Types of trombone

There are many different types of trombone. The most frequently used trombones today are the tenor and bass. Below are the types of trombone:

1. Contrabass trombone
2. Bass trombone
3. Tenor trombone
4. Alto trombone
5. Soprano trombone
6. Valve trombone

Other types of trombone:

• Valve trombone
• Superbone
• Tromboon
• Buccin

What is a trombone?

In order to learn how to play trombone, you need to understand how trombone works. The trombone is a musical instrument. It belongs to the brass family. The sound of all brass instruments is produced when the player vibrates his or her lips (it is known as embouchure) causing a vibration in the air column inside the trombone. The trombone is usually described and characterized by its telescopic slide on which the player adjusts the length of the tube to change its pitches. On the other hand, a brass trombone uses three valves closely similar to those of the trumpets.

The word trombone is derived from the Italian word "tromba" or trumpet and -one, a suffix meaning "large". The name trombone literrally means "large trumpet". Trombones and trumpets share the important characteristic of having predominantly cylindrical bores. So, therefore, the most frequently used trombones which are the tenor and bass trombones, are the bass counterparts of the trumpets. These instruments are both pitched in B♭, with the slide are being parallel all the way in. The notes of these harmonic series can be played based on B♭, but trombone players generally read music in a concert pitch.

Tips on Trombone Position

In order to play well the trombone and find the exact position of slide for a certain note, the link below well give you some tips on trombone positioning. They show a Trombone Position Chart.

http://amromusic.com/band/trombone/position_chart_trombone.html

Trombone Scale

This is the trombone scale. The best way to train yourself in playing a trombone and sounding it nicely is to play the trombone scale at least 10 minutes a day. It is a trombone playing exercise.

Parts of a Trombone

1. tuning slide
   
   
2. mouthpiece
   
   
3. bell
   
   
4. water key
   
   
5. main slide
   
   
6. second slide brace
   
   
7. first slide brace
   
   
8. slide lock ring
   

Reference: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Trombone.svg

How to Play Trombone

How to Play the Trombone

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Nothing can stop a trombone when its whips out its power. Its one of the deepest symphonic instruments, and one of the most powerful. There aren't many things that are more impressive than a rank of marching trombones playing. Trombones can also be lyrical, and their origins are in church music. Whether it is in the Symphony, Marching Band, Brass Ensemble, Concert Band or Jazz Band the Trombone always is heard and enjoyed.

Steps

1. Assemble the trombone by carefully placing the screw-end of the bell section to the screw end of the slide and twist to form a right angle,with the bell facing away from you. Tighten. Place the mouthpiece on the remaining tube end on the slide and twist it in slightly.
   
2. Hold the assembled trombone by supporting the tubing around the screw-joint with the left hand and putting your right hand on the moveable part of the slide. Make sure the slide is "unlocked", and ready for movement (located above the screw-joint). Now you are ready to play!
   
3. Pick up the trombone. If you are right-handed, you need to make a gun with your left hand and have your index finger touching the mouth piece and your thumb around the bar right by it. Your other three fingers should not be in the same space as your index but one over. To hold the slide make the Star Trek's Vulcan "Live long and prosper" sign and put that at the top of the slide and bend your fingers slightly to hold on.
   
4. Make a buzzing sound into the mouthpiece. Let your lips vibrate freely and you will get a fantastic sound.
   
5. To play higher, concentrate the air through your lips. If you have never played a brass instrument before this could be challenging. To play louder, blow harder and more "openly." (Note: It will feel natural to press against the mouthpiece for higher notes. Resist this temptation, as it will lead to problems later.)
   
6. If you want to learn more than just how to mess about with it, there are seven positions for the slide, and different positions for your mouth. Combinations of these get different notes.
   
7. Increase your "range" of notes by practicing regularly (preferably once a day) and increase your lip flexibility by moving from one note to a higher one and back, gradually getting faster, and trying to keep an even sound. Improve how long you can hold your breath by practicing long notes.
   

Tips

• Take good care of your slide by spreading the inside very thinly with slide oil or cream when it gets stiff. A few squirts of fine water spray will add an extra touch of smooth moveability.
  
• Try not to dent your slide! It is very easily damaged and gets stiff if damaged.
  
• Playing long tones (holding one note for a long time) does two good things. 1) It will improve your tone. 2) By having to sit on one note, you will learn how to control your airflow. Ideally, you will have a constant flow of air.
  
• Keep the instrument in a playable condition; clean the inner slide off and re-cream/re-oil it regularly, bathe the bell section (yes, bathe, with luke warm water and some detergent), grease the tuning slide (at the "top") with vasaline or "slide grease" (they're both petroleum jelly), and if there is a valve, oil it with the appropriate valve oil.
  
• There is a spit valve on the end of your slide that you should press at the end of your practice every day to release condensed water.
  
• The basic notes:
  
  • 3rd position: Move your slide down until the crossbar you are holding is even with the bell. The first low note you can play in this position is an A flat and the next higher note is an E flat, above that is another A-flat and then C. Try to hold each one as long as you can.
    
  • The next position is 4th, which is approximately where the top of the outer slide is even with the bell, however some models of trombone require the top of the slide to be a little lower than the bell. The first low note you can play on this is a low G and the next higher is a D, then another G and a B. Try to hold each as long as you can.
    
  • The next position is 6th, in which you can play a C. You get to sixth by stretching your arm out a ways but not too far or you will reach 7th. The lower notes are harder from here to 7th. Try to hold the C as long as you can.
    
  
  
• Join a beginners band or orchestra, or take private lessons with a tutor. It will take years for most people to play a trombone well.
  
• make sure you practice your scales every day,it will help with your lip flexibility.
  
• Listen to professional trombonists such as Joe Alessi, Christian Lindberg, or Wycliffe Gordon. Listening to a professional will give you an idea of what you can sound like on the trombone.
  

Warnings

• Regularly take out your mouthpiece and put it back in. It gets stuck surprisingly easily and extractions are expensive.
  
• When laying down your horn, do not let it rest on the slide. This will cause it to eventually warp, requiring repairs.
  
• Do not jam the mouthpiece into your lips when playing. Over time, this can cause scarring, which will eventually diminish your performing abilities.
  
• Never, ever use "Brasso" on a brass instrument, it removes the laquor and allows the metal to erode.
  
• Do not eat candy, gum, or any other sugary substance shortly before or while playing your trombone, or any brass instrument for that matter. This is like putting syrup in your horn, and over time that syrup will build up and restrict airflow, until it is completely clogged. You should also wait about 15-20 minutes after eating any kind of food before playing your trombone.
  

Things You'll Need

• Trombone
  
• A few beginning etude books. Try the Arban's Famous Method for Trombone for starters.
  
• Another Etude book is Melodious Etudes for Trombone (3 books) written by Rochut. It is great for working on smooth playing. Both can be bought on Amazon.com.
  
• "Tune a day" books are brilliant for the beginner!
  
• A lubrication substance made for trombone slides. Look for "Superslick Slide Cream." While slide oil will do, a cream will allow for better lubrication and stay on the slide longer. "Slide-o-Mix" is the best. It comes either mixed or unmixed but both types are excelent as they provide excelent lubrication without the drag that comes with thick creams. It is not reccomended that you use any lubricant that is not made for trombone slides/valves.
  
• A mouthpiece brush and a "snake" brush.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Play in a Church Orchestra
  
• How to Read Sheet Music
  
• How to Play a Banjo
  
• How to Play Bass
  
• How to Choose the Right Instrument
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Play the Trombone. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.