Trombones

The trombone is a brass instrument in which pitch is changed by moving a telescoping slide rather than by valves. The player buzzes into a mouthpiece and uses the slide to lengthen or shorten the air column, producing a continuous series of notes within the instrument’s range. A typical tenor trombone covers roughly E2 to F5, depending on the instrument and the player.

The instrument developed from the Renaissance sackbut and gained its modern form through the Baroque and Classical periods. The name trombone comes from Italian for “large trumpet.” In the 19th century, valve attachments were added to some models to allow chromatic playing without slide positions. The modern orchestral trombone is usually a tenor instrument with a U-shaped slide and a flared bell.

The trombone family includes the alto trombone (often in E-flat), the tenor trombone (in B-flat), and the bass trombone, which is larger and may include valves to extend the low range. Some ensembles also use contrabass trombones for extra low sonority. Construction is primarily brass, with finishes such as lacquer or silver; the slide is a precision mechanism.

Trombones are used in orchestras, concert bands, brass ensembles, and many forms of jazz. They provide tenor and bass lines, strong harmonies, and distinctive glissandi and expressive effects. Repertoire spans classical works by Beethoven, Berlioz, and Wagner, as well as modern jazz and film music.