French Horns

French Horns

The French horn is one of the most popular brass instruments in the world. Most major instrumental bands and symphony groups around the world feature a French horn or a full section of them. Be it new or used, it provides a rich, high pitched sound that any horn player or music listener can appreciate. Players often need replacement parts, such as a new mouthpiece, valves, or slides, to keep theirs in top condition.

In the early 19th century, Heinrich Stölzel and Friedrich Blümel from Germany would create what is commonly know as a 'French horn' to musicians and listeners today. Their horn was one of the first to include a series of valves that made it easier for players to continually play during a performance without major adjustments. Many musicians did not adopt this style for a long time, but over the decades, valved brass instruments and the French horn caught on and became much more popular. Today, the French horn is commonly referred to as simply the horn.

The French horn comes in two major styles: the single horn and the double horn. The former has a more basic construction and is lighter to hold. However, it does not allow for the expanse of notes and octaves of a double horn, which has more surface area. Both styles produce a high-pitched sound, just below the trumpet, making it one of the high pitched horns. Like with many brass instruments, gold-plated French horns have a beautiful shine, but gold French horns may be more affordable for the average player.

The construction of a French horn makes for its unique sound. Metal tubes create the signature sound when air flows through them. Players use the valves and slides to manipulate the flow of air to produce variations in sound. Durable mouthpieces and water valves make it easy for the musician to play for long durations without stopping to clean the horn.