The trombone is a member of the brass family that produces resonant tones and thrilling melodies. The trombone can take years to master, but in the right hands makes beautiful music. This guide will walk you through how to play trombone for beginners.

• Learning to play the trombone is a challenging endeavor. If you learn to do it well, however, you will be much in demand due to the dramatic shortage of good trombonists. This page has some tips to get you started.

(Creative Commons photo by evoo73)

• Learning to play a musical instrument should be fun and rewarding. Starting with the right instrument is key.

1. Go to orchestra concerts, paying special attention to the trombone.
2. If you know someone who plays trombone, ask to borrow it to see if you think you would enjoy playing it.
3. Determine if you have any physical limitations that might prevent you from becoming a great trombonist. For example, your arms must be long enough to push the slide of the trombone out to its furthest position.

• Once you know you want to learn to play trombone, you will need to find the instrument itself. There are some questions to consider before buying.

1. What type of playing will you use this trombone for?
2. Would you like a new or used trombone?
3. What is your budget?

• If budget is a major consideration, you might want to consider not only a used trombone, but also see if there are any places where you can rent a trombone long-term. Local music stores are a good source for this kind of information.

• When you begin shopping for a trombone, there are several factors to keep in mind.

1. Always test the sound produced by the trombone with your own mouthpiece.
2. Decide what size bore (the inner diameter of the instrument tubing) you would like.
   1. Trombones with a large bore will need more and better breath support from you. Because of the larger tube opening, these instruments are able to produce much more rich and colorful tones.
   2. Trombones with a small bore are much easier to blow. The smaller tube diameter allows them to produce tones that are very focused. However, a small bore sometimes leads to thin or constricted sounding tones.
3. Consider the weight of the instrument. Remember that you are going to have to carry it a lot.
4. Try out a variety of brands before you buy.
5. Take your time making a decision. You will always sound best on a trombone that you like and feel comfortable with.

• The best way to learn any instrument is to find someone who can teach you how to play.

1. Look through the "Services Offered" section of your local newspaper.
2. Do a Google search for trombone instructors in your area.
3. Ask for recommendations from your local music stores, or from family or friends who play instruments.
4. If you are a student, join your school orchestra.
5. If you are an adult, see if there is a community orchestra in your area that might take beginners.

• Even before you begin lessons, there are some basics of the trombone you can begin to learn.

1. The trombone has three main parts: the slide, the horn and the cup-shaped mouthpiece.
2. Sound is created at the mouthpiece.
   1. Place your mouthpiece in the center of your closed lips.
   2. With your mouth at the mouthpiece, make a buzzing sound through your lips. This causes your lips to vibrate, which then translates into musical tones as the vibration makes its way into the bore.
   3. Different sounds can be made by changing the tension in your lips, as well as by the strength with which you blow into the mouthpiece.
3. The slide should be operated with your right hand, with the left hand holding the instrument itself.

• Daily practice is necessary to gain the lip flexibility and increase your range in the manner needed to master the many intricacies of the trombone. Be sure to concentrate on your scales and on your breathing.

• The trombone is a necessary component of any successful brass section and an enjoyable instrument to learn. Just make sure you are equipped with the right tools and information to get started.

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