Hi I'm new here,

I plan on starting to play the trumpet and I'm told that there are different types of instrument. I would like to know which one is used to play the Godfather Waltz piece? I'll be very grateful for any advice!

The main type is a B flat trumpet. A large bore variety makes a richer sound than a small bore. You can buy a pocket trumpet for £120 new. It is much shorter than the ordinary trumpet and has the same fingering and pitch and it's very convenient for transporting about. There are also cornets, of course. Most trumpets/cornets are made of brass but there have been plastic ones made. I suggest you get a catalogue by Boosey and Hawkes and have a look.

There are also the trumpets in other pitches, some of which are very small trumpets. There is the Perinet or rotary valve and the the Vienna or piston or so called pumping valve action. The C, Eb/D, Bb/A piccolo and the Eb flugel horn. Of all these types I rate the pocket trumpet the most useful for practicing and for transporting. It can have a good tone if it's well made.

The choice of which type to buy should depend on the type of music you want to play. Many working trumpet players have a C trumpet and a Bb/A trumpet. The change from Bb to A is obtained by turning a special rotary valve or by pulling out the A slide. When the slide is pulled out the fingering remains the same and you use music written for the A trumpet. The pitch change is also useful when reading a piece in a lot of sharps or flats because you can think in another key (1/2 tone higher) and the instrument will then compensate. eg written in F#, pull slide and play in G, sounds F#.

Now I've managed to find the music from the film sound of it and made enquiries about the band that played it I'd say the Godfather waltz was played on a normal, common or garden Bb instrument but quite a good quality one. Why did you ask the question? Are you thinking of buying the instrument simply because you want to play this tune? Not a good reason in my humble opinion. I refer you to my other posts.