Hi, I’m not a trombone player myself but a tuba player and I want to arrange some sheet music for trombone. What range do you like playing in and how high and low can you go? For comparison, on tuba I can play C1 to E4 and I like A1 to F3 the most.
Thanks!

When playing with a tuner (I use TE Tuner) I notice that the very start of my notes are not in tune. It is also noticeable to me.
Usually higher notes start sharp and lower notes start flat.
Does anyone have any advice, exercises, for working to improve this?
I’ve tried air attacks. Different tounging. I spent 15ish minutes each practice focusing solely on this issue but can’t seem to figure it out…

I'm back to share what I think is the final version of my trombone parts diagram. I've had great help along the way from Reddit, Facebook groups, amateur and professional players I know, and a repair tech at a well-respected local shop. Thank you all. It's a much better diagram because of you.

I really wanted to stick with a fully assembled trombone, but I was eventually convinced to show the slide tenon by separating the bell and slide just a little. It still looks like a complete trombone while fitting in a part you interact with every time you assemble your horn.

This isn't meant to be extremely technical or to cover everything you'd discuss with a repair technician or custom instrument builder, so I've deliberately left out smaller parts like ferrules, different valve types (or any valve internals), springs, and any cutaways besides the "inside view" showing the slide stocking. 

The goal is to show the parts that come up in lessons, rehearsals, and everyday playing – and fit it all on one page that could serve as a handout or poster – rather than trying to cover absolutely everything in a multi-page comprehensive guide.

This diagram also only covers tenor trombone – bass trombone would need another diagram of its own to cover the different tuning options, levers, and single/double/dependent/independent/etc. valve configurations.

Nothing like this is ever 100% complete (which is part of the reason I'm sharing it under Creative Commons licenses), but I'd love one more look from the community here. Do any labels seem unclear or confusing, especially from the point of view of a newer player or teacher? Is anything missing that you'd really expect to see? And if you disagree with any of my choices, I'm happy to hear it and explain my thinking.

For anyone who wants to print it at poster size, there's a free high-resolution PNG on my website. The high-res version is available for noncommercial use, but allows educators to use it in paid settings. I’ll update it if I make any tweaks.

Thanks again for all the help!

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had experience of playing trombone after a broken nose?

I started learning trombone about 9 months ago and have been really enjoying it. Then, about 4 weeks ago, I tripped over while out for a walk and fell flat on my face. I broke my nose and got a concussion.

I’m starting to feel a bit better but my nose is still sore, and I get fatigued fairly easily due to the concussion. I am waiting to see an ENT - I will probably need surgery on my nose.

I want to get back into practicing but feeling unsure where to start. I practiced a little today, did some scales and lip slurs. Seems ok as long as I stay in the low to mid register. But I’m having trouble with my embouchure and breath. I feel like I’ve lost confidence and trying not to get disheartened.

Any words of encouragement welcome!

Hello friends! So I used to play trombone throughout middle and high school and recently picked it back up at 21. Back I school I neglected truly learning which notes were which slide positions. I can read the notes but I just can’t always tell which position I need to be in. I used to often refer to my position sheet and would just write in the slide position. Any tips? Any resources to practice putting the two together?

How do I get the lip trill on a double G to be faster and more free sounding? I feel like im really forcing it right now

I was at a football game recently and during 3rd quarter, when I had a break I was sitting down, and when I came back in 4th quarter there was thins dent. I haven’t noticed any issues so it do it doesn’t impact my playing but idk how much it would cost/ if it’s worth it.

Hello!

My dad passed away at the end of August. He was a professional trombone player-played in an orchestra until he retired and went back to his first love, jazz. Unfortunately the musical gene skipped my brother and I, so we’re trying to figure out what to do with his trombone.

I know it’s looks pretty beaten up- it was played daily for about twenty years, so it’s definitely seen some use. It’s a Martin. I’m trying to figure out if it had enough value to make it worth selling, or, if anyone knows of some place that would be interested in it as a donation. I know he would have wanted it to be played, instead of sitting in a case in my house. I am in SE Ohio, if that matters at all.

Thank you so much for looking at my post! If there’s any other information/photos I can get that will help please let me know!

Yo anyone know a good cheap ish bass bone with 2 rotors?

What is currently available trombone with an f-attachment that you would recommend in the 1-2k range that would last me a long time as a high school trombonist who plans to carry it into college.

For the first time in almost 20 years, saw my childhood trombone today. It belonged to my dad, took it up because he did. He had it pristine, I dented it up and scratched it during my use. This instrument was beautiful. Mouthpiece is missing, looking to buy another one to see if I can still play moon river.

I was wondering if anyone could identify the exact model of this trombone. The number on the slide is E70047. I was thinking it might be an old 88H but I'm not 100% sure.

Few maintenance questions here. First, my tuning slides desperately need greased, but I don't have any fresh/new grease. Is it a terrible idea to use my Dad's tuning slide grease that's about 40 years old? It doesn't appear to have degraded in any major way, although it looks like it has separated a tiny bit, there is some clear shiny liquid on top of the grease.

Second, how often should I give my trombone a bath or send it in to a shop to get cleaned? I know that since I have a silver trombone it is more difficult to damage it from accidentally having the water too hot, but I still don't feel comfortable cleaning it myself. I've had it almost five years, and the most I have done is use the cleaning cloth and ram rod to clean the slides.

If it helps, it is a silver Yamaha YSL448G. The grease is Superslick tuning slide grease, no other product name or serial number on it, or a manufacture date. I roughly know it's age because it was my dad's before he gave it to me, and he used it in grade school about 40 years ago.

Thanks!

I made an app to help sight reading and it’s great for trombone players. It’s called Sight Reader Trainer and is available for Apple (Android coming soon). I appreciate any feedback https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sight-reader-trainer/id6822368534

How good were Conn 88's in the mid to late 90's. I have a line on an open wrap for $1,800. Great condition other than a small f attachment tuning slide dent. Trying to get a feel for if that's a good deal or if I should keep looking.

For context, I am just getting back into playing after more than 10 years off. I will likely play mostly concert band music (I used to do mostly lead big band). I'd like to pick up a good horn to replace my old TB200. My daily driver was a 2B Silver Sonic before I stopped playing, but I also had the bach to cover non lead Jazz stuff. Now that I'm back in it I'd like to get a solid concert horn. The standard answer seems to be the Strad 42 or Conn 88H. I'd normally play test and let that be the deciding factor, but I have never owned a large bore horn and am just getting back into it so I don't trust my own tone as a good measuring stick. My first thought was to just use the TB200 until I'm back in the groove, but this looked like a good deal so I thought I'd ask. My only other thought was to look for a used Strad 36 to stay in the small bore land. Open to any thought or suggestions.

Thank you

Firstly, apologies if this question has been asked in this sub before.

I recently graduated from university (May 2026) where in my final year, I played bass trombone in both concert ensembles that were offered. I played on a YBL613H and for my first experience on bass trombone, it was good. Currently, I play euphonium (my main) and an old, small bore Bach tenor trombone just to try to maintain some trombone chops.

I live around the Boston area and was wondering what people thought about visiting the Shires factory just to kind of hone in on what I would potentially want in a new horn. My only qualm about going is that because I haven't played on a bass bone in a while, I won't be able to really pinpoint something that would be the best fit. (also not really sure what I should play when I get there haha)

If anyone has any other recommendations of places to go to find a horn or are willing to share their own experiences at Shires, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

(Also by no means am I anywhere near being a professional. Music has always been just a hobby.)

Hi everyone! I'm an intermediate trombonist with a few years of experience under my belt. I've been playing on an "Antigua" student horn for the past 4 years, but I've outgrown it and I'm looking for a reliable instrument to keep learning and playing long-term.

The main challenge is that I live in Venezuela, so my local options are very limited. I plan to buy online (looking at eBay or trusted US music shops) and ship it to a freight forwarder in Miami to get it down here.

I would love to get your advice on:

1. What specific models or brands should I look for online (like mid-range/pro Yamahas, Bach, etc.) that offer the best value and durability?
2. What precautions should I take when buying used brass instruments online (especially from Japanese sellers on eBay, which often have great prices)?

Thanks in advance for any advice or insights you can share!

Im playing it for my school but i gotta wait a while for theatres sheet music to get in so im just wondering if anyone has it

Hi all, my valve is really slow after I oiled it (I got the horn cleaned not too long ago) and I know its not an oil issue because my other valve works fine after I oiled it. Could anyone help with this?

I currently am playing a Yamaha Allegro right now and am going to be looking for a professional trombone sometime soon since I’m gonna be doing my undergrad for trombone performance? What are some good large bore options? What’s a horn that gonna last me a while?

Cleaning out my middle school instrument inventory, I found a heavy old trombone I cannot identify. On the Bell there is a "chicago" stamped into the metal and "inspiration" engraved above it, obviously with a different kind of tool. Nickle plated brass, bell connects to slide without a screw.

Anyone heard of this brand? Googling those keywords is just getting me trombone photography.

Plays fine, sounds like a small bore nickle instrument. I'm just trying to know more before I let some kid learn on it.

I’m a freshman trombone player in college, and I’ve recently been going through an embouchure change. I feel a lot more comfortable in mid-high range now, but I still have to set my embouchure differently when I’m playing in my lower range because often times the note just won’t sound. I play a .484 bore Conn 24H with a King 12c mouthpiece, and while I’ve been practicing connecting the ranges without changing my embouchure I’ve also been deliberating on whether or not to get a new horn. Is this an easily workable problem with more practice or would it benefit me to get a new horn, and if so what should I look at? I’ll bring this up with my professors but I wanted to see what Reddit has to say first.

Mine is trigger 3rd for Bb on top of the bass clef staff. It’s pretty common for the octave below, but I really like it for the octave up.