The brass family of musical instruments consists of many instruments including trombones. Trombones are unique when compared to most other brass instruments because of their telescopic slides. The type of trombone most commonly used is also distinct from its brass counterparts because it uses a slide to change pitch rather than valves. The valve trombone, however, does use three valves like a trumpet.
Like all other instruments in the brass family, trombones create their sound by applying the correct amount of pressure to the mouthpiece with your lips and using your lungs to fill the instrument with air. The air and pressure used makes the lips on the mouthpiece vibrate causing sound. The specific brass instrument being played determines what mouthpiece is to be used. The trombone uses its own mouthpiece with a particular size and bore. The bore is determined by measuring the diameter of the inside of the mouthpiece. Along with the mouthpiece, the trombone itself also has a specific bore.
Tuning is important for anyone who plays an instrument, especially if they are wanting to play with others. The trombone like conn trombone or bach trombones has a tuning slide which is located on the rear of the instrument, opposite the end of with the bell. All adjustments to the tuning slide should be slight. Pulling out the tuning slide causes the pitch of the instrument to fall, while pushing the tuning slide inward results in a higher pitch. Adjusting your embouchure also affects pitch. This is necessary to play certain notes on the trombone. The embouchure is considered the area of your mouth near the mouthpiece.
Some people who are not used to seeing brass instruments might think the trombone looks like a big trumpet. It is held a similar way, and both bells of the trumpet and trombone both face forward. Also the word “trombone” derives from the Italian word for trumpet, “tromba,” and “-one,” meaning “large.” So, “trombone” literally means “large trumpet.” The trumpet and trombone also share the same bore type which is most cylindrical. Most trombones are pitched an octave below the trumpet, so when a trumpet plays a “B,” the trombone also plays a “B” but eight steps lower.
Trombones make up the mid-to-lower area of the brass section and even in a sense can be considered larger trumpets. Moving the slide and adjusting your embouchure are two key points when starting to learn how to play the trombone.
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