1. Lip Vibration: The trumpeter's lips are placed against the mouthpiece of the trumpet. When the player blows air through their lips, they start to vibrate.
2. Resonance: The shape of the mouthpiece and the body of the trumpet create a resonant chamber. The air column inside the trumpet vibrates sympathetically with the vibrations of the player's lips. The resonance of the trumpet reinforces and amplifies the sound produced by the player.
3. Harmonics: The natural resonance of the trumpet creates a series of harmonics, which are whole number multiples of the fundamental frequency produced by the player's lips.
4. Valves: The trumpet has three or four valves. Each valve, when pressed, adds a specific length of tubing to the main air column of the trumpet. By pressing different combinations of valves, the trumpeter changes the effective length of the vibrating air column.
5. Note Production: Different combinations of valve presses produce different resonant frequencies, which result in different notes. The open valves allow more air to pass through the instrument, lowering the pitch. Closing the valves shortens the air column and produces higher notes.
This is how the trumpeter controls the pitch of the sound by varying the length of the vibrating air column through valve combinations and lip tension. Each note on the trumpet is produced by a specific combination of valve positions and embouchure (mouth and lip position) adjustments made by the player.
By mastering the technique of lip vibration and valve combinations, trumpet players produce a wide range of notes, from the lowest fundamental note to the highest harmonics, creating the signature sound of the trumpet in various musical styles.