Bass trombone

[adrianallan]

Hi

I am teaching myself trombone to understand how to write for it a bit better

Who can tell me some more about the bass trombone?

Does it have the same range as the tenor, but is better at producing the low notes,eg. Those just near the bottom of the bass clef, the e just below it, f and g? Is that correct?

Is it sometimes scored in octave unison with the tenor?

Is there much solo music written for bass trombone?

Are the positions and technique for playing the same as tenor?

[Kevin]

Welcome to the world of bass trombone playing Adrian!
A modern day bass bone is a beast unto itself really. They generally have a far bigger bore and two, sometimes three valves.
There is not a lot of solo repertoire which is a shame. There are some super solos in a big band setting. Stan Kenton had a fabulous bass bone player.
How you use it depends on the setting really.
On my phone at the moment but I can add to this thread later.

[adrianallan]

May 9, 2014 18:04:01 GMT Kevin said:

Welcome to the world of bass trombone playing Adrian!
A modern day bass bone is a beast unto itself really. They generally have a far bigger bore and two, sometimes three valves.
There is not a lot of solo repertoire which is a shame. There are some super solos in a big band setting. Stan Kenton had a fabulous bass bone player.
How you use it depends on the setting really.
On my phone at the moment but I can add to this thread later.

Yes please, any more info, especially on the questions I raised

Do you have one and play it?

[Kevin]

No

[Kevin]

Orchestrally it can be used in octaves for power.

Positions are nearly the same as the tenor but the use of the valves plays a bigger part in the instrument.



You can also get contra bass trombones as well Adrian!

[adrianallan]

Thanks for those links, kevin . I am listenng right now.

One last question. Is the lower range the same as a tenor, ie. lowest note of e below the bass stave.

Or does it have a few more pedal notes? Are these accessed through trigger keys?

[Kevin]

It goes down below the low E to the pedal Bb and beyond!

[adrianallan]

Thanks, I was not sure if it went down chromatically below the low E, but I presume it does.

This is why i sometimes find range diagrams of brass confusing, as the range is not really the lowest pedal note upwards, but where the instrument becomes fully chromatic.