Bass trombones with one valve are different than their tenor-with-f-attachment counterparts in that the bass trombone has a larger bell and likely a larger bore and/or a dual bore slide. The majority of contemporary bass trombones have 2 valves, but some will just have one (some even have no valves, but those are rare and we are purposely leaving them off of this list). When used, they reroute air through the extra tubing on the bass trombone, making lower notes possible. Number of Valvesīass trombones have triggers that are operated by the left hand. The majority of the bulk and extra weight comes from the additional valves. It requires a mouthpiece with a large shank to play. The bell is wider, and the slide is wider. We’ll cover some recommended bass trombone brands after going over some of the features that come with these horns, making them different than tenor trombones.īass trombones are bigger and bulkier than tenor trombones. If you like the one you play on, you might even be able to find the same kind of bass trombone to purchase. This way, you have a feel for it before you buy one of your own. We still recommend that you start off on your school’s bass, even if you plan to buy one. If you are serious about music and want to play throughout your whole life, you will eventually want to buy your own bass trombone. Even if you want to play in college, many universities have a bass trombone in their inventory that you can borrow or “check out” to use. Because of the expense, unless you are serious about playing after high school, there is no need to buy a bass trombone. For the student, in most cases there will be an instrument for you to use in high school. To the adult, yes, you will need to buy one because it is harder to find one to borrow. Now, just because you have decided to play bass trombone doesn’t necessarily mean that you should buy one right away. For those picking up trombone later in life, it is more up to you as to when to make the switch. This way, you have learned valuable skills that you can apply to bass trombone, there will be parts in the ensemble that you can play, and if you decide to continue music in college (as a major, or just playing in the college band), you’ll have a few years on bass trombone under your belt. If you’re thinking about switching to bass trombone, a recommended time would be around the sophomore or junior year of high school. High schools usually play music with a bass trombone part, and if there is not a part marked for bass trombone, the bottom trombone part can be played on bass trombone. By and large there won’t be a need for a bass trombone in middle school. If you started playing trombone in the school band, you should spend a number of years on tenor trombone before switching to bass trombone. Know that this is one approach, and there are several out there that work for others this is the approach that we recommend. For more details and clarification as to James Markey’s approach, check out this video. This method doesn’t have a step-by-step “do this, and then do this, and then this will work right” set of requirements, so it can be daunting, but it is the most natural way that we learn, and ultimately the best way to resonate the instrument rather than fight it (and since you’re made of flesh and the instrument is made of metal, the instrument will always win in a fight). Of course, there is a difference so ultimately your playing will differ a little bit, but Markey suggests avoiding thinking too much about consciously changing how you play, and just letting the body learn how to play it and adjust over time. He discovered that in regards to the difference in size, the bass trombone is not as different as some would have us to believe. Arnold Jacobs is perhaps the greatest and most respected pedagogue in the history of brass playing he had immense technical knowledge for how everything worked and sought to back up his ideas (and put others to the test) with science. In a recent video uploaded to YouTube, James Markey (bass trombonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra – one of the best in the world) goes over some evidence found by the late Arnold Jacobs. The general pedagogy of brass playing that goes back decades and decades has shaped the idea that bass trombone and tenor trombone are two completely different instruments that require different conscious efforts and setups to play. Making the switch from tenor trombone to bass trombone may seem like a giant step.
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