the same length and the
Flute same pitch. The tubing is just coiled tighter. Another version of the baritone has a different name. It’s
called the euphonium. Euphoniums are played exactly like a baritone. The difference is similar to the
Clarinet
difference between a trumpet and cornet. The tubing of the euphonium and cornet is more cone
Alto Sax shaped or “conical” than the baritone and trumpet. However the euphonium is not a typical beginning
instrument. Virtually all euphoniums are produced for advanced players. They tend to be more
Brass expensive and most have a fourth valve to allow use of advanced alternate fingerings. Beginners
should use a baritone rather than a euphonium.
Trumpet/Cornet
Buyers beware of another instrument that is a baritone look-a-like. The alto horn looks like a very
French Horn
small baritone but it is not a good choice for a beginning instrument. They are relatively rare but are
Trombone available now and then in pawn shops or through the classified ads. Alto horns are usually pitched in
Eb (“E” flat) where the baritone horn is pitched in Bb.
Baritone /
Euphonium The baritone is not nearly as popular as the trumpet or clarinet. Less students performing an
Tuba / Sousaphone instrument means that the competition will not be as fierce. Good baritone players are considered
very valuable assets by band teachers since there are so few of them.

Percussion The baritone has unique uses in various types of groups. We can hear baritones in bands, small
ensembles or as a solo instrument. On the professional level, baritones or euphoniums are used
heavily in military bands.

There are several good choices for purchasing a beginning baritone. A good beginning baritone from
Giardinelli is the Getzen G8230. Since baritones are more expensive than most instruments, many
schools have baritones available to lend to students. Before you buy, it would be worth asking your
band director if school baritones are available.

Purchasing a used baritone can be a good option. There isn’t a lot that can go wrong with a baritone
compared to a woodwind instrument. If the valves move freely and the instrument doesn’t have leaks
or large dents, it is probably a decent instrument unless it’s manufactured by a substandard brand.
Buying a used instrument is only recommended if you know an advanced baritone player or band
director who can test the used instrument before you buy.

Recommended Instruments

Amati Abh 221-O Series Bb Baritone Horn

The Amati ABH 221 Baritone Horn is in the key of Bb, .490" bore, 8-7/10" upright bell, lacquer
finish. Amati includes case, and silver-plated mouthpiece with the ABH 221 Baritone
Horn.Key: BbBore: .490-inchBell: 8.7-inchBell Material: Yellow BrassBell Position:
 UprightValves: Stainless Steel PistonNumber of Valves: 3Valve Position: Top ActionSystem:
Non-CompensatingFeatures: Stainless Steel ValvesCase: YesMouthpiece: YesMouthpiece
Shank: SmallFinish: Lacquer

Buy

Yamaha Ybh-301S Series Bb Baritone Horn

Key of Bb, .504" bore, 8-3?8" upright yellow brass bell, and 3 nickel-plated alloy pistons, silver-
plated finish. Includes mouthpiece, valve oil, and hard plastic baritone case.All Yamaha wind
instruments come with a limited 5-year warranty.Key:BbBore:.504-inchBell:8-3/8-inchBell
Material:Yellow BrassBell Position:UprightValves:Nickel-Plated PistonNumber of
Valves:3Valve Position:Top ActionSystem:Non-CompensatingFeatures:Gold Brass Leadpipe;
Yellow Brass Valve CasingsCase:YAC BHC-31 Plastic ShellMouthpiece:SL45C2-12C Silver
PlatedMouthpiece Shank:SmallFinish:Silver

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