When you think of a trombone, you generally picture marching bands or the brass section of a large orchestra. However, this instrument is far more versatile and actually includes several different types. Some of these types are rarer than others, and many are special adaptations to improve range or fit specific functions.
Here are 13 different types of trombones to watch out for the next time you attend a performance. See Also: 14 Types of Saxophone.
This rare trombone barely escaped extinction but is once again gaining popularity in orchestras due to its naturally higher tones. The alto trombone is smaller and lighter, resulting in a faster slide speed than the standard tenor trombone. However, these trombones have a larger bell and bore, and weigh a heftier 20 to 22 pounds. A much cheaper single valve model is available for a quarter of the price, but with a greatly reduced range. This instrument was originally popular in opera compositions but is gaining a following among the jazz community.
As with all contrabass instruments, the contrabass trombone is big, deep, and rich-sounding. The bell itself measures a respectable inches and was originally bent similarly to a tuba. The extra tubing will usually come in two different configurations open or closed wrap. The length of the tube will be the same but normally the open wrap trombones have a slightly more open feel when using the valve section due to fewer sharp bends and straighter tubing.
The Valve section normally is in F, so if you play a note engaging the rotor in 1st position slide all the way in , it will sound like you are playing an F in 6th position. Due to the extra manufacturing these trombones can be a bit more expensive then the straight tenor trombones. The Bass Trombone This is bigger then the tenor trombone with the valve attachment. It has the largest bell of the common trombone family ranging from 9.
It also features the largest bore of the common trombones. Bass Trombones can vary in the number of valves attached to it. Some bass trombones still only have the 1 valve like the tenor trombone or now most commonly are found with 2.
The instrument itself is larger to aid projection and how loud you can play especially when playing down low. There are a few reasons why people play a single valve bass trombone with the weight of two valves being the main one. With two Valve attached the bass trombone is a lot heavier and more expensive than the single valve bass. There are two types of 2nd valve: Dependant requires the 1 st valve to be engaged to work. This is useful just for the notes that cannot be played in tune with one trigger like low B.
Independent valve system is the most popular option with professionals due to offering the performer an extra set of slide positions to aid tuning and make easy slide changes. What is an alto Trombone? An Alto Trombone is the smallest common trombone, these first started out in the 16th through to the 18th Century as the highest voice in the trombone section.
Pitched in Eb fourth higher than the standard tenor trombone, this instrument has made a revival recently especially in the education sector. This instrument type is becoming more popular due to it being shorter and lighter than the normal tenor trombone as it allows younger children to take up the Trombone. Summary I hope this article has helped to understand the different types of Trombones and some of their key factors that make each one suitable for different uses.
The lengthened slide is limited to five or six positions, so two rotary valves are used to access the missing notes. The contrabass trombone is occasionally used in the orchestra, requiring a fourth player to join the trombone section. Here it is primarily used harmonically rather than melodically, adding depth to the brass sound.
The pedal notes are often hard to play on the alto trombone, and although the instrument is smaller, the high notes are not significantly easier to play than on the tenor trombone.
The alto trombone is therefore not primarily used to simply play high notes, and is rather used for its brighter, nimbler tone. Some alto trombones have a rotary valve that transposes the instrument down into Bb like the tenor trombone.
Alto trombones are sometimes used in the orchestra, playing the first trombone part in the trombone section. This was a common practice in the classical era , so we often use the alto trombone for composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. The alto trombone can also be used as a solo instrument, have a listen to this album of alto trombone concerti:.
The Soprano Trombone is in the key of Bb, but an octave higher than the tenor trombone. Often the soprano is used as a humorous novelty, or by trumpeters who want to employ glissando sliding between pitches. Very occasionally, the instrument will be used as the top voice in a trombone choir a group of trombones playing together.
The soprano trombone is notoriously difficult to play in tune, as the slide positions are so small. Skip to in this video to see Wycliffe Gordon a jazz trombonist play the soprano trombone to great effect:. These trombones are even smaller than the soprano trombone, pitched at Eb and Bb respectively like the alto and soprano trombones up an octave. The Sopranino Trombone is very rarely used, featuring only occasionally in trombone choirs.
The Piccolo Trombone is essentially a gimmick, and very limited as an instrument. It is very shrill the bell is uncomfortably close to your ears , and the slide is so small that playing in tune is virtually impossible. Due to the ratio of the slide, many notes are simply impossible to play. The history of the trombone will be explored in its own article, but for now it is important to note that some historical variants of the trombone are still used today in performance.
Historical instruments are often called period instruments , and there are trombones dating from both the Romantic and Classical periods. These instruments are often described as Romantic trombones and Classical trombones , and they are subtly different to modern instruments in their construction. These instruments are rarely played and used by ensembles with an interest in historical authenticity.
When dealing with trombone music from this period, we call the instrument used a sackbut.
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