If you want to start practicing your alternate trombone slide positions (which I would highly recommend), I would suggest that you’ll check out David Mathie’s article. This will be an understandable argument, but the more you will play more difficult pieces, you will find that it will be close to impossible to use only the “basic” positions seen in the trombone position chart, since you will be required to play lines that will require too much movement. Some of you may have thought “why should I learn how to use these positions, since I already know how to play these notes in the normal position”. These are options to play these notes in alternative positions. In the trombone slide chart above, you probably noticed the marking (or b5)/(or #4). Is It Really Necessary To Use Alternate Trombone Slide Positions? In the next section we’ll explain about the second way to change notes, and the proper way to do so with correct intonation using the trombone slide chart as a guide. In order to play low notes, you will need to loosen your embouchure, and use slower air movement. To play high notes you will need a tight embouchure and more fast moving air. These notes in the 1st position, can be changed just by the way you buzz trough your mouthpiece. For example: in 1st position you are able to play in order from lowest to highest: Bb1, Bb2, F3, Bb3, D4, F4, and Bb4 (the numbers dictate the octave). Here you can find an illustration and explanation of all the trombone slide positions that can be used alongside the trombone position chart.Īccording to Zachary Belles from the Jerry Evans School of Music, with each of the trombone slide positions you can play up to 7 different notes in the harmonic series. Experiment with a tuner and with your ear, and try to find the right slide placement for each note. This indicates that you need to use your normal position, and then lightly tilt the slide higher (#) or lower (b). In this trombone slide chart you can find all of the correct positions, from low E to a high Bb: Trombone Slide Position Chart (For Tenor Trombone)Īs you can see, some of the positions in the trombone position chart are marked with #/b. You can see this in the trombone position chart. There are 7 main trombone positions, but as long as you play higher notes, the positions are less accurate, since they are based on the harmonic series. Every time you move your slide outward, you are making the trombone longer, and by that the note you are playing is also traveling longer. The slide of the trombone is our way to play different chromatic notes. If you want to know more about your trombone and about playing in a correct intonation, join me! The Trombone Slide Chart In this article you will learn about the trombone slide chart. These books have been written excellently by Mark Nightingale for that purpose and include plenty that is useful even if you’re not planning on taking grade exams.You may already know how to play the trombone, but do you really know the science behind it? In this article you will learn about the different notes that can be played on the trombone, why the instrument is built this way, and where you should position your notes on the slide.
I would highly recommend all brass players purchase a scale/arpeggio book, and this publication includes everything required for the scale part of ABRSM’s grade exams – as well as many helpful editorial tips for preparing them.īrass Scales & Exercises: Trombone from 2015: Grades 1 – 8 (Brass Exam Repertoire) by Trinity College LondonĪ common alternative to the ABRSM syllabus is Trinity, which also require technical exercises in their exams. Scales and Arpeggios for Trombone, Bass Trombone, Baritone and Euphonium Here you will find guides on how to play scales on the trombone and start your journey towards their mastery! 12 Major Scales Trombone Trombone scales are the basic building material of all tonal music and knowing them inside-out has a massive positive effect on all aspects of your music-making. A thorough familiarity with trombone scales is an essential part of every good musician’s arsenal.