The horn (informally known also as the French horn) is a brass instrument, descended from the natural horn that consists of about 12 feet of tubing (for a single horn in the key
of F), wrapped into a compact, coiled form with a flared bell.
Most horns have finger-operated valves (a horn without valves is known as a natural horn, and some horns such as the vienna horn usepiston valves).
A single horn, which will usually be tuned to either F or B flat, has three valves; the more common double horn has two sets of tubing (generally F and B flat) and a fourth valve, operated by the thumb, which routes the air flow to one or other set. Triple horns, with five valves, are also made.
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