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Trombone

The trombones form the middle of the orchestral brass section. They fill out the harmonies between the trumpets and the horns on top, and the low tuba below. They've been around a while. While Columbus was busy discovering America 500 years ago, King Henry VII had a band of four trombones. They were called sackbuts back then, but they were very like today's trombones. The modern trombone has a rich tenor voice.

The trombone originated around the year 1400, as an improvement on the trumpet. Back then, trumpets didn't have valves, so changing their pitch with a trombone slide was a big improvement. Apart from a wider tube and a different mouthpiece, the trombone hasn't changed much over the centuries. Today, the trombone is important in bands and orchestras and in jazz.

Trombonists can vary pitch by using the slide, and also by changing their lip shape. Most orchestras have three trombones, two tenor and one bass. The trombone sounds wonderful in the orchestra playing harmonies. It can also play great solos. One thing the trombone can do that no other instrument can imitate is an effect called "tailgate trombone." This technique involves a huge swoop between two notes that is made possible by moving the slide while continuously buzzing air through the instrument.

Take a look at this picture and you'll see the main parts of the trombone.

The mouthpiece of a trombone has a deep cup-shape. The sound of the trombone is produced by the vibration of the player's lips when pressed against the rim of the mouthpiece. Varying the tightness of the lips and air pressure while moving the slide in and out produces different notes.

The trombone slide is two feet long and fits over a stationary inner tube. Holding the trombone with the left hand, a trombonist moves the slide back and forth with the right hand. Lengthening the trombone using the slide allows a trombonist to play lower notes. Pulling the slide back shortens the trombone and produces a higher note.

When you blow into the trombone, your breath condenses inside the tube. This leaves tiny droplets of water that can cause a gurgly, bubbling sound when you play. Holding open the water key and blowing into the trombone forces the condensation out. (The pros still refer to it as "spit" and they sometimes call the water key the "spit valve.")

The widely flared bell projects the sound outward and helps the trombone produce its brassy sound. Placing a mute into the bell alters the sound and lowers the volume. The mute is held in place by cork strips which fit tightly inside the bell.