Trombone facts for kids

A trombone

The range of a trombone

The trombone is a cool brass instrument. It's like a big trumpet, but instead of pressing valves, the player moves a long slide. This slide changes how long the tube is.

When the player's lips vibrate into the mouthpiece, and the slide moves, the trombone can play many different notes. It sounds deeper than a trumpet. Music for the trombone is usually written in the bass clef. Sometimes, for higher notes, it might be written in the tenor clef. The trombone is one of the loudest instruments in a symphony orchestra!

A person who plays the trombone is called a trombonist. Some trombones have a special valve that helps play even more notes. The word trombone comes from Italian and means large trumpet. Most trombones are made of brass, but you can also find plastic ones, like the "P-bone."

What is the History of the Trombone?

The trombone's ancestor was an instrument called the sackbut. It first appeared in the 1500s during the Renaissance music period. Over many years, the sackbut slowly changed and improved into the trombone we know today.

Beethoven was the first composer to add trombones to a full symphony orchestra. Trombones are used in many different kinds of music because of their special sound. You can hear them in orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, brass bands, big bands, swing bands, ska bands, and jazz groups.

In an orchestra, you usually see three trombones: two tenor trombones and one bass trombone. In a big band, there are often four trombones, usually three tenors and one bass.

A skilled trombonist can play many styles of music. The trombone can play smooth, calm jazz songs, like Duke Ellington's "Pyramid." It can also play fast and tricky tunes, such as "Blue Bells of Scotland."

What are the Different Types of Trombones?

A tenor trombone

A bass trombone with an F Trigger

A valved contrabass trombone

There are several types of trombones. Each type is designed for different ranges of notes, meaning how high or low they can play. Here are the main types:

• The tenor trombone is the most common type. When people say "trombone," they usually mean the tenor trombone. It's often the first instrument a new trombonist learns. It uses a slide to change notes and make music. Players usually read music in the bass clef, but advanced players can read from the treble clef. Some better tenor trombones have an "F attachment" which helps play lower notes.

• The bass trombone is different from the tenor trombone. It has one or two special "triggers" and a larger bell. These features help it sound better when playing very low notes. Most bands only have one bass trombonist. If a song doesn't have a specific bass trombone part, the player often reads the 3rd or 4th trombone part.

• The alto trombone plays notes that are a bit higher than a regular trombone. It's mostly used in orchestras for high parts that are easier to play on an alto trombone. However, it's not very common. Often, a tenor trombone player will play the alto trombone part if needed.

• The contrabass trombone plays the lowest notes of all trombones used in music today. It sometimes has a "double slide," which means the slide tube wraps around twice instead of once.

• The soprano trombone plays in the same high range as a Bb Trumpet.

• The valve trombone is a tenor trombone that uses valves instead of a slide. These valves work just like the ones on a trumpet or euphonium.

A marching band with trombones

Who are Some Famous Trombonists?

Many talented people have played the trombone. Here are some famous trombonists:

• Edward ‘Kid’ Ory
• Bill Watrous
• Carl Fontana
• Jim Robinson
• Jack Teagarden
• Al Grey
• Glenn Miller
• Tommy Dorsey
• Pete Ramberg
• Lawrence Brown
• Curtis Fuller
• Slide Hampton
• Fred Wesley
• Trombone Shorty
• Martin Schippers
• Christian Lindberg
• Joseph Alessi
• Christopher Bill
• Wycliffe Gordon

Images for kids

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  Newsboy Military Band Member with Trombone, Toledo, Ohio

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  The bell of a buccin (MDMB 369, 1800–1860) in the musical instrument collection of the Museu de la Música de Barcelona

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  Slide position chart (new system); most trombones are tenor trombones, like the valveless one in the middle.

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  Trombone first position harmonic series, "where additional overtones may be used to stretch the upper range a bit higher."

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  Trombone with F attachment slide position second harmonics.

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  Trombone slide position "pedal tones".

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  A plunger in use

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  Open wrap (left) and traditional wrap (right) F attachments

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  A tenor trombone mouthpiece

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  Quartet with plastic trombones

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  The Thayer valve is an advanced, conically shaped rotary valve that has become very popular in recent trombone design due to the open air flow it allows. The Thayer valve bends the air flowing through the trombone as little as 25 degrees.

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  The Hagmann valve is a rotary valve variation that has become popular in recent years. It was invented following the Thayer valve as a response to maintenance issues of the Thayer valve.

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  The standard rotary valve, like the one seen on this tenor trombone, is the most common valve type seen on slide trombones today.

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  A valve trombone

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  A military 6-valve trombone, by Adolphe Sax. Paris, 1866

See also

In Spanish: Trombón para niños