The cornets are the instruments that usually carry the tune in brass bands. Cornets come in various sizes. Pitch depends on the length of tubing in the instrument. The smaller the instrument, the higher its pitch. The pitch of a cornet is determined by the note it plays when no valves are pressed down. Valves allow the player to change the pitch. A B-flat pitched cornet contains 4 1/2 feet of tubing, which is wound up until the instrument measures a little over a foot in length. Most cornets in a brass band are pitched B-flat, but there may also be one E-flat cornet.

One flugelhorn to a brass band is the rule. The flugelhorn is in the same family as a trumpet and cornet. However, the tubing on a flugelhorn expands in size more rapidly than a cornet's and the resulting tone is considered a bridge between the cornets and the lower-pitched instruments in the band.

Because the pitch of a trombone is changed by a slide rather than valves, the tubing is the same diameter, in contrast to other instruments in the brass band that have conical tubing that gradually enlarges from the mouthpiece to the flared bell. The tubing on the trombone gives it a different tone from the mellow one produced by conical instruments.

Percussion instruments include not only the bass, snare and kettle drums (the kettle is pictured), but such things as triangles, whistles, woodblocks and cymbals. Able to produce notes that are higher than the cornet's and as deep as the tuba's, percussion adds variety and spice to the brass band's performance.

Euphoniums frequently play solos and counter melodies that a cello might play in an orchestra. A double-belled euphonium combines a cylindrical-bore valve trombone and a conical-bore baritone.

The tuba, ``Tubby'' being the best known of the set, is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument in the band. The E-flat tuba is the smaller of the two models used in brass bands. Typically, a brass band has two E-flat tubas and two double B-flat tubas. The double B-flat tuba requires 18 feet of tubing to bring forth its deep bass notes.

The alto and tenor horn (the tenor is pictured) are among the several upright horns or raincatchers used in a brass band. In concert bands and orchestras, the alto horn has been replaced by the French horn. A cousin is the baritone horn, which is easily confused with a euphonium. However, the tubing on a baritone is smaller in diameter than a euphonium and that gives the baritone horn a more subdued tone.

Information about the instruments was gathered from notes in the program of the 1986 North American Brass Band Championship Contest IV.