Trombone Notes and Positions | Normans Blog

The trombone is the only brass instrument that doesn’t use valves to change the pitch within a harmonic series of notes. To get all of the pitches, you need change the Harmonic series. This is done by tightening and loosening the tension of your lips, this will create a higher or lower sounding buzz. A high buzz will be created by tight lips and a fast stream of air pushed through them causing a high frequency of vibrations this will result in a produce a high note.

The Harmonic series of a trombone

These notes below show the pitches that can be played by not moving the slide but just tightening up and loosing the lips. The Note in black the 7^th harmonic and is very flat when played with the slide all the way in. Therefore I do not recommend playing it using this position. Below is a rough guide for where each position is on the trombone, be aware that each trombone is different and will need to use your ears to correctly put the slide in the correct place to play in tune.

Please find below trombone notes:

Trombone slide positions:

1st position- all the way in

2nd position-between 2.5" & 3" out

3rd position-brace just before the bell

4th position-end of slide just past the bell

5th position-mid way between the bell and stocking

6th position-just before the stockings

7th position-past the stockings just before it falls off

I hope you have learnt something new. If you have any queries then please contact the sales team via email on sales@normans.co.uk or call 01283 535333