Trombones
By Benjamin Kilheffer
Introduction
Trombones are a musical instrument in the brass family of instruments, which includes
instruments ranging from the trumpet to the tuba. Of all brass instruments the trombone often
stands out due to its unique appearance and use. Unlike brass instruments like the trumpet or
tuba, which allow the player to change pitch by pressing down a valve, on a trombone this is
done instead by moving a long slide.
The Components
A standard trombone will consist of four different parts, stored separately and assembled to play
the instrument. These parts are: the slide, the bell, the mouthpiece, and the trombone mutes.
The Slide
Trombone parts, including the slide, are generally made of
various types of brass, a mixture of copper and zinc.
Depending on how much of each metal is used, the color
and type of brass will change. Most trombones will be a
golden color, but some may be a silver instead.
A
E
B
A slide is about 2.5ft. long when not extended at all, and
will roughly double in length when fully extended. The
slide itself is fairly light and can be easily lifted and moved
with one hand.
C
Slides are made up of five components that are labeled on
the figure (figure 1) to the right and explained below.
A: Slide Lock
A ring rotated to either lock the slide in place or to
allow free movement.
B: Handle and Metal Tubing
Two parallel metal tubes connected by a handle for
the player so they can hold the instrument.
C: Slide Cover
A brass, U-shaped tube with a handle that is moved
in and out to change pitch.
D
Figure 1: Trombone Slide
Slide of a standard trombone, the gold
colored portion is the slide cover, the silver is
part of the tubes underneath.
D: Spit Valve
A small lever that when pressed allows water such as saliva from the player to drain,
preventing a popping or gurgling sound when the trombone is played.
E: Openings to attach the Mouthpiece and Bell
Two openings at the top of the pictured slide, one where the mouthpiece is inserted (left),
and another where the bell is inserted and held in place by a screw (right).
The Bell
C
D
Like the slide, the bell of a trombone is made of
brass, generally matching whatever type the slide is
made out of.
A trombone bell is about 2 ft. high when stood as
shown in the figure (figure 2) to the right. It is also
about 6in. across and the actual bell opening will
generally be in the area of 8in. in diameter. Due to
the extra tubing a trombone bell is about five times
heavier than a slide, but the bell can still be held and
lifted easily with one hand.
There are six important sections of a trombone bell
that are labeled on the figure 2 to the right and
detailed below.
B
D
E
A: Bell Opening
F
An opening where air and sound leave the
A
trombone after traveling through the tubing
of the bell and slide.
B: Main tubing
The main tubing of a trombone bell that all
air travels through which creates a U-shaped
path on the outer edge of the bell.
Figure 2: Trombone Bell with one F-attachment
C: Tuning Slide
The end on the bell’s tubing, which can be adjusted slightly to tune the trombone by
extending or shortening the tubing of the bell.
D: F-attachment
A small lever some, but not all, trombones will have that when pressed forces the air
through the central tubing, dropping the pitch of the sound.
E: Central Tubing
Tubing that air flows through when an F-attachment is pressed.
F: Opening to Attach the Slide
The opening where the slide is attached by a screw.
The Mouthpiece
Trombone mouthpieces are small pieces of metal
that can fit in the palm of your hand. The type of
metal and exact dimensions of each mouthpiece
varies, and multiple types can be used with a
trombone.
A mouthpiece in general will be about 3in. long
and consist of a bowl shaped opening and narrow
tube.
The bowl-shaped opening at the top of the
mouthpiece pictured to the right rests on the
player’s lips and is where air enters the trombone.
Most mouthpieces will have openings around 1in.
in diameter.
The narrow tube at the bottom of the pictured
mouthpiece simply acts as a passage for air to
enter the slide. The tube is sized so that it fits
tightly in the opening on the slide when attached.
Figure 3: Trombone Mouthpiece
Trombone Mutes
Trombone mutes can be inserted into the bell opening of a trombone to alter the sound coming
out, usually by muffling it in some way. Mutes can be made of many different materials from
metal to rubber or plastic. The shapes of mutes and their sizes also vary with some being very
wide and short and others being tall and narrow.
Four common trombone mutes shown in the picture on the next page are the plunger mute,
straight mute, cup mute, and practice mute.
Plunger mutes are made out of rubber and get their name from their resemblance to a toilet
plunger head. The mute would be held over the bell opening, not inserted into it.
Straight and cup mutes both have similar shapes, with the straight mute resembling a narrow
cone with a flat bottom, and cup mutes having the same shape with an additional bowl-like
shape around the cone. Both mutes are placed into the bell opening.
The final mute shown is called a practice mute. The mute itself is similar in shape to a straight
mute, with the primary difference being that it is heavier and wider than a straight mute. This
mute muffles the sound so that only the player can hear it, and is used to practice in quiet areas
without disturbing others.
The figure to the right (figure 4),
shows these 4 mutes from left to
right.
Figure 4: Trombone Mutes
Summary
The four parts of a trombone are each designed so that together they create a functioning brass
instrument. The bell and slide are both made of various types of brass and can be manipulated to
change the pitch of the notes played. The mouthpiece of a trombone can vary in shape and
material but all mouthpieces have the same general shape. Trombone mutes, while not necessary
for a trombone to be played, are frequently used and can alter the sound of a trombone based on
their varying shape and material and are a common accessory for them.