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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Trombone introduction

The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, it is a lip-reed aerophone; sound is produced when the player’s buzzing lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate. The trombone is usually characterized by a telescopic slide with which the player varies the length of the tube to change pitches, although the less common valve trombone uses three valves similar to those on a trumpet.

Trombone slide

The most difficult part of the trombone to use is the slide. Thanks to the slide, right from the beginning the trombone has been able to get notes that other brass instruments had to wait for valves to be able to produce.

But the slide is tricky. It resembles the violinist’s left hand (the hand that finds the notes on the fingerboard), and similarly a player develops a muscular memory of where particular pitches are. Also like the violin, the same notes can often be played in different ‘positions’.

Trombone history

The trombone is by nature a chromatic instrument and is the only brass instrument whose basic structure has remained the same. The concepts and principle of the movable slide has remained unchanged over the last five hundred years. The name trombone is derived from the Italian tromba (trumpet) and one (large) -which is exactly what the trombone is - a large trumpet.

Tenor Trombone

This is the most common type of trombone used today.  It is, as the remaining trombones are, pitched in Bb.  The bore size is anywhere from  .468" - .490".  Small bore horns have the brightest sound and are often preferred in jazz groups to cut through when soloing.

Medium-large bore Tenor Trombone

(with "traditional wrap" F attachment)
Bore size typically .525"
The F attachment adds a wrap of tubing activated by a trigger and rotor valve which lowers the fundamental pitch from Bb to F.  This allows the player to reach lower notes than would otherwise be possible.  Horns of this size and larger are available in "traditional" or "open" wraps or without the F attachment.

CONCLUSION

If you are interested in playing the trombone or just need a new trombone I hope this brief article has helped you. There are many types of trombone too many to list. If want to take lessons in playing this instrument it is best that you check out the online trombone resources.