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Best Beginner trumpet 2022: These Student Trumpets Don’t Suck!!

What trumpet should a beginner start with? Here's how to choose a student trumpet...

DISCLAIMER: Finding the best beginner trumpet is no easy task…

Especially when you’re new to music & anything brass screams “PROFESSIONAL”. Trust us – trumpet selection is not that simple (we wish it was). In fact, your choice of student trumpet is arguably the biggest (& most important) decision of your entire musical career, as it’s this decision which will likely govern:

  • A: How easy it is for you to learn the trumpet
  • B: Whether you pursue your career as a Trumpeter to a professional level

So really, to buy your first trumpet totally out of the blue, is a bit like committing to marry a blind date. You’re (in effect) cheating yourself, as there’s a strong chance you won’t be the perfect match #JustSaying.

Hence why we’ve put our heads together, & reviewed 12 of the best student trumpets for sale today. That way you can invest your hard earned £££ in at least some sort of confidence, & not leave this highly important decision down to a case of ‘eenie meanie minie mo’ (cringes at the thought)!! Speaking of which then, what is the best student trumpet? Is there even such a thing? Read on to find out.

After something specific about the best beginners trumpets? Or just curious which student trumpet we’d choose? Use the menu below to find all the answers you need in 1 click…

The best beginner trumpets @ a glance…

13 of the best beginner trumpets

Beginner trumpets aren’t just ‘one-size-fits-all’.

In fact, there’s a LOT to choosing the right trumpet + a ton of factors to consider, many of which (as a beginner), you perhaps wouldn’t even think of. Stuff like the size of the bell, quality of the welds or the feel/ feedback of the valves. So really then, you could call choosing a trumpet an art.

One that we aim to teach you in a matter of minutes. Read on to jump into our rundown of the best beginner trumpets on sale…

1: Jean Paul trumpet for beginners (TR-430S)

2: Jupiter 1100S Student Bb Trumpet

3: Eastar ETR-380 student trumpet

4: Bach TR300H2 beginner trumpet

5: Herche Superior Bb Trumpet M1

6: Yamaha YTR-2330 beginner trumpet

7: Hawk WD-T313 Bb Trumpet

8: Mendini By Cecilio Bb Trumpet

9: Glory Brass Bb trumpet for beginners

10: Levante LV-TR6305 Bb student trumpet

11: Vangoa Bb Trumpet (with gloves + cleaning kit)

After something more compact? Try this beginner trumpet…

12: Sai Musical copper Bb pocket trumpet

Heads up: If pocket trumpets are more your thing, then this is just 1 of many. Be sure to check out our full rundown of the Best Pocket Trumpets too.

Want minimal maintenance – try this student trumpet…

13: pBone Jiggs pTrumpet Plastic Trumpet

Heads up: If plastic trumpets are more up your alley, then you’re in luck. We’ve got a rundown on the Best Plastic Trumpets that has your name on it. Be sure to check it out!

Which is the best beginner trumpet? Our editor’s choice…

Tricky one this.

See, as you’ve probably already gathered, student trumpets come in all shapes & sizes + are aimed at a whole host of different players. So to claim that 1 trumpet is better than the rest, is (in many respects) a silly thing to do. Hence why our verdict is a bit more… broad.

So if you’re a beginner trumpeter who’s looking to get serious about your music & go on to intermediate/ professional level, then we’d say the best student trumpet for you would be the…

Jupiter 1100S – Best trumpet for serious beginners
Latest Price!

Reason being that unlike a lot of cheaper trumpets on this list, the Jupiter is built not only for beginners, but intermediate players too. Much the same as the Yamaha YTR-2330. So while in first instance, it may be a quite the purchase, over the course of ownership it’ll actually work out cheaper.

Buy a cheap beginner trumpet & you’ll no doubt have to upgrade to something like the Jupiter, later down the line (usually around 1/2 years later). Although that could come quicker depending on how fast you pick it up. What’s more, the overall build of the Jupiter is on another level when compared to those trumpets that retail around the £1-200 mark.

It feels more solid to hold, the valves are smoother, and even the actual sound is more sculpted & distinctive. Point being that when it comes to value (not price) the Jupiter 1100S steals the show.

Although saying that, not everyone searching for the best beginner trumpet is looking to become a master Trumpeter & make music their full-time income. In which case, a more casual instrument may work better. Something like the…

Eastar ETR-380 – Best trumpet for casual beginners
Latest Price!

We say so because, aside from the fact it’s a darn site cheaper than any Jupiter or Yamaha trumpets, for a basic instrument it’s actually really good value! The metalwork doesn’t feel ‘low grade’ & neither do the valves either, which have a nice smooth press to them, which puts most other budget trumpets to shame.

Also, despite what you might expect from a trumpet in this price range, the sound is actually pretty solid. This (thankfully) doesn’t fall into the trap of sounding tinny or overly flat. The sound has a decent body to it, which you don’t tend to get in instruments at this price range. Plus, the fact you get an entire trumpet kit, opposed to just an instrument, is yet another added bonus! Especially if you’re not too keen on excessive cleaning, polishing or maintenance.

And yes, while this is not obviously a ‘forever trumpet’ – you won’t find people playing the Eastar at the Royal Albert Hall or as part of the Queen’s marching band – for a good handful of beginners, it more than does the job.

So while there may be no such thing as the ‘best’ beginner trumpet, if you ask us, these 2 come close. All that’s left for you to do, is pick your favourite.

The decision’s yours.

Enjoy this review of the best beginner trumpets & eager for more? Don’t miss out on all our latest Instrument Advice + all our recent Brass Instrument Reviews. Also, if you’re shopping for a child, we also wrote an article on the Best Kids Trumpets, which may also be a good read.

Saying that though, if you’ve got your heart set on a beginner trumpet (perhaps one above), read on & we’ll answer even more of your burning questions + reveal what to expect when buying a plastic trumpet…

The lowdown on beginner trumpets, choosing a trumpet & more

Really, there’s no answer to that. A beginner should simply start with a trumpet that fits their needs. By that we mean a trumpet that’s…

  • Built to a good enough standard for them to get a feel for the instrument + whether being a Trumpeter is for them.
  • Has a strong sound that’s easily controlled. Sticky or cumbersome valves are some thing to watch out for here.
  • Responds well to their input & doesn’t restrict their musical expression. No one likes a trumpet that respond like an on/off switch!
  • Within their budget. As much as money should be the primary focus when choosing a trumpet, it does (understandably) play a part in the decision of most players.

NOTE: Before being a student trumpet, consider what you want from one. If you’re only after a casual instrument, then a cheap trumpet will likely suffice. Only if you’re serious about taking up trumpet will it be worth buying a higher-end beginner trumpet.

Common sense dictates that your trumpet budget shouldn’t exceed what you can afford. So unless you plan on being the next Miles Davis, don’t go borrowing money just so you can improve your trumpet game.

However, when it comes to pricing we like to think of it like this…

  • Under £100 = Walk away – save your £$€! For the jump in quality & sound, it’s worth spending that bit extra.
  • £100-£150 = Decent, playable trumpets that’re perhaps not made to the best of standards, but do the job for most casual players.
  • £150 – £500 = Well-built beginner trumpets that should last the 1/2 years you spend as a beginner. For those starting lessons, these would suffice.
  • £500+ = Premium beginner trumpets that should last in excess of the years spent as a beginner & may even function well for intermediate level players. So in effect, these trumpets are 2-in-1.

* This is our opinion & is intended as a guide. The above may differ depending on manufacturer, rate of inflation + the currency in your country.

There’s a LOT to look for when choosing a student trumpet, so here’s a few pointers on what what look for…

  • Playability – This is arguably the most important thing to look for in a trumpet because if it’s not easy to play or restricts your creative freedom, then it’s not really doing its job as an instrument. So checking for smooth valves, along with factors like the weight would be a wise move.
  • Brand reputation – While this is not something we suggest you make your deciding factor – declaring “I’m only going to buy a [insert trumpet brands here] trumpet” is a bit closed-minded – we would suggest baring it in mind. If you’ve never heard of the manufacturer for instance, do you research first.
  • Value – Notice how we didn’t say price. See, when buying an instrument (& in fact anything) value is really what matters. Pay £100 for a horn that’s clunky to play + sounds flat & that’s money wasted. Whereas, pay slightly more for a trumpet that isn’t any of those things, & it may actually last you longer + make trumpet easier to learn. In short, it’s worth the extra £££.

Tough question… although there is (if you ask us) one clear winner.

See, if you were asking that question in 1960, then the verdict would likely be Bach. Back in the day (no pun intended) the trumpets made by Vincent Bach were truly something high-end, & in many cases, sought after. The quality was up there with the best!

However, since he sold his business to the Conn-Selmer corporation in 1961, the quality has taken a slight hit. By that we mean that the Bach trumpets you find today, aren’t without their inconsistencies. Play a few side-by-side & there’s a good chance that the sound will somewhat differ. Something you do NOT tend to get with Yamaha trumpets – useful to know if you’re kitting out a band.

Although that’s not to say that Bach trumpets are bad – they’re SO not! It’s just that compared to what they were, they’re not perhaps as good. And in the same time, Yamaha have gone from strength to strength. When it comes to brass instruments, they’re pretty much up there with Jupiter & Kühnl & Hoyer.

Surprisingly yes – cheap trumpets can be (& are) in a lot of case worth the money.

Exactly why we encourage you NOT to judge a trumpet by price. Because while of course it can be a good indication of quality, it’s not always the case. Reason we say so, all comes back to the manufacturers themselves.

See, not all trumpet brands are playing the same game. Some build an almost professional-grade instrument in the hope of making a decent sum of money per sale. Whereas others opt for the mass-market approach – i.e. make a decent trumpet that outdoes/ is on par with its competition & get it to sell like hotcakes.

Point being, just because cheap trumpets are a product of a different business strategy, doesn’t make them bad! In fact, all they really do is make it easier for you to get tour hands on a trumpet + make music more accessible. Hardly things to complain at if you ask us.

While trumpets do come in many shapes & sizes, there’s typically 1 type of trumpet that’s the easiest to play. That being a plastic trumpet.

This is due to not only it being incredibly lightweight in comparison to brass, but also the fact that the valves tend to be more loose too. Team that with the fact that they also tend to require less puff, & you can see why plastic trumpets are a hit with all ages.

Useful to know if you’re just after a casual instrument.

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