Flugelhorn Lessons

Learn to play the Flugelhorn.

The Flugelhorn (also written as flugel horn, fleugelhorn, fluegelhorn, flügelhorn or fluegelhorn) is a member of the horn family and the brass group of instruments. As its name suggests, the origin of the flugelhorn is Germanic with the name literally meaning 'Wing Horn' and it was apparently used to call the wings of an army into the fray. The flugelhorn was first introduced to the Prussian court by Ferdinand Julius Altrichter back in 1890 and were quickly assimilated into the military bands of the day and also by the hunting fraternity who still use the flugelhorn as an alternative to the bugle or the horn.

Arguments still rage over the exact date the flugelhorn did come into being with very similar instruments being found dating back to the time of the Roman Empire.

The Flugelhorn is a B-flat instrument with three piston-type valves seated in the main body of the instrument. This is a common feature of brass instruments and the fingering for individual notes is identical across the range of instruments. The modern flugelhorn can also come with a fourth valve which extends the low range of the flugelhorn. This extra valve appears on some other instruments in the brass group so it is not necessarily entirely alien to a brass player suddenly asked to play the flugelhorn although the mouthpiece is somewhat more conical and this may prove difficult to master at the beginning.

The flugelhorn has a range of 2 and a half octaves and is just under 50 cm in length.

The flugelhorn is not as harsh as the trumpet or the cornet and its mellow sound does not come across as strident as that of its relatives in the brass family.

Because of its sound, it is often used instead of a bugle (which it basically is) by military bands although it has become increasingly popular by contemporary composers of classical or orchestral music with one of its main claim to fame is the flugelhorn solo in the Intermezzo of Cavalleria Rusticana.

Like most of the brass range, the flugelhorn is not an expensive instrument to buy and it is possible to pick up a secondhand instrument for only a few pounds. A better quality flugelhorn, more suitable for serious students and teachers should not cost more than a few hundred pounds.

We hope you found our free guide helpful and that you will enjoy playing your flugelhorn.

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