• Introductory page
• Sound Waves
• The Musical Scale
• Only Three Valves
• Putting it all together

This group of pages presents some background technical information related to brass instruments and brass playing.  It is aimed primarily at the interested person with no musical background who nevertheless would like to explore a few of the technical aspects.

"Sound Waves" presents some elementary facts concerning the speed of sound and sound waves, both of which are central to the design of brass instruments.

"The Musical Scale" attempts to explain how the modern western scale came into being, with some audio examples.

"Only Three Valves" explains how (valved) brass instruments can produce all those notes using only three valves.

"Putting it all together" attempts to bring the above topics together in a way that should make sense to any lover of brass music.