The Conch Trumpet has been used since prehistoric times as a trumpet. In Japan and the Pacific islands, the shells are easily available. You simply pick one up off the beach. Conch trumpets are used for military as well as ritual purposes. Some are left plain, while others are decorated.
Family |
Brasses |
Pitch range |
Variable, but usually one to three notes. |
Material |
Shell. |
Size |
Variable : this example is about 13 in (33 cm) long. |
Origins |
Shells were used as trumpets during the New Stone Age. Most countries with conches, such as the Pacific islands, have adapted the shell as an instrument. |
Classification |
Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air. |
And also... |
The conch is used for different purposes depending on its country of origin. It is frequently used as a signaling instrument, to call people to work, meals, or festivals. |