Best Baritone Horns

The baritone horn is mostly used to play jazz or be part of brass bands. It is very similar to the tuba and the euphonium as it originates from its early ancestral design, the serpent but is a completely different instrument. The euphonium has a larger bore and an extra valve whilst the baritone horn has a more cylindrical bore and only 3 valves. Some famous baritone horn players are James Morrison, Lyndon Baglin, Herbert Scott, Rich Matteson, Bernard McKinney and Howard Johnson. So if your dream is to play a lesser-known jazz instrument or be part of a brass band, then the baritone horn may be your best choice.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a baritone horn. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of baritone horn,

• See useful tips about that type of baritone horn,

• Select the right brand of the baritone horn,

• Find accessories you may need for your baritone horn.

Types of Baritone Horn:

• Baritone Horn:

  • The baritone horn is can be played in either treble or bass clef.

  • The baritone horn is pitched in the key of B♭.

  • Baritone horns often have piston style valves.

• Marching Baritone Horn:

  • A specially wrapped version of the baritone horn that was created for marching bands and easier movement when playing.

  • The Marching Baritone Horn has a frontward facing bell rather than the bell facing upwards and 3 valves.

  • It is played in the same key as the normal baritone horn, at the key of B♭.

Items that Can be Used with Your Baritone Horn:

• Valve oil:

  • This is an oil you use to lubricate and keep your valves from stick to ensure smooth and uninterrupted playing.

• Mouthpiece Brush:

  • This is a brush that is specially designed to clean your baritone horns mouthpiece and ensure that no saliva or dust is stuck and damaging your horn.

• Polish Cloth:

  • This is a cloth that you use to clean the outside of your baritone horn and ensure that there are no smudges or fingerprint marks.

• Baritone Horn Strap:

  • This is a strap that is used to help you support your baritone horn during long performances as it is a heavy instrument.

• Baritone Horn Case:

  • This is a specially designed case for you to store your baritone horn in and transport it without any damage.

Tips for Consumers:

• Materials:

  • Gold Brass Baritone Horn:

• • Yellow Brass Baritone Horn:

• • Red Brass Baritone Horn:

• • Sterling Silver Baritone Horn:

• • It is important to consider what material you want your euphonium to be made of from an affordability point of view as well as from a sound quality point of view. Yellow brass is the most affordable and the most common used but sterling is a better quality of sound due to its increased vibrations and is also more expensive and used by most professionals.

• Parts of a Baritone Horn:

• • Valves:

    • There are 3 valves found on most baritones that can lower or raise the pitch of your melody.

    • You can find 4 valve baritone horns but they are very rare and are complicated and not suggested for beginners.

  • Bell:

    • There are two types of bell styles in baritone horns:

      • Facing Upward:

        • This is the bell found on most standard baritone horns.

      • Bell Front:

        • This is the bell found on marching baritone horns.

  • Bore Size:

    • Bore sizes can measure from 0.500” to 0.562”.

• Different Finishes:

  • Lacquer Finish:

    • Lacquer finishes are the most common and are the cheaper, more viable option for beginners and students.

• • Silver Plated Finish:

    • Silver Plated finishes are mostly found on higher quality baritone horns and as a result, are mostly owned by professionals who can afford the high price.

Different Brands of Baritone Horn:

• Cecilio:

  • Cecilio is a manufacturer of a wide array of instruments including the baritone horn. Cecilio aims to inspire musical talent through quality and talent. They are currently located in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

• Ravel:

  • Named after the French composer Maurice Ravel, Ravel aims to provide High-quality instruments at low prices. They began over 63 years ago and are currently located in the United States of America.