Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Trombone
Trombone
The word "trombone" derives from Italian Tromba (trumpet) and -one (a suffix
meaning "large"), so the name means "large trumpet". The trombone has a
predominantly cylindrical bore like its valved counterpart, the baritone, in
contrast to its conical valved counterparts: the cornet, the euphonium, and the
French horn. The most frequently encountered trombones are the tenor trombone and
bass trombone. The most common variant, the tenor, is a non-transposing instrument
pitched in B♭, an octave below the B♭ trumpet and an octave above the pedal B♭
tuba. The once common E♭ alto trombone became less widely used as improvements in
technique extended the upper range of the tenor, but it is now resurging due to its
lighter sonority which is appreciated in many classical and early romantic works.
Trombone music is usually written in concert pitch in either bass or tenor clef,
although exceptions do occur, notably in British brass-band music where the tenor
trombone is presented as a B♭ transposing instrument, written in treble clef.