Learning to play the bugle.

How do I start? Where do I get a bugle?

Every week I receive an email from someone interested in learning to play the bugle. Their goal is to play at military funerals when a live bugler can’t be found. With the decrease in support from active-duty services to provide live musicians for military honors and the number of funerals each day, many players are stepping in to fill the need.

This is a wonderful and honorable thing to do. Many of these buglers have not played in many years, and some are starting from the very beginning. It is important to note that performing Taps on a bugle (or trumpet) cannot be learned overnight. It takes a strong desire, practice, patience, and a good instrument on which to learn.

Below I have a 4‑Week Beginner’s Practice Plan for Sounding Taps

The best thing to do is to get a trumpet or cornet and take lessons from a professional trumpeter or music teacher. If you have played the trumpet in the past, you should already have the basics down, and it shouldn’t take too long to get your embouchure back into playing condition. If you are a beginner, find a good instrument and a good mouthpiece to start with, and remember that it takes a little while to develop a decent tone, so be patient. A good teacher will guide you along. There are good trumpet methods available that your teacher will recommend.

How do I find a teacher?

Contact the music departments of local universities and colleges. There are always students willing to teach, particularly those entering the field of music education. You can ask the band director at the local high school for references. Also, check with the local musicians’ union or association.

If you are interested in just playing the bugle, I recommend the following:

Teach Yourself To Play the Bugle by George Rabbai
Published by Brigade Bugler, PO Box 165, Pitman, NJ 08071
This has been republished as Fun With The Bugle Available from Mel Bay Publications, #4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069-0066

Other books that have bugle calls:

The Buglers Handbook by Nelson Node Available from Mel Bay Publications, #4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069-0066.

67 Bugle Calls as practiced in the Army and Navy of the United States
Published by Carl Fischer

Infantry Calls of the American Civil War by George Rabbai
Published by Brigade Bugler, PO Box 165, Pitman, NJ 08071
Available from Mel Bay Publications, #4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069-0066

The Civil War Bugler Vols. I & II by Jerry Pollard
Civil War Bugle Calls of the Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery
PO Box 2593, Rome, GA 30164
(706) 232-7232

20 Bugle Calls by Jari Villanueva
Modern bugle calls with description and brief history of each call
History of Taps and performance guidelines is included
Available from JV Music, www.jvmusic.net

The USAF BAND has 20 Bugle Calls as a free download

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Some basic ideas recommended for study with a teacher:

-Correct embouchure placement
-Techniques and exercises for buzzing the mouthpiece
-Breathing
-Tone production
-Tonguing
-High register

BUGLES:

The sounding of Taps on a field trumpet or bugle rather than a valved trumpet or cornet has a long and proud tradition. With the number of U.S. veteran funerals rising and a need for live buglers increasing, many trumpet players have been searching for an adequate instrument on which to sound Taps. The style of bugles (outside of the drum and bugle corps movement, which added valves to their instruments) has changed little since the introduction of the M1892 Field Trumpet by the US Army. et by the U.S. Army. The M1892 Field Trumpet (also called a bugle) was the primary signal instrument for the U.S. military and was adopted by organizations such as the American Legion, V.F.W., and Boy Scouts. These field trumpets are in the key of G, and many are made of poor quality. You can find used bugles online on websites. Bugles made by Conn are pretty good.

The US Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”) has, for over fifty years, used a B-flat bugle (signal trumpet), a Bach Stradivarius model made by the Vincent Bach and later the Selmer Corporation. These bugles are based on the M1892 model but pitched in the key of B-flat and built to higher specifications than commercially available bugles. The original Bach bugles were gold-plated, and the second batch was lacquered. Two original ones are on display; one at the Army Band Building at Fort Myer and the second in the Visitor Center at Arlington National Cemetery. The latter is, of course, the famous “Kennedy Bugle.” All the bugles have been used to sound Taps at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington, as well as at the many simple honor funerals at the cemetery. For years, Selmer had refused many official and private requests to manufacture any additional bugles beyond the original twenty or so they made for the band in the 1960s. In 2007, Bach produced about two dozen gold-plated bugles to update the US Army Band’s inventory. A few of them made their way into private hands.

I recommend the Carol Bugle. A great bugle
Red Brass bell. Comes with a gig bag and Carol 3C mouthpiece.

Contact Jari Villanueva at jari@TapsBugler.com for price and shipping

MOUTHPIECES:

ipping
MOUTHPIECES:
There there is no question about it. Get a good mouthpiece! Personally, I’d rather see a good modern mouthpiece on a bugle than a cheap one that came with it. Nothing feels more comfortable than your own, and it will help produce a good sound. I recommend a modern Bach or

Some tips from George Rabbai on practicing the bugle

🎺 4‑Week Beginner’s Practice Plan for Sounding Taps

You can download this by clicking here
This also includes a bugle method book

GOAL:

Develop a clear tone, endurance, breath control, and lip flexibility — and confidently play Taps from memory by the end of Week 4.

WEEK 1 — Getting Started: Buzzing & Airflow

Objective: Learn to make a steady sound and strengthen your embouchure.

Daily Routine:

1. Breathing drills (5 min)
   • Inhale deeply through the nose, exhale steadily as if fogging a mirror.
   • Practice slow inhalations (4 sec in, 4 sec out). Builds air support.
2. Mouthpiece buzzing (5–8 min)
   • Hold the mouthpiece lightly against your lips.
   • Make a steady “buzzing” tone using just air and relaxed lips.
   • Try to start and stop the buzz cleanly.
3. First notes on trumpet/bugle (10–15 min)
   • Play long tones on the lowest pitch you can produce. Hold each tone for 5–10 seconds.
   • Rest frequently: Play 30 sec, rest 30 sec.
   • Focus on tone quality, not loudness.

Study tip: Watch videos on trumpet embouchure and breathing by professional teachers.

WEEK 2 — Building Core Playing Skills

Objective: Strengthen lips and tone; learn to play the notes of the bugle call series.

Daily Routine:

1. Warm-up (5 min)
   • Breathing and buzzing as in Week 1.
2. Long tones (10 min)
   • Sustain middle, low, and high bugle tones.
   • Use smooth air and steady sound.
3. Lip slurs (5–10 min)
   • Move smoothly between two notes (no valves on a bugle).
   • Example:
     • Play the lowest note → tighten lips slightly → upper note → back down.
   • Keep the airflow steady, don’t press harder.
4. Pitch pattern practice (5 min)
   • Play repeated patterns using the bugle’s open harmonics:
     • 1st note (low G), 2nd (C), 3rd (E), 4th (G).
   • These notes are the “language” of bugle calls.

WEEK 3 — Learning Taps (Phrase by Phrase)

Objective: Begin learning Taps slowly with control and accuracy.

Daily Routine:

1. Warm-up & lip slurs (10 min)
2. Tone exercises (5–10 min)
   • Alternate long, soft tones and louder tones to control dynamics.
3. Learn Taps phrases (15 min)
   • Divide Taps into four phrases (each about 2–3 measures).
   • Learn one phrase at a time:
     1. Listen to a professional recording.
     2. Hum the phrase.
     3. Buzz it on the mouthpiece.
     4. Play it slowly on instrument.
   • Repeat until memorized.
4. Record yourself
   • Identify weak spots; tone consistency is key.

WEEK 4 — Mastery & Performance Readiness

Objective: Play Taps from memory, refine tone, and simulate performance.

Daily Routine:

1. Warm-up (10 min) – Long tones + lip slurs.
2. Play Taps (15 min total)
   • Start with slow tempo, then play at performance tempo.
   • Focus on smooth phrasing and breath placement — take one good breath before starting.
   • End each note gently (“taper” the air stream).
3. Outdoor practice (2–3 times this week)
   • Get used to open-air acoustics and natural projection.
   • Notice how you must use a bit more air support outdoors.
4. Final refinement
   • Play for a teacher, friend, or recording device.
   • Make sure tempo and tone fit the solemn, respectful mood of the ceremony.

✅ By the End of Week 4, You Should Be Able To:

• Produce a consistent, centered tone
• Move smoothly between harmonics
• Play Taps by memory with even tone and proper phrasing
• Stay calm under “ceremonial” conditions (outdoors, small audience)

Optional Practice Extensions

• Continue daily long tones to build high register strength.
• Explore other simple bugle calls (Reveille, Assembly, To the Colors).
• Join bugler communities online (like the TapsBugler Facebook page) for support and tips.