The trumpet is a beautiful and unique-sounding instrument that can add a lot to the overall sound of an orchestra or band. If you’re a beginner and you’re just getting started, you’ll have been told that you need a good mouthpiece.
More experienced players, if you pay close attention, will switch the mouthpiece of their trumpet several times during a concert, because different mouthpieces can suit different music styles or types of notes better, and therefore using the most suited one for each musical piece can significantly improve the sound quality of your trumpet.
So, as you might have guessed, getting a good mouthpiece is very important! When starting out, you don’t have to worry about getting specific mouthpieces for specific music sounds, but you do have to worry about getting a mouthpiece that can help you sound amazing, as that will encourage you to keep learning the trumpet!
There are plenty of trumpet mouthpieces available in the market, but getting the first mouthpiece you find without putting much thought into it can result in a mediocre mouthpiece that will stop your trumpet from sounding the best it can.
Instead, you should aim to find a mouthpiece that is of high quality, and able to cover all of the basic music types to a good standard, so that you can explore your own personal style while learning. We’ve compiled a list with our top five picks for the overall best trumpet mouthpiece, so why not check those options out?
OUR TOP PICK
The Glory Silver Plated Bp Trumpet Mouthpiece is an excellent choice that has made it to the top of our list thanks to its amazing high-quality, and thanks to the many positive reviews and ratings that back it up as a reliable and popular product amongst customers.
It is available as a 3C, a 5C, and a 7C. It’s especially suited for intermediate to advanced players, so it’s a great option for those that have been playing the trumpet for a little while and want to step up their playing to the next level.
What makes it such an amazing trumpet mouthpiece is that it allows for a greater range when playing, as well as improving the tone quality. It can fit all trumpets, and if you choose to use it while being a beginner, then it is recommended you go for the 7C or the 5C size.
For the accessible low price, this trumpet mouthpiece provides excellent quality, and it is absolutely perfect for playing the trumpet in all sorts of situations, including band practice, orchestra, or music school.
The Glory trumpet mouthpiece meets worldwide standards, and it is approved and recommended by customers, musicians, and music teachers. Overall, a reliable mouthpiece to get your trumpet playing to its best!
Pros:
- Meets worldwide standards and is approved by musicians and teachers
- Available in a 3C, a 5C, and a 7C
- Allows for a greater range and tone quality
- Silver plated
- Especially suited to intermediate and advanced players, but also a great option for beginners
- Budget-friendly price
Cons:
- No significant downsides
EDITORS CHOICE
Another excellent choice, and a close second on our list of top picks, is the Bach Store Trumpet Mouthpiece, in a 3C size.
Bach Store mouthpieces are arguably the most popular and highly acclaimed amongst trumpet players, both for professionals and for hobbyists.
All of the Bach products have been designed by Vincent Bach himself, an acclaimed trumpet soloist, and they are used in most major studios and orchestras around the world.
The only reason it’s not our top choice is that it is slightly more expensive, and therefore not always as suited for those that are just starting out. As indicated in the name, this Bach mouthpiece is a 3C size, with a medium cup depth and a 16.3mm cup diameter.
The medium wide rim shape helps it allow for a greater range, making it ideal for intermediate and advanced players that are looking to expand their capabilities and refine their playing.
It also enhances the tone quality, helping your trumpet sound even better. The Bach 3C is an all-around great choice for both classical and jazz playing, so it’s a good option for beginners that aren’t sure of what style they want to play in, as it will let them explore their style while enhancing sound quality.
Pros:
- The most popular and recommended brand for trumpet mouthpieces
- Allows for a greater range and improved tone quality
- Medium cup depth and a 16.3mm cup diameter
- An all-around great choice for classical and jazz playing
- Extremely high-quality, designed by the acclaimed trumpet soloist: Vincent Bach
Cons:
- Some customers claim to have received a knock-off rather than a genuine Bach mouthpiece, make sure to check for a Bach engraving signature
BEST VALUE
Another great option for those that are starting out with their trumpet, is the Vikii Store Trumpet Mouthpiece Pack of 3.
As a beginner, you won’t know which mouthpiece better suits your playing style, so a pack of three different mouthpieces is the perfect way to try out different sizes to see which works best, plus it gives you more versatility in your playing possibilities!
The pack includes a 7C, a 5C, and a 3C, which come in a beautiful gift box and which includes a piece of microfiber cleaning cloth with which you can clean the mouthpieces.
It’s recommended that you start off with the 7C, as it is the best for beginners. And you can then start switching to the other two sizes to try out how they work for you.
These Vikii mouthpieces are of a really high-quality and they help enhance the sound of your trumpet, so that you can play to the best of your capabilities from the very start, encouraging you to get even better.
All three mouthpieces are silver plated and smooth, comfortable to use as they deliver the best possible sound. And with the pack of three, you can meet the standards of different music and playing styles a lot easier! It’s the perfect option for versatile learning.
Pros:
- Pack of 3 mouthpieces: 3C, 5C, and 7C
- Silver plated and smooth - comfortable to use and high-quality
- The product includes a microfiber cleaning cloth
- They help enhance sound quality
- Ideal for beginners - very versatile
Cons:
- They tarnish over time and use, but they can be easily polished
RUNNER UP
Another versatile option for beginners that also comes in a pack of three mouthpieces, is the NeeQi Trumpet Mouthpiece Pack of 3.
It’s ideal for beginners, as having three different mouthpieces allows you to test out different sizes and sounds, as well as giving you more learning possibilities! The pack includes a 3C, a 5C, and a 7C, as well as coming with a Trumpet Mute Silencer.
It is recommended that you start off with the 7C, as it is the most suited for absolute beginners, as well as being the best for children. You can then move on to the other two sizes, testing them out for different playing styles!
As for the trumpet mute silencer, it is made from an aluminum alloy, and it can fit all types of trumpets. It’s great for beginners, as it will allow you to practice your trumpet playing, without distorting the pitch whatsoever, with a muted sound that won’t disturb other members of your house or neighbors! (Especially useful for the first few weeks in which your playing is still...experimental and raw.)
All three mouthpieces have a beautiful silver coating, which also helps improve the timbre. They’ve been designed to be smooth and comfortable to use while delivering a great sound quality to your trumpet playing.
Pros:
- Pack of 3 mouthpieces: 3C, 5C, and 7C
- Trumpet Mute Silencer included - ideal for beginners that practice at home
- A beautiful silver coating that improves the timbre
- Smooth and comfortable to use, with a great sound quality
- Versatile and ideal for beginners
Cons:
- No significant downsides
RUNNER UP
Last but not least on our list of top picks, we have the EastRock Silver Plated 5C Trumpet Mouthpiece, highly popular amongst trumpet players of all levels, and a great option for those that want an all-around high-quality mouthpiece.
It is compatible with most major standard trumpets, and it has a 10.9mm cup diameter. The surface is silver plated and beautifully polished, making it very easy to wipe and to keep clean so that it always looks its best.
It’s also available in three different sizes: the 3C, the 5C, and the 7C. If you’re a beginner, then the 7C is recommended, although the 5C seems to be a heavily popular choice.
The mouthpiece is smooth and comfortable to use, allowing for a great range and enhancing the sound quality so that you can play the trumpet to the best of your capabilities.
What’s amazing about EastRock, is that it also offers a no-hassle warranty, so that if the trumpet mouthpiece ever fails due to any manufacturing defects, they will provide you with the parts for free!
High-quality and great for both beginners and more intermediate players, this mouthpiece is definitely a good choice!
Pros:
- Available in three sizes: 3C, 5C, and 7C
- Compatible with most standard trumpets - with a cup diameter of 10.9mm
- Silver plated and polished - easy to keep clean
- Smooth and comfortable - high-quality sound
- No-hassle warranty included
Cons:
- No significant downsides
Best Trumpet Mouthpiece Buying Guide
The mouthpiece of a trumpet is the most important part of the instrument, as without it you can’t create any sound. Using different sized mouthpieces and different types will directly affect the quality of the sound, as well as the style of the music you’re playing.
That is why choosing the right mouthpiece for you and your trumpet playing style is so vital and important.
If you’re a beginner, it’s recommended that you start with an overall high-quality mouthpiece that is all-around good at most music and playing styles, so that you can learn to play and slowly discover your personal style and mouthpiece preferences.
With so many options available in the market it can be quite tricky to determine which mouthpiece is truly the best option for you while remaining at an accessible price. To decide which mouthpieces are worth buying for a high-quality, we like to take a few basic factors into consideration:
Size of the mouthpiece:
Trumpet mouthpieces come in different sizes, which are barely noticeable but that can make a big difference when playing.
The most common sizes are the 3C, the 5C, and the 7C. If you’re a beginner, the 7C is the most recommended, as it is the easiest to learn trumpet on. You can then start switching to different sizes to test out which suits you and your playing style better.
A good way to have access to different playing styles when you’re learning to play is to buy a pack of mouthpieces with different sizes included. That way you aren’t limited, and you can test them all out!
Material and coating:
Trumpet mouthpieces are commonly made out of brass, as that is the best material for getting the highest quality of sound. However, brass mouthpieces are usually coated in another material, to avoid any allergy issues with the raw brass.
One of the best options is to get a silver plated mouthpiece, as the silver coating is very easy to keep clean and it kills germs naturally. However, silver can tarnish with time and use, so you will have to polish your mouthpiece from time to time in order to keep it in top condition.
Another common option for the material is plastic. It doesn’t sound as good as the brass, but it’s the best option for playing outdoors, as it can withstand outdoor elements and cold temperatures a lot better, as well as being more durable.
The material that you choose should depend on whether you will be playing your trumpet indoors or outdoors.
Compatibility:
Most trumpet mouthpieces are compatible with all major standard trumpets, but it’s always important to make sure that the mouthpiece you want is compatible with your trumpet, to ensure that you can use it!
Some trumpet mouthpieces might also be compatible with other wind instruments, so if that’s something you want, you can look out for it!
Price:
Like with most things, as a general rule, the more expensive a trumpet mouthpiece is, the better quality it will be.
However, you can find plenty of low-cost and budget-friendly options that are of very good quality, and they are ideal for beginners that don’t want to spend too much money before they have started properly learning to play.
You can also look out for the most popular or recommended brands, as they might be a little more expensive but will turn out to be a really good value considering the quality and reliability of the product.
Bach trumpet mouthpieces, in particular, are one of the best and most highly acclaimed in the trumpeting world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trumpet mouthpiece is best for beginners?
The most recommended mouthpiece size for beginners is the 7C, as it allows you to put greater quantities of air through the mouthpiece, and is therefore ideal for learning the basics.
As for brands, you should look for a high-quality and popular brand of trumpet mouthpiece, to ensure a good sound, while aiming for a low-cost or budget-friendly option, to begin with. You can check out our list of top picks for some options!
Does the trumpet mouthpiece make a difference?
The trumpet mouthpiece is a vital and super important part of the trumpet, and it absolutely makes a difference in your playing.
Different sizes can suit different playing styles and needs, and different mouthpieces are better suited to certain types of music, and can significantly enhance your playing capabilities so that your trumpet sounds a lot better.
