Mouthpiece element | Effect on playing | Typical size/nature (Trumpet) | Typical size/nature (Tuba) |
---|---|---|---|
Inner rim diameter | Larger inner rim diameters are optimized for lower ranges, giving a richer tone. Smaller diameters assist high range playing. | 16 mm (0.63 in) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
Rim width | Wider rim widths reduce the pressure on the lips, allowing greater stamina. It does, however, reduce flexibility. | 5, 6 or 7 mm (0.20, 0.24 or 0.28 in) | 6 mm (0.24 in) |
Rim contour | Flatter rim contours tend to appear on rims with sharper edges (see below). | Varied | Varied |
Rim edge (or bite) | Sharper rim edges reduce stamina but increase control. More smoothed rims are commonly found on deeper cups. | Varied | varied |
Cup depth | Shallower cups greatly assist playing in high ranges but do so at the cost of fullness of tone. Deeper cups assist low range flexibility and rich tone. | Around half the inner rim diameter. | 3⁄4 to 2 times the inner rim diameter. |
Cup shape | Semi-spherical cups have brighter, more projected tones, while conical cups have less tone definition (see throat contour, below). | Semi-spherical | Both |
Throat contour | In semi-spherical cups, a sharper throat contour gives a more harsh, projected tone and a rounded contour gives a deeper, richer tone. Conical cups with a smooth throat have less definition. | Relatively sharp | Usually rounded |
Throat diameter | Larger throat diameters give more volume but less control. Smaller diameters have much more control but significant volume limitations. | 3.6 mm (0.14 in) | 7.6 mm (0.30 in) |
Backbore | More conical backbores give a richer tone, while more cylindrical ones give a brighter, more projected tone. | Fairly cylindrical | Varied |
Note: in this table:
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Mouthpiece. |