ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pitch of brass instruments

Okay kiddo, you know how when you blow into a toy whistle or a kazoo, it makes a sound? Well, brass instruments are kind of like big, fancy versions of those toys. When you blow into a brass instrument, like a trumpet or a tuba, the sound comes out through a special pipe called a "bell."

But here's the thing: the longer the pipe is, the lower the sound will be. And the shorter the pipe is, the higher the sound will be. That's why if you've ever seen a trombone, you might have noticed that it has a slide that can make the pipe longer or shorter, depending on where you put it.

When someone plays a brass instrument, they have to use their lips to vibrate and create the sound. And depending on how tight or loose their lips are, they can make the sound higher or lower.

So, in summary: the pitch of brass instruments depends on how long the pipe is and how tight or loose the player's lips are. The longer the pipe and looser the lips, the lower the sound. The shorter the pipe and tighter the lips, the higher the sound.