How Brass Instruments Work 

 
Brass instruments are any tube that can be played with the lips. They're not always
brass, as instruments like the Aborigine didgeridoo, and the conch shell, are made
of wood, and shell, respectively. However, most modern brass instruments have a
long, cone-shaped tube and flaring bell. Usually the tube is coiled in order to make
it easier to hold. Often they have valves or other mechanisms to extend the range
of notes that can be played with the instrument.

Making Sound 
Modern brass instruments produce sound through a metal mouthpiece. The
mouthpiece is similar on most brass instruments, usually varying only in size.
Sound is produced by placing the lips on the mouthpiece and blowing while
vibrating the lips. The larger the mouthpiece, the lower the sound of the
instrument.

Playing Different Notes 

By tightening or loosening the lips, it is possible to produce different notes.
However, few notes can be created this way. To overcome the problem, brass
instruments have lots of tubes, which can be selected with valves in order to
change the length of the instrument, and thus the pitch of the note. Instruments
like the trombone directly modify the length of the instrument with an adjustable
slide.