Choosing a French horn can be as daunting as any other categorically diverse instrument. This guide is a tour of the French horn world and will equip you with the required information to choose the best French horns for any use case.
Exuding majesty, the French horn was used extensively in the 20th century classical music and more recently, in modern film scores, with its most notable appearance in Hans Zimmer's "The Dark Knight”.
Although, not as popular among budding musicians as string instruments are, the "horn" still inspires thousands of musicians around the world with its debonair piquancy.
What Exactly Are French Horns?
French horns use acoustics to generate their sound through brass tubing. The energy to propagate the sound is supplied by the player's lungs and controlled by the player's lips.
Originally, the French horn wasn't as complex as its modern iterations. The evolution of music and technology has birthed numerous configurations of the instrument, each with distinct components and different plating materials which allow different ranges and tones, all of which will be discussed. However, the most basic and easy to play configuration is the single French horn.
Anatomy of the Single French Horn
A single French horn is either an F horn, Bb horn, the alto F horn, or the alto Bb horn. The difference in scales is caused by the length of the tubing where the F single horn is around 360cm and the Bb single is around 270cm.
How Heavy is a French Horn?
The single horns weigh around 18 pounds. However, the double is heavier and usually weighs around 27 pounds.
The Mouthpiece
As suggested by its moniker, the mouthpiece hosts the player's lips. This funnel shaped aperture guides the flow of air through the vast tubing of the horn.
Basically, the player vibrates their lips inside the mouthpiece, creating a "buzzing" effect which resonates through the horn's tubing, creating notes.
A host of different materials can be used to manufacture mouthpieces in various standard sizes. We recommend that the mouthpiece be rinsed and cleaned after each use. It's removable, which makes maintenance easier.
Mouthpiece Receiver
The mouthpiece receiver houses the mouthpiece. It is a straight length of tubing joined to one end of the lead-pipe.
The mouthpiece receiver has a simple function: It is a conduit for air. Before a session, a player will use a gentle twisting motion to secure the mouthpiece into the mouthpiece receiver.
The Leadpipe
The leadpipe is a piece of metal tubing that attaches to the first tuning slide.
It is imperative that the leadpipe is crafted using a rust resistant alloy because of frequent exposure to moisture and particles from the players mouth.
Dents in the leadpipe can cause a change in your overall tone, so it must be handled with extreme care.
Valve Keys
The valve keys make up the only control surface on the French horn that is used during performance. Valve keys are used to change the pitch of the notes being played allowing fully chromatic scales.
These keys direct the flow of air through the French horn by spinning a small cylinder known as the rotary valve that blocks the natural path of air through the tubing.
The number of valve keys depends on the number of valve slides.
The Rotary Valves
These are small metal cylinders in the French horns' tubes. The rotary valves have holes bored into them that allow air to spill into a set of tubes corresponding to the valve key the player pushes.
When a player pushes a valve key, it effectively changes the length of the path that air and soundwaves have to travel, decreasing pitch. As a rule of thumb, the longer the tube, the lower the pitch.
Usually, French horns have 3 valves but a fourth valve is not uncommon.
It is good practice to keep the valves well-lubricated to prevent unwanted mechanical sounds during softer tunes.
The Valve Slides
Valve slides are the passages for air and sound that are accessed after a valve key is depressed.
Valve slides are pieces of tubing that effectively increase the length of the French horn thus lowering its pitch. Each valve slide is placed and manufactured to a carefully calculated length to produce specific notes.
The slides are removable and adjustable, the latter to properly tune your French horn and the former to clean any dirt build up inside the tubing.
Depending on the number of valves present, there can be anywhere from 3-4 slides in a French horn.
The Bell
The bell can be located at the wider end of the French horn. Its purpose is to amplify the sound and release it.
The bell's design has been optimized through painstaking experimentation to provide the best tone production and amplification minus any unwanted buzzing or distortion.
The best practice is to never leave the instrument on a hard surface. It should always be tucked away in its case when it's not being used. Buying a French horn with a detachable bell makes it easier to store and saves it from damage.
The modus operandi when you play the French horn is to rest one hand inside the bell to improve acoustics and produce a mellower and well-rounded tone.
The Main Tuning Slide
This C-shaped piece of tubing allows the player to adjust the overall pitch of the French horn. It can be pulled out to lower the pitch and pushed in to increase the pitch.
The Water Key
The water key is used to expel any moisture that accumulates inside the horn.
Pressing this key exposes an opening through which moisture/saliva can be blown out by the player. The water key controls a disc shaped piece of metal that covers the opening when the water key is not pressed.
The mechanism should be inspected occasionally to ensure there is no mold or dirt build up anywhere.
Configurations of the French Horn
As previously discussed, the length of the French horn's tubing directly influences its tonal range. The F horn is the longest, followed by the Bb horn, the alto F horn, and the alto Bb horn.
The Single vs Double vs Triple French Horns
Single vs double French horn...what's the difference?
Single French Horn
The single horn has only a single tube which can play one scale chromatically. Their configurations are: the F horn, the Bb horn, the alto F horn, and the alto Bb horn. Having only a single tube greatly reduces the complexity of the instrument and also makes carrying it around much easier. So the quintessential French horn for beginners is the single horn.
However, despite its advantages it has a major drawback: its tonal range is limited by its length, thus is not as suitable for a professional horn player.
Double French Horn
Enter the double French horn. The double horn incorporates two loops of separate tubing to accommodate two different scales within a single instrument. The length of the tubing is different and the most widely available configuration of the double horn is the F/Bb horn (one set of tubing is tuned for F and one for Bb). However, the double horn has a few other types such as the F/F alto horn, the Bb/F alto horn, Bb/Eb alto horn, and the Bb/Bb soprano horn.
Beyond the extended range, the single horn and double horn are different in a few other aspects as well. For one, the double horn is heavier than the single horn (around 27 pounds). The extra tubing in the double French horn also makes maintenance slightly more difficult and generally, we would only recommend double horns for intermediate to professional French horn players.
Furthermore, the double French horn demands greater dexterity. This is due to the fact that single horns have, at most, 4 valves, if it is a descant horn. In contrast, the double French horn can have as many as 6 valves. Out of the 6, 3 are your simple valves that were discussed earlier, the fourth valve is used to switch between the different tubing, the fifth is used only in descant horn as a stopping valve, and the sixth is used only in double descant horns.
Double French horns have another differentiating factor: the placement of the change valve. In the geyer style double French horn, the change valve is is located after the main valves and in a kruspe style double horn, it is located before the main valves.
Triple French Horn
The triple French horn provides all three ranks of slides in one instrument. The triple horn is a versatile instrument whose range spans F, Bb, and F alto.
Instead of a single change valve, as with the double horn, the triple horn has 2 change valves to toggle each side.
However, the added tubing means more weight thus the triple horn is more of a pain to carry and play.
In theory, The triple horn should offer the greatest playing experience of all the three configurations, but, this is not exactly true because of how difficult optimizing the tapering can get with three different tubes.
There are three different types of French horns: the Engelbert Schmid, the Paxman triple horn, and the Alexander triple horn.
Other Configurations
There are numerous other iterations of the French horn such as the Compensating horn, the Mellophone, Vienna horn, Natural horn, etc. All of which will not be discussed in this brief primer. The provided information will be sufficient for any musician, whether a beginner or a professional, to choose the best French horn and achieve great tones.
How to Choose the Right French Horn
As with any modern instrument, there are a multitude of different factors, some objective and other subjective, that need to be considered before a player chooses the optimal one for themselves.
With an instrument as complex as the French horn, it is impossible to tackle every aspect in a single guide. However, we will discuss the basic attributes that make a great quality instrument and things you should consider when choosing the best French horn.
Budget
This is the universal first step before purchasing anything. A horn player must take into consideration how much they are willing to spend. This also depends on their level of playing as with beginners, it might be unwise to spend thousands of dollars to buy a new French horn when used instruments offer cheaper, more affordable prices and great quality. In contrast, a professional horn player will require the highest quality instrument that is on the market.
How Much Does a Good French Horn Cost?
A player can expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $18,000 when buying a used horn. The recommended lower bound price is $3,500 for a new double horn and $2,500 for a used one.
The Alexander universal horn is the most expensive French horn, costing anywhere from $40,000-$50,000.
The Wrap
The wrap of a horn is purely a subjective factor and will differ from player to player. There are essentially only two types of wraps to choose from: the Geyer wrap and the Kruspe wrap.
The distinction between them arises from the placement of the change valves and the plating material. Geyer wrap horns are mostly plated with yellow brass, with the change valve closer to the player. On the other hand, the Kruspe wrap horns are mostly nickel silver with the change valve further from the player. The best wrap for a certain player will be the one that suits them the most, both offer great sound quality.
The Material
The materials used to craft a French horn greatly affect the tone of the instrument. However, all materials offer great quality providing all other factors are the same. Tone is a subjective matter and different players will prefer different timbres. All of these materials are derivatives of brass.
The Bell
The two types in this case are the fixed and detachable bell. These configurations don't have much effect on the quality and sound of the French horn, rather they are a matter of convenience.
The detachable bell makes it easier to store the French horn and protect it from damage consequently. This option is suitable for travelling musicians and is highly recommended for beginners. However, screw-in bell horns cost slightly more.
Bell Size
The bell size varies inversely with the brightness of the instrument. The smaller the bell gets, the brighter the tone becomes. It should be noted that in this case what bell size refers to is the bell throat size.
Finish
Lacquered French horns make the best French horns as they offer greater robustness.
This again is a completely subjective matter but it is highly recommended that a beginner opt for a lacquered French horn, as it prevents the French horn from damage sustained from oils and moisture.
Rotor Linkage
There are two configurations of rotor mechanisms: the wire linkage and the mechanical linkage.
The mechanical linkage can introduce a mechanical noise that is audible in softer pieces but it hardly ever requires replacement and maintenance beyond lubrication.
The wire linkage is completely inaudible. However, wire linkages tend to break after a while and need replacement.
For most players, professional or otherwise, a mechanical linkage is recommended as it reduces maintenance costs and does not really affect the sound in normal circumstances but is reliable.
Top 5 French Horn Recommendations
These instruments are our top five picks from the best available on the market for a bunch of different use cases.
1. Yamaha YHR567/567D
Yamaha is one the best French horn brands in the world and these exceptional brass instruments, the 567 and 567D, are our pick for the best French horns for a college student.
The Yamaha YHR567/D is a full double horn in the key of F and Bb. It is a yellow brass horn and offers immense tonal flexibility and range in all registers.
It has nickel silver slides that make it robust and resistant to corrosion. The 567D offers a detachable bell while both offer a clear lacquer finish.
Both Yamaha models offer a mechanical linkage with the gold brass body and a string linkage with the standard body.
It can be said without doubt that the Yamaha YHR567/D is one of the best horns on the market due to its make quality, versatility as an instrument, great tonal characteristics, and a reasonable price for the quality.
The Yamaha YHR-567/D handles and plays like a high-end professional instrument while offering durability fit for a college student. This makes it our top pick for the best French horns for college students.
Yamaha is one of the most renowned and reputable instrument manufacturers in the world. The company's propensity to create great quality instruments for all skill levels once again shines through with the YHR-341II.
A yellow brass single F French horn, the YHR-341II offers a comfortable wrap, a clear lacquer finish, string rotor linkage, and a fixed bell.
What makes the YHR-341 one of the best French horns for beginners is its durability. It is built to withstand damage with its Nickel silver lined body.
The Yamaha YHR-341II's ease of play, tonal accuracy, excellent airflow, rich tone, flexibility, and a 3 year Yamaha warranty make it ideal for a student who has just started their career and are looking for a reasonably priced instrument with.
This horn is built for longevity.
This instrument is for a newbie student looking to invest in a cheap French horn.
The Mendini MFH-20 is the best option at the lower end price point. A single horn in the key of F, it offers a lacquered yellow brass bell and body, a mechanical linkage system, and 3 solid rotors.
The Mendini is an instrument built for affordability, not for exceptional tone or accuracy, so it is not suitable for a professional player or even an advanced student.
However, it offers great projection and ease of play paired with durability which makes it a great beginner French horn. Plus, it comes with its own hard case.
But as is the case with most beginner instruments, it will require upgrading after a while.
Moving away from the world of beginner French horns, we get to professional quality instruments. This instrument is expensive but still fairly priced compared to other pro instruments.
Conn and Selmer are a top shelf brand in the world of professional French horns and undoubtedly one of the best and most renowned in their field.
While Yamaha has been a great option for many musicians around the world, its Conn that most professionals prefer.
The 8D is a double French horn in the key of F/Bb that offers a fully nickel silver construction. The Conn-8D has been one of the most popular French horns for decades.
It has a .468 inch bore, a fixed 12.25 inch bell, string linkage, and a beautiful lacquered finish
The 8D has a dark, rich, full tone. It is an instrument that has tones for ages and is favored by musicians due to its ability to stand out in both group settings and solo acts. The tonal accuracy is astounding. The flow of air seamless. It is a delight to play.
The 8D has all the characteristics that make it fit to be called the best French horn.
5. Holton H179
Holtons are as renowned for quality as Conn is. The H179 has been compared to hand made Alexander instruments in terms of tone and quality and are absolutely beautiful to play.
The H179 is a double French horn in the key of F/Bb and has a .468 inch. 12,25 inch wide bell that offer velvety rich tones. It has string linkage and a clear lacquer finish with 3 rotors,
The beautiful hard nickel construction enchants with its dark, smooth, and punchy tone .
The H179 is a professional instrument through and through. It's the artist's horn and is unmissable in every setting with its punchy and lustrous tone.
Holton has a legacy of producing great instruments and this is highlighted with the H179.
Tips for How to Play the French Horn for Beginners
The French horn demands a lot of time and practice to achieve tonal accuracy. Here are some tips that will help you in your journey.
It is good practice to train your ear by learning to play long sustained notes and to practice exclusively of the F side of the horn as it provides more stability. Practicing the buzzing of your lips to find a sweet spot while ensuring a comfortable and relaxed hand position will greatly enhance your technique.
French horn tuning should be carried out using your ear rather than a metronome. This will improve your intonation greatly.
The best tip anyone can give a musician is to practice until you become comfortable with the instrument you play and it starts becoming 'Invisible'. Try to play the music and focus on it rather than being over conscious about the instrument.
FAQ: Are Eastman French Horns Good?
Eastman Horns are notoriously affordable. They do not necessarily guarantee great quality for the professional player. However, they can be fabulous for beginners.
The only concern is the inconsistency of build quality that has been a problem with Chinese horns.
Conclusion
There are great choices available on the market. It all boils down to your personal preference, how you play the instrument and what tones please you and realize your artistic vision the best. However, that being said, our pick for the best French horn is the 8D Conn for its value, amazing sound, and overall aesthetic.
Combing a flavorful tone, durability, and rich full notes with the build quality of a renowned manufacturer, the 8D has all the characteristics that make it fit to be called the best French horn.
It should be kept in mind the the instrument can only sound as good as the player does. A player who has practiced their craft can make most instruments sound amazing. We hope this guide has been helpful in your search for the best French horns.
