The trombone, also known as the sub-midrange trombone, commonly known as the pull pipe, is a bB key instrument. The trombone plays an important role in the orchestra.
The trombone has a range of more than twenty degrees, but the common range is only thirteen degrees.
First, the timbre characteristics of each sound area
Bass Zone: Rough sound with slight rustling in pronunciation. The minimum two tones are rarely used.
Midrange zone: bright, quite round when played weakly, loud and majestic when strong.
Treble zone: The pronunciation is slightly tense. Very high notes are not easy to play, and the sound quality is not pure.
2. Playing skills
The trombone is a casing structure, blowing different pitches, one depends on changing the pressure of the lips, can blow out the natural overtone column; The second is to rely on the expansion and contraction of the pronunciation tube (changing the length of the pronunciation tube). As a result, the trombone is not as comfortable as other brass instruments. When the speed is not fast, it can play scales, semitonic scales, beats within octaves, and decomposition patterns of chords.
Since the trombone does not have a diacritical piston device, it often appears incoherent when playing a wired pattern.
1. Tongue playing. There are three ways:
Single-tone method - the speed should not exceed 120 beats per minute of continuous sixteenth notes.
Double spit method - generally used when playing 120-138 consecutive sixteenth notes per minute.
Three-tone method - suitable for playing at a speed of 138-150 beats per minute continuous sixteenth note. This kind of playing method is often used for homophonic repetitive patterns.
2. Use of the muzzle.
There are many kinds of weak sound instruments used by trombones, generally using hard tones and soft tones. When the hard tone mullus is installed, the pronunciation is metallic; When the soft tone mute device is installed, the tone is slightly muffled, softening the sound quality.
In bands, the trombone often uses a hard-pitched mutant. If a soft-pitched attenuator is used, it should be noted on the score.
3. Portamento. The trombone is divided into seven positions. Using the sliding of the telescopic tube, a progressive portamento of the small second, large second, small third, large third, pure fourth, and minus five degrees of stroke is played between 1 and 7 strokes.
Portamento is a major feature of the trombone. In the above range, the larger the interval and the faster the telescopic tube slides, the more pronounced the effect of the portamento.
The trombone consumes a lot of air, and when playing a very strong sound, playing a dichotomy note requires a breath change.
In the midrange region of the trombone, the dynamics vary greatly, and the dynamics of ppp < fff > can be played. The bass area is not easy to play strongly, and the treble area is not easy to play weakly.
Third, the characteristics and uses
The sound of the trombone is loud and brilliant when it is strong, and it is quite round and soft when it is played weakly. When used as a solo or ensemble instrument, it can play horn or lyrical tones, or it can play more complex sections; The timbre of the trombone blends with the timbre of other instruments.
The characteristic portamento of the trombone, if properly used, can add color to the band sound, and can also be used as a special effect, such as imitating the sound of airplanes, sirens, etc. However, it should be noted that portamento should not be abused.
IV. Solo Masterpieces
"Chardas", "Carnival", "The Last Rose of Summer", "Remembrance", "Song of the Wanderer", "March of Unity and Friendship", "Sonata in F major", etc.
Introduction to the next issue: Sub-alto number.