Editing Baritone horn (section)

== Construction and general characteristics ==

The baritone, like the trombone and euphonium, is a nine-foot brass tube. Valves are most often [[Piston valve|piston-style]]. It is predominantly of conical bore, like the euphonium, but has a narrower bore than the euphonium. The smaller bore renders its attack more distinct than the rounder attack of the euphonium, and also provides it with a brighter sound than the dark-sounding euphonium.

===Key===
The baritone is pitched in concert B{{music|flat}}, meaning that when no [[Piston valve|valve]]s are actuated, the instrument will produce partials of the B{{music|flat}} [[Harmonic series (music)|harmonic series]]. Music for the baritone can be written in either the [[bass clef]] or the [[treble clef]]. When written in the bass clef, the baritone is a non-transposing instrument. However, when written in the treble clef, it is often used as [[transposing instrument]], transposing downward a major ninth from the music as written, so that written [[middle C]] for the baritone is concert B{{music|flat}} below [[low C]] (B{{music|flat}}<sub>2</sub> in [[scientific pitch notation]]), with the fingerings thus matching those of the [[trumpet]] but sounding an octave lower. It is often used to play parts written for the similarly pitched tenor trombone or euphonium.

===Range===
The baritone is part of the tenor section of a band. Its second [[Harmonic series (music)#Partial|partial]] with no valves actuated is concert B{{music|flat}} on the second line from the bottom of the bass clef (B{{music|flat}}<sub>2</sub> in [[scientific pitch notation]]). The eighth partial with no valves pressed is concert B{{music|flat}} in the center of the treble clef (B{{music|flat}}<sub>4</sub>). Virtuosi can reach certain pedal tones below the E<sub>2</sub> second partial with all valves depressed, which is the nominal lowest note on the instrument, and several half-tones above the B{{music|flat}}<sub>4</sub>, which is the nominal top of the instrument's range.

===Tone===
The baritone has a [[timbre]] between the brightness of the trombone and the mellow tone of the euphonium, due to its bore being sized between the two and its moderate bell flare, which adds some warmth without amplifying lower overtones as strongly as the euphonium's larger bell.