How does a cornet differ from a trumpet?

Trumpet v Cornet. The Trumpet and Cornet are both very similar members of the Brass instrument family but are generally used for different styles of music. Many advanced players will be competent on both but what exactly is the difference? Identical Elements. read more

On a Trumpet the bore is Cylindrical, having a consistent diameter throughout the instrument, whereas a Cornet has a Conical bore which gradually increases in size down the length of the tubing. This makes a huge difference to the type of sound that is produced with the Trumpet giving a very piercing, direct sound (think Fanfares) and the Cornet a warmer, softer, rounder sound (think Hovis Bread / Coronation street!). read more

A cornet will have a wider bore than the trumpet for part of its length because it becomes conical earlier in its length than the trumpet. Likewise, a flugel horn becomes conical earlier in its length than a cornet. This wider bore makes the flugelhorn mellower than the trumpet, with the cornet falling in the middle. read more

the length of both a trumpet and a cornet is approx. 1 meter. the difference is indeed the bore: the trumpet`s bore is cylindrical, whereas the bore of the cornet changes halfway from cylindrical to conical. read more