The document explains how pressing the valves on a cornet lowers the pitch of notes by adding extra tubing lengths. The first valve adds the longest length of tubing, lowering the pitch by two semi-tones. The second valve adds a shorter length, lowering the pitch by a single semi-tone. The third valve adds the shortest extra length, lowering the pitch by three semi-tones. Diagrams show how different valve combinations result in different tubing lengths and corresponding note pitches.

1. Understanding your Cornet
(and other valve instruments)
By John Caine, Burneside Brass - 3rd Cornet
June 2012

2. With all the valves on your cornet “open”, imagine all the tubing straightened out - your Cornet
would look something like this:-
Each time you press a valve down you are actually adding an extra length of tubing which
lowers the pitch of the note.
If you look at your second valve, it has the shortest length of tubing (3 units long)
By pressing the valve it adds this tubing to your cornet making it longer and lowering the pitch of
the note by a half-tone (called a semi-tone).
If you look at your first valve, it has a length of tubing twice as long (6 units long)
By pressing this valve it adds twice as much tubing to your cornet, lowering the pitch of the note
by two semi tones.
If you look at your third valve, it has a length of tubing three times as long (9 units long)
By pressing this valve it adds three times as much tubing to your cornet, lowering the pitch of
the note by three semi-tones.

3. G
1st 2nd 3rd
0 0 0 Bell

4. F# #
1st 2nd 3rd
3
1 semi-tone
Lower
3

5. F
1st 2nd 3rd
6
2 semi-tones
Lower
6

6. E
1st 2nd 3rd
9
3 semi-tones
Lower
1st 2nd 3rd 9
6 3
3 semi-tones
Lower
6+3 = 9

7. Eb b
1st 2nd 3rd
3 9
4 semi-tones
Lower
3+9 = 12

8. D
1st 2nd 3rd
6 9
5 semi-tones
Lower
6+9 = 15

9. C# or Db #
b
1st 2nd 3rd
6 3 9
6 semi-tones
Lower
6+3+9 = 18

10. D
1st 2nd 3rd
6 9
6+9 = 15

11. Eb b
1st 2nd 3rd
3 9
3+9 = 12

12. E
1st 2nd 3rd
9
1st 2nd 3rd 9
6 3
6+3 = 9

13. F
1st 2nd 3rd
6
6

14. F# #
1st 2nd 3rd
3
3

15. G
1st 2nd 3rd
0 0 0 Bell

16. Now you understand how it
works – I hope you don’t have
the same problem I have!
Learning to play it!