TROMBONE
Embouchure
The first step to playing in tune on the trombone is to play with a great embouchure. The trombone embouchure is quite simple and should have a natural look.
1) Look at yourself in the mirror with an expressionless face. The corners of your mouth are as firm as they should be and are in the correct location for the embouchure. The degree of firmness should be not unlike that of a warm, friendly handshake. Your lips should be lightly touching each other. 2) Place the mouthpiece in the center of your mouth. It should be placed so that half of the mouthpiece is on the lower lip and the other half of the mouthpiece is on the upper lip. 3) Blow air through the mouthpiece while voicing the syllable "TOE" in your mouth. Imagine that your lips are gripping the air. |
Tuning Procedure
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Temperature affects intonation dramatically so it is important warm up your trombone before tuning it. When the instrument is about room temperature (72 degrees Fahrenheit), it is time to tune the trombone. 1) Before tuning, make sure that your tuning slide is pulled out a half inch to start. 2) Play Tuning Exercise #1 at a mezzo forte dynamic. Playing any louder or quieter may distort the pitch. Sustain the final F, and check a tuner. It should be about 4 cents sharp. If it is 5 cents or more sharp, pull out the tuning slide slightly. If it is 3 cents sharp or lower, push in the main tuning slide slightly. An easy way to remember which way to adjust the barrel is through the acronym SOFI (see graphic below). 3) Play Tuning Exercise #2. Sustain the final B-flat, and check a tuner. It should be in tune. Adjust the tuning slide if necessary. 4) Play Tuning Exercises #3 and #4 to double check that the final pitches are in tune. 5) If the trombone has a trigger, play Tuning Exercise #5 using the trigger. Match the pitch of the open, 1st position F. Then tune low C as in Tuning Exercise #6. |
Stable Tuning Note
Factors Affecting Pitch
To see the specific pitch tendencies and solutions for the trombone, click here: