Trombones come in various types beyond the popular tenor and bass, each expanding its range. With a rich history and a unique slide mechanism, trombones stand out in any musical ensemble.
Definition of Trombone
Trombones are brass instruments distinguished by their unique pitch alteration. Unlike trumpets or euphoniums that use valves to change notes, trombones use a slide to adjust their length.
New models might use valves with the slide, but the trombone’s slide changes pitch and adjusts to match the band’s tone.
The word trombone originates from the Italian tromba (trumpet) and the suffix -one (large). Today’s trombone evolved from earlier brass instruments like the slide trumpet.
Trombones are non-transposing instruments, with their parts typically written in concert pitch using bass or tenor clefs.
Types of Trombones
Trombones typically cover the tenor voice in music, but there are versions for each voice. Lower register trombones, such as the cimbasso, are similar to tubas. Upper register trombones can often be played by trumpeters, yet all belong to the trombone family.
Cimbasso
The cimbasso, similar to a tuba or contrabass trombone, has a unique construction. Modern versions are pitched in F, though they can also be found in E♭, C, and B♭.
Cimbassos use six valves, either piston or rotary, to adjust the wind column’s size and produce different pitches.
Earlier cimbassos were typically wooden with brass bells and narrower bores. Modern versions, however, are usually all brass while maintaining the upright position.
They are often chosen for seamlessly blending with other voices, and you can find them featured in pieces like:
- Giuseppe Verdi’s Oberta
- Giacomo Puccini’s Le Villi
- Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma
The cimbasso has a warm voice that can sometimes sound menacing. Its valves offer more agility than the contrabass trombone’s slide.
Contrabass Trombone
The contrabass trombone is typically pitched in F, a perfect fourth below modern tenor or bass trombones. They’ve evolved significantly from the Octav-Pasaune of the Renaissance.
This bass brass, typically in F, E♭, or D, had a long slide and extension handle for lower positions. Most players found it more trouble than it was worth.
The double-slide contrabass, first proposed in 1816 and produced in 1830, featured shorter slide positions. The slide wound back on itself, with the two slides half the usual length, moving together.
The modern contrabass trombone is modeled after Ernst Dehmel’s 1921 design. It features two independent rotary valves, which replace the handle and cover any missing notes between the first partial and closed position.
Modern contrabasses come in traditional (E♭ and B♭) and American (D and D♭) varieties. Their valves simplify technical passages. The contrabass can effortlessly add a fourth player to any trombone section.
Bass Trombone
Bass trombones are pitched to B♭ and feature 9 feet of tubing. Their lower register is supported by a:
- Wider bore
- Larger bell
- Larger mouthpiece
Modern bass trombones have valves, often two, to lower the pitch. The first valve lowers it to F, and the second is usually at G♭ or G.
These valves can operate both independently and dependently. Independent systems give an extra set of slide positions, while dependent systems need the first valve to be engaged to function.
Bass trombones boast a full chromatic range and are typically present in standard orchestras for Romantic-era pieces and beyond.
These trombone varieties have found their place in:
- Brass bands
- Jazz bands
- Wind ensembles
The third trombonist usually plays them. If an ensemble has a piece with a contrabass trombone, they might ask the bass trombonist to learn it.
Tenor Trombone
Tenor trombones are the most common type, producing a fundamental B♭ note. Versions pitched in C were popular in Britain and France during the mid-1800s.
Of the trombone family, the tenor is usually treated as the most stripped-down version. Plenty of models come without crooks, valves, or keys at all. Players rely on the seven slide positions to lengthen or shorten the air column and set the pitch.
Shifting from one position to the next drops the pitch by one semitone. Adjust the slide to correct any tuning issues or harmonics. Some notes, like B♭3, can also be played in alternate positions, such as first or fifth.
The tenor trombone is a favorite for beginner trombonists due to its smaller size and ease of use.
F Attachment or Trigger Trombone
Many modern tenor trombones or higher-quality versions include an extra 3 feet of tubing, lowering the pitch from B♭ to F. They come in open and traditional wraps, with the tubing extending past the main tuning slide or curving inside it.
The F attachment on the trombone lets you use a trigger to open a valve and access extra tubing.
These versions have a larger bore size, offering opportunities for louder, fuller sounds. The extra tubing creates alternate positions for notes when the trigger is engaged, but the slide positions are reduced to six.
Alto Trombone
Alto trombones are usually pitched to E♭ or F, which is a perfect fourth or fifth higher than the tenor. They were common as the highest voice in the brass choir during the 16th to 18th centuries.
The alto trombone lost popularity in the 19th century. Trumpets gained valves, and the tenor trombone covered the tenor range. Although some first trombonists now use the alto, it remains uncommon.
Alto trombones have shorter slides with different positions compared to tenors. Their smaller bore creates a brilliant tone.
Soprano Trombone
Soprano trombones are usually pitched in B♭, an octave above the tenor. Historically, they haven’t seen much use. The earliest example is from 1677, and some believe the unnamed first trombone part in Bach’s cantatas 2, 21, and 38 was for the soprano.
Cristiann Kofahl, a Kunstpfeifer from Mecklenburg, signed and dated that 1677 horn, and it is now held by the Musical Instrument Museum at Schloss Kremsegg in Kremsmünster, Austria. The instrument runs roughly 1320 mm end to end, with a conical bell flaring to about 74.5 mm across.
These trombones, commonly used in German-speaking countries for chorales, aren’t the best choice for many pieces.
Most composers and directors opt for the cornet or woodwind instruments because the soprano trombone:
- Is difficult to play in tune
- Has a short slide
- Leans toward a pinched sound
When playing the soprano trombone, the part usually goes to a trumpeter who is used to a tighter embouchure.
Sopranino and Piccolo Trombones
The sopranino and piccolo trombones are smaller and even less common than the soprano trombone. Their fundamentals are E♭ and B♭, pitched an octave higher than the alto and soprano trombones.
Both trombones are useful in trombone choirs, like the Moravian trombone choirs in the U.S., but their small bores make them more suitable for trumpeters.
Valve Trombone
Each trombone size, from alto to contrabass, has a valve version, though they’re most common in tenor voices.
The valve trombone typically has three valves and plays an octave lower than a trumpet. These valves simplify playing fast pieces or performing in tight spots like a marching field or orchestra pit.
While these might be easier to play, they often sound stuffier. Most pieces favor the use of slide trombones.
Superbone
Superbones never caught on widely. Each one carries both a slide and a set of valves, with three valves placed ahead of the slide. The player braces the instrument with the left hand on those valves while the right arm works the slide.
Superbones are versatile instruments that can be played using the valves, the slide, or both.