# Free brass samples

> Free brass samples: trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba notes, stabs and section hits for funk, film and hip hop, with a licence verdict on each.

28 samples from 2 sources (Strudel sample banks 14, Wikimedia Commons 14), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=brass&category=brass
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=brass&category=brass"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## Power and punch

Brass instruments make sound from buzzing lips in a metal tube, which gives them a bright, powerful tone that cuts through any mix. Trumpets carry melodies and stabs, trombones add weight and slides, French horns give the warm, heroic sound of film scores, and tubas anchor the bottom. Free libraries include solo notes for all of them and some ensemble hits.

## Two ways to use them

For orchestral and cinematic music, use multisampled instruments and write lines that respect each instrument's range and the need to breathe. For pop, funk and hip hop, short stabs and swells are often enough: pitch one to your key and play it as a hook.

Classic brass stabs lifted from records are not free to use, however common they are. The recordings here come from libraries and players who licensed them, and each card shows the verdict.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [America the Beautiful - Brass Quintet - United States Navy Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:America_the_Beautiful_-_Brass_Quintet_-_United_States_Navy_Band.opus) | `wikimediacommons:America_the_Beautiful_-_Brass_Quintet_-_United_States_Navy_Band.opus` | Brass, 2:33 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Félix Blume - Death in Haiti - Bonus Disc - 08 Maestro Nadera's Brass Band - PARDON](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%C3%A9lix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_08_Maestro_Nadera%27s_Brass_Band_-_PARDON.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Félix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_08_Maestro_Nadera's_Brass_Band_-_PARDON.ogg` | Brass, 4:20 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [A Welsh Posy - Nfd Brass Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Welsh_Posy_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:A_Welsh_Posy_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg` | Brass, 30 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 0](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/000_notes121a.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/0` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Félix Blume - Death in Haiti - Bonus Disc - 10 Maestro Walter's Brass Band - MISÉRICORDE INSONDABLE](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%C3%A9lix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_10_Maestro_Walter%27s_Brass_Band_-_MIS%C3%89RICORDE_INSONDABLE.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Félix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_10_Maestro_Walter's_Brass_Band_-_MISÉRICORDE_INSONDABLE.ogg` | Brass, 1:53 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 1](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/001_notes121a2.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/1` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Illinois Brass Band - 05 - Douglas Mephistopheles](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illinois_Brass_Band_-_05_-_Douglas_Mephistopheles.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Illinois_Brass_Band_-_05_-_Douglas_Mephistopheles.ogg` | Brass, 3:16 | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 2](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/002_notes121b.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/2` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Félix Blume - Death in Haiti - Bonus Disc - 03 Maestro Walter's Brass Band - TRAVÈSE DEZÈ A](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%C3%A9lix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_03_Maestro_Walter%27s_Brass_Band_-_TRAV%C3%88SE_DEZ%C3%88_A.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Félix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_03_Maestro_Walter's_Brass_Band_-_TRAVÈSE_DEZÈ_A.ogg` | Brass, 5:30 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 3](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/003_notes121bflat.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/3` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Es ist ein Ros entsprungen brass ensemble](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Es_ist_ein_Ros_entsprungen_brass_ensemble.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Es_ist_ein_Ros_entsprungen_brass_ensemble.ogg` | Brass, 2:12 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 4](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/004_notes121bflat2.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/4` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Gwyr Harlech - Nfd Brass Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gwyr_Harlech_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Gwyr_Harlech_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg` | Brass, 30 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 5](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/005_notes121c.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/5` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Félix Blume - Death in Haiti - Bonus Disc - 14 Maestro Midouin's Brass Band - LA SEMENCE D'ICI BAS](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%C3%A9lix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_14_Maestro_Midouin%27s_Brass_Band_-_LA_SEMENCE_D%27ICI_BAS.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Félix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_14_Maestro_Midouin's_Brass_Band_-_LA_SEMENCE_D'ICI_BAS.ogg` | Brass, 4:19 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 6](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/006_notes121c2.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/6` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Félix Blume - Death in Haiti - Bonus Disc - 17 Maestro Walter's Brass Band, Final March - JEZI OU KONNEN](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:F%C3%A9lix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_17_Maestro_Walter%27s_Brass_Band,_Final_March_-_JEZI_OU_KONNEN.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Félix_Blume_-_Death_in_Haiti_-_Bonus_Disc_-_17_Maestro_Walter's_Brass_Band,_Final_March_-_JEZI_OU_KONNEN.ogg` | Brass, 1:33 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0 | Commercial use OK with credit | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello A#2 · 0](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_A%232_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/0` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Suo-Gan - Nfd Brass Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suo-Gan_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Suo-Gan_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg` | Brass, 30 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello A#3 · 1](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_A%233_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/1` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [America - Ceremonial Brass - United States Air Force Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:America_-_Ceremonial_Brass_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band.mp3) | `wikimediacommons:America_-_Ceremonial_Brass_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band.mp3` | Brass, 2:21 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [Dirt-Samples · sax · 7](https://github.com/tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/blob/master/sax/007_notes121csharp.wav) | `strudel:dirt-samples/sax/7` | Brass | Strudel sample banks | No licence stated | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Hunting of the Hare - Nfd Brass Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hunting_of_the_Hare_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg) | `wikimediacommons:Hunting_of_the_Hare_-_Nfd_Brass_Band.ogg` | Brass, 30 s | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 3.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello A#4 · 2](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_A%234_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/2` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [El Capitan - Ceremonial Brass - United States Air Force Band](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Capitan_-_Ceremonial_Brass_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band.mp3) | `wikimediacommons:El_Capitan_-_Ceremonial_Brass_-_United_States_Air_Force_Band.mp3` | Brass, 2:26 | Wikimedia Commons | Public domain | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello D3 · 3](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_D3_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/3` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello D4 · 4](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_D4_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/4` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |
| [VCSL · saxello E5 · 5](https://github.com/sgossner/VCSL/blob/master/Aerophones/Reed%20Aerophones/Saxello/Non-Vibrato/BrettSaxello_SusNV_MainSpirit_E5_vl3_rr1.wav) | `strudel:vcsl/saxello/5` | Brass, One-shot | Strudel sample banks | CC0 1.0 | Commercial use OK | yes |

## Questions

**What is a brass stab?**

A short, loud chord played by a brass section, often with a fall-off at the end. Funk, disco, house and hip hop use stabs as hooks and accents, and many are sampled from or modelled on classic records.

**How do I make sampled brass sound less robotic?**

Brass players breathe and articulate: vary attack and length, add slight pitch scoops on some notes, and leave space between phrases. Layering a solo instrument with a section adds realism.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-brass-samples