what's the difference between a coronet and a trumpet.

Seriously, is one tuned higher? is one easier to play? is one unsuitable for certain keys?

I'm not joking.

What they have in common;

Most trumpets and cornets are keyed in Bb and are played indentically. Hence, if you can play trumpet, you can play cornet.

How they are different;

Trumpets have a "cylindrical bore", (think cylinder) meaning that their tubing starts at a certain diameter & stays at that diameter through most of the horn before beginning to increase in diameter. This gives the trumpet a brighter, more brilliant sound.

Cornets have a "conical bore" (think cone) meaning that the tubing starts at a specific diameter, but very soon begins to increase in diameter throughout the length of the horn. This gives the cornet a more mellow sound. This principal is also used to an even greater degree on flugelhorns.

Hope that helps,

Brad

Brad nailed it.

Cornets were also employed as valve instruments before trumpets, and at one time very nearly replaced the trumpet entirely in the orchestra.

Modern trumpets and cornets actually have both cylindrical and conical sections, but there is significantly more conical piping on cornets. German trumpets (they usually have rotary valves, ala French Horn) have much more conical tubing than most American trumpets.

thanks for the info guys.

How would you describe the differences between the two in terms of the effect on stamina and the ease or difficulty in playing and in the use of the upper register? Does the cornet have a richer low register tone at the expense of the clarity or ease in playing the high notes?

I haven't spent much time on cornet, but generally the cornet is somewhat easier to play. The tone is mellower, and (to my ears) somewhat softer in the attack than trumpet.

My trumpet instructor has said that when kids are just starting out, he would recommend a cornet sometimes because they are easier to play.

To get an idea of what cornets sound like, take a listen to some English brass ensembles. In many of them, the Eb and Bb cornets replace the trumpet for a high brass instrument. In a jazz setting, most early jazzers played cornets. Louis Armstrong is a perfect example. For classical trumpet, most American and Canadian groups use Bb trumpets or C trumpets, occasionally piccolo and Eb or others. The Canadian Brass and Empire Brass are good examples of trumpet in a small setting. There are loads of great jazzers who used trumpets; Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie among them.

The difference in upper in lower register between trumpet & cornet is similar to the difference between trumpet & flugelhorn, only to a smaller degree. Since both flugel & cornet have conical bores, they are going to share similarities, only the flugel will be more exaggerated due to it's more dramatic conical bore.

I don't feel as though either one is easier or harder to play in any range, however the cornet and flugel will tend to sound more full and better display their familiar attributes in the lower register. The opposite is true for the trumpet.

Just to add a little something. Cylindrical bores tend to produce odd harmonics and conical bores tend to produce even harmonics. That's what accounts for the sweeter tone of the cornet.

Bryan

No {censored}? You're making me want a flugel even more now

No {censored}? You're making me want a flugel even more now

What...you were in Boston last weekend and didn't go to Rayburn's and play any of the 6 or so they had in stock? They have a Kanstul 1525 collecting dust in a display case. It SO has your name on it. They also have a Taylor Phat Boy but it's just too odd looking for my taste:

http://www.taylortrumpets.com/phatboy_flugelhorn.html

it looks more like modern art than an instrument, to me

This is a coronet:

And this is a trumpet:

That should answer your question!

Taylors are certainly unique looking, though on the flip side their trumpets are bar-none the nicest I've played.

And I didn't even have to plug Kanstul in this thread for IFC!

Extra value is what you get, When you buy a coronet!

Its all about the conical, baby.