Trombone

The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. It makes sound when a player vibrates their lips inside a mouthpiece, which causes the air column inside the instrument to vibrate. Most trombones have a sliding part that moves in and out to change the pitch, instead of using valves like other brass instruments. There is a special kind called the valve trombone that uses valves like a trumpet, and another called the superbone that has both valves and a slide.

The name "trombone" comes from the Italian words for "large trumpet." It has a mostly straight tube shape, unlike some other brass instruments such as the cornet, the flugelhorn, the baritone, and the euphonium. The two most common types are the tenor trombone and bass trombone. When people say "trombone" by itself, they usually mean the tenor trombone. These instruments are tuned to the note B♭, which is an octave below a B♭ trumpet and an octave above a B♭ contrabass tuba.

Someone who plays the trombone is called a trombonist or a trombone player.

History

Etymology

The word "trombone" comes from the Italian word "tromba" (meaning trumpet) plus the suffix "-one" (which means large). So, "trombone" basically means "large trumpet."

During the Renaissance period, people in England called the trombone a "sackbut." The word first showed up in records in 1495 as "shakbusshe." This word is similar to "sacabuche," which was used in Spain as early as 1478. In France, they used the word "saqueboute," which appeared in 1466.

Origin

The sackbut, an early version of the trombone, appeared in the 15th century and was used all over Europe. It was played at outdoor events, concerts, and in religious services. It was especially important as part of dance bands. Trumpeters and trombonists were hired in German cities to watch from towers and announce important visitors, showing the city's wealth and strength. These trombonists were different from the more skilled players in groups like the alta capella wind ensembles and early orchestras in places like St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

Classical period

The trombone didn't change much between the Baroque and Classical periods, but its bell became a bit more flared. Composer Christoph Willibald Gluck was the first to use the trombone in an opera overture in his work "Alceste" from 1767. He also used it in other operas.

Mozart used trombones in his operas and sacred music. The solo part he wrote in the "Tuba Mirum" section of his Requiem is still famous today. The earliest known symphony with a trombone section was by Anton Zimmermann, likely from the 1770s.

Romantic period

19th-century orchestras

Trombones were used in operas, symphonies, and other music by many famous composers like Felix Mendelssohn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Hector Berlioz, and others.

In orchestras, trombones were often used to support the choir's voices. Over time, the alto trombone was replaced by the tenor trombone. By the mid-19th century, most orchestras had two tenor trombones and one bass trombone.

19th-century wind bands

Wind bands started during the French Revolution and always included trombones. These bands played arrangements of orchestral music, popular tunes, and pieces for soloists. A famous work for wind band is Berlioz's "Grande symphonie funèbre et triomphale" from 1840, which features a trombone solo.

19th-century pedagogy

Leipzig became a center for teaching trombone, with composers like Felix Mendelssohn supporting the teaching of the instrument.

19th-century construction

The trombone was improved with features like "stockings" on the slide to reduce friction, a water key to remove moisture, and the addition of valves.

Twentieth century

Use in jazz

In the 1900s, the trombone was used to support other instruments. It became a solo instrument during the swing era of the mid-1920s.

20th-century construction

The trombone's design changed with new materials and features. The F-attachment trigger was developed to help play lower notes.

Contemporary use

Today, the trombone is used in symphony orchestras, concert bands, big bands, marching bands, and more. It's also used in jazz, merengue, salsa, and other music styles. In experimental music, composers have explored new ways to use the trombone.

Construction

The trombone is a long, cylindrical tube with two U-shaped bends and a flared bell at the end. Like other brass instruments, it makes sound when you blow air through pursed lips, creating vibrations inside the instrument.

The trombone has a detachable cup-shaped mouthpiece, similar to those used for baritone horns and trumpets. It includes a special narrow section called a venturi that affects the sound. The slide part consists of a leadpipe, inner and outer slide tubes, and bracing. The trombone’s most famous feature is its slide, which changes the pitch by lengthening the tubing. During the Renaissance, small sleeves were added to the slide to make it move more smoothly. Modern trombones have ends on the slide tubes that are slightly larger for the same reason. The slide needs regular oiling. It connects to the bell section through a neckpipe and a U-bend called the bell or back bow.

Many trombones have a special loop of extra tubing connected by a valve operated by the left thumb. This helps extend the instrument’s low range and makes certain notes easier to play.

Modern trombones often include a valve attachment, an extra loop of tubing connected to the bell section. This valve, operated by the left thumb, helps extend the instrument’s lower range and makes playing trills easier. It was first developed in the late 1830s by German instrument maker Christian Friedrich Sattler for the Tenorbaßposaune, a B♭ tenor trombone with a wider bore and larger bell.

Valve attachments are common on tenor and bass trombones but can appear on sizes from soprano to contrabass, depending on the instrument’s size.

The tubing for the valve attachment usually has a larger bore than the rest of the instrument. For example, an orchestral tenor trombone might have a slide bore of 0.547 inches, while the attachment tubing has a bore of 0.562 inches. The attachment tubing often includes a tuning slide to adjust the valve’s pitch separately from the rest of the instrument.

In the past, the valve attachment tubing was coiled tightly to fit within the bell section. Recently, some manufacturers have started using an “open wrap” design, where the tubing forms a single loop without tight bends, allowing for a freer sound. However, the traditional coiled design is still common in marching bands where the instrument might be more prone to damage.

Some trombones have the tuning mechanism placed in the slide section instead of the bell section. This allows the bell section to remain conical, which can affect the tone quality.

The mouthpiece is a separate part that can be changed between trombones of similar sizes. Mouthpieces come in different materials, shapes, and sizes, affecting how easy the instrument is to play, the sound quality, and comfort. Some modern mouthpieces allow players to customize parts like the rim and cup.

In the 2010s, plastic trombones like the pBone and Tromba emerged as a cheaper and more durable option. While they look different from brass trombones, they are now seen as useful practice tools and are popular for travel or for beginners who don’t want to spend a lot of money upfront.

German trombones have been made in many different sizes. The traditional German Konzertposaune has a small mouthpiece and a long leadpipe. These trombones are often made from gold brass and have a very thin metal body, especially in the bell section. They produce a smooth sound across different volumes but can be hard to play loudly. German trombones have large bell sizes, especially for bass trombones.

French trombones were traditionally made in very small bore sizes up until the mid-20th century. French music often used sections of three tenor trombones. These trombones had small bells and special funnel-shaped mouthpieces. They were built in various sizes including tenor, alto, soprano, piccolo, bass, and contrabass.

Types

The most common types of trombone today are the tenor and bass. Trombones come in many sizes, from very small to very large. Most trombones use a slide to change the pitch, but some use valves like other brass instruments.

Slide trombones

Contrabass trombone

Main article: Contrabass trombone

The contrabass trombone is the lowest type of trombone. It was first made for a famous opera in the 1870s. Today, it is used more in movies and games.

Bass trombone

Main article: Bass trombone

The bass trombone is larger than the tenor trombone and plays lower notes. It has valves to help change the pitch.

Tenor trombone

The tenor trombone is the most common type. It uses a slide to change the pitch. Players move the slide to play different notes.

Alto trombone

Main article: Alto trombone

The alto trombone is smaller than the tenor and was used a lot in old church music. It is now used more in modern music.

Soprano trombone

Main article: Soprano trombone

The soprano trombone is small and high-pitched. It is not used often except in special music groups.

Sopranino and piccolo trombones

Main article: Soprano trombone § Sopranino and piccolo trombones

These are very small trombones made in the 1950s. They are played mostly by trumpet players.

Trombones with valves

Valve trombone

Main article: Valve trombone

Valve trombones use valves instead of a slide. They were popular in orchestras and bands.

Cimbasso

Main article: Cimbasso

The cimbasso can play very low notes. It is used in old Italian operas and modern movies.

Superbone

Main article: Superbone

The superbone has both a slide and valves. It was made for jazz players.

Flugabone

The flugabone is a valve trombone shaped like a flugelhorn. It is used in marching bands.

Other variants

Sackbut

Main article: Sackbut

The sackbut is an older type of trombone used in old music.

Buccin

Main article: Buccin

The buccin is a special trombone with a dragon-shaped bell. It was used in old French music.

Tromboon

A mix of trombone and bassoon, the tromboon uses a bassoon reed instead of a mouthpiece. It was made for funny music by a composer named P. D. Q. Bach.

Technique

The modern trombone uses a sliding mechanism to change notes, which is different from other brass instruments that use valves. This slide has seven basic positions that help the player change the pitch of the notes. By tightening or loosening the lips and adjusting the air pressure, players can also bend notes slightly higher or lower without moving the slide.

Players can move between different notes by tightening their lips and using more air pressure. In the lower notes, the slide moves more, but for higher notes, the slide moves less because the notes are closer together. The trombone can play smooth slides between notes by moving the slide while keeping the air flowing steadily. This sliding technique is popular in jazz and fun music.

Didactics

Some makers now sell small B♭/C trombones that are perfect for young children who are just learning. These trombones are shorter, so kids don’t have to stretch as much. The main note of these smaller trombones is C, and they have a special part that changes the note to B♭ when a button is not pressed. Even though these trombones don’t have as many slide positions as bigger ones, kids can still easily play C and B natural by using the button. A similar design called the “Preacher model” was sold by C.G. Conn in the 1920s under the Wurlitzer name. Today, B♭/C trombones are made by many companies, including German makers Günter Frost, Thein and Helmut Voigt, and the Yamaha Corporation.

Manufacturers

Trombones have been made by many different companies over the years. In the past, important American companies included Graves and Sons, E. G. Wright and Company, Boston Musical Instrument Company, E. A. Couturier, H. N. White Company/King Musical Instruments, J. W. York, and C.G. Conn. Today, well-known companies that make trombones include Bach, Conn, Courtois, Edwards, Getzen, Jupiter, King, Rath, Schilke, S.E. Shires, Thein, Wessex, Willson, and Yamaha.