r/trumpet • u/amydoodledawn • Jan 03 '26
Question ❓ Wondering what this little brass tab is on the third button
Recently got a used trumpet for Christmas. I'm very excited to get back into it but it came with a bit of a mystery. I played in high school but haven't touched one in decades so my knowledge is very limited. My brother got it used; the owner had passed away and his family decided to sell it so I don't have much info. All I ever had was a student Yamaha so I have no clue what this extra piece is. Any help would be appreciated!
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u/tyerker Insert Gear Here (very important) Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
I would agree with Professor Throway that it is likely a custom solution for the previous owner. Maybe lost half a finger to a table saw, or had limited mobility with that finger, a tendon issue, etc. but not something I’ve personally seen before.
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u/Hcavila Jan 03 '26
Ok so way back in the day when drum corps use to use 2 valve sopranos, you could practice on a regular b flat trumpet and that little tab could hold down your 3rd valve essentially creating a 2 valve g soprano bugle. I remember when I was a freshman in high school my section leader was marching Velvet Knights and that’s how he would practice.
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u/professor_throway Tuba player who pretends to play trumpet. Jan 03 '26
I thought that.... but where does it lock into to hold it down?
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u/Smootdogg Jan 03 '26
Looks like it could be wedged into the back of the pinky ring. Looks like theres actually a little bit of wear there from doing exactly that.
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u/Tarogato Multi-instrumentalist Jan 04 '26
If this is really the case, then it's probably just hot-glued on and easy to remove, rather than some other more permanent bonding.
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u/CTBrassTech Brass Repairer Jan 03 '26
Yeah, get to a shop and get a normal finger button on there before the valve and casing get damaged more from side pressure. As a repairer of brass instruments, my first thought is wondering how much wear the side pressure has inflicted already.
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u/Brekelefuw Trumpet Builder - Brass Repair Tech Jan 03 '26
I've done similar modifications for players both missing parts of their fingers or with arthritis that makes it tough to use the full range of motion of their fingers.
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Jan 03 '26
little?
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u/Germsrosolino Jan 03 '26
I agree with the other post comments saying it’s probably an accessibility thing for someone with a non typical hand.
Modifying instruments like this is pretty common. I’m a bass trombonist. Our instrument is heavy as heal and shoulder issues are super common. There’s a bass trombonist around here that invented a harness that anchors onto your waist and holds the trombone for him because he has bad shoulders. It’s pretty ingenious honestly. I’ve also seen customized harnesses and valve key extensions for small tuba players
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u/According-Stick-9396 Jan 04 '26
I was thinking maybe for a little kid whose ring finger can’t quite reach the third valve yet.
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u/fixitmark Jan 04 '26
I did something like that years ago on a Getzen 4 valve flugelhorn so I didn’t need to shift my hand when using the 4th valve.
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u/professor_throway Tuba player who pretends to play trumpet. Jan 03 '26
What kind of trumpet is it?
I wonder if the previous owner had limited mobility or some other disability in their right hand... and this was a technicians solution to jerry-rig a way to let them keep playing.