TROMBONE NOTE CHART WITH POSITIONS SERIES

You will find that some are quite useless and mostly of academic interest, but many of them are really useful. Go grab your trombone and try playing all the notes in the charts in all possible positions. As a rule of thumb, I recommend playing Bb on fifth position in keys that has both Cb and Bb (or B and A#) in them.ĭownload the complete alternate positions charts Which solution will result in the smoothest slide operation? Some keys call for specific alternate positions. You want to make your slide movements as smooth and short as possible, and alternate positions can really help you achieve this. And once you get higher than this on the trombone, you can play any not on almost any slide position! If you can play the note in the first place… Why use alternate positions?Īlthough trombone players mostly play a note in its default slide position, alternate positions are quite useful. Anything beyond this note is not very usable. In the chart, I have included notes up to the very-high F. While a newbie might struggle to play the middle-Bb, you might be able to play 2 octaves higher than that. The range on the trombone depends on your strength and embouchure.

TROMBONE NOTE CHART WITH POSITIONS SERIES

This is due to the fact that the intervals between the notes higher up in the harmonic series on the trombone get smaller and smaller. But as the range gets higher, alternate positions get more and more frequent. Higher range = more alternate positionsĪs you can see in the charts, notes in the low range have no or few alternate positions. For example, if the symbol 🔵* is located in the column for 3rd position, this means that you will have to place the slide somewhere in between the 3rd and 2nd position in order to play the note in tune. This means that you will have to place the slide further in than the standard position. Some of the symbols have an asterisk added to them. The symbol 🟤 means you have to use a trigger or F attachment to play the note in that position. The default position is marked with 🔵 and the alternate position is marked with 🟠. In the chart, I have noted both the default slide position for each note and the alternate position(s). But I bet this chart will reveal some alternate positions you hadn’t yet discovered! Trombone alternate positions – the complete slide chartĭid you know that many notes on the trombone can be played on more than one slide position? If you play the trombone, you probably do.

Trombone note chart with positions