In brass playing, what does breath attack refer to?

• A. The technique of tonguing to start a note.
• B. A breath used to begin a rest.
• C. The initiation of tone by the first breath and air pressure at onset.
• D. The use of mute to start a note.

Answer: (C)

Breath attack is about how a brass note begins. It refers to the moment the air from the lungs is released and the lips start to buzz, creating the first audible sound. The feel of a good breath attack comes from clean coordination between breath support, air speed, and the embouchure so the tone starts immediately and accurately at onset. This is different from tonguing, which starts a note by using the tongue to interrupt the air (an articulation action), and it’s different from simply taking a breath to begin a rest or from placing a mute, which changes timbre rather than how the note starts. So the best description is that the attack is the initiation of tone by the first breath and air pressure at onset.