Hi:
I played Trombone at a pretty high level growing up but gave it up in college. I am in my thirties now and am going to take it up again and am joining a local symphony. I was surprised I could just pick it back up - after two weeks my tone is pretty good but my range isn`t yet what it was.

I received the music (all Dvorak) for our symphony`s first concert to be in November. I received the "third" trombone parts. However, they are labelled "Bass Trombone." If my memory serves me the bass trombone is a different instrument and doesn`t it have a different and slightly bigger mouthpiece? Right?

Many of the notes in my parts are below the staff. There are e-flats and Ds which if i didn`t have a trigger trombone I could not play at all because they are beyond 7th position at the lowest embouchure. Even with the trigger I can barely get beyond maybe E with any full tone.

So, am I being a baby, or do I have the wrong parts for my instrument? I have a Bach 42B I have saved from high school. Even with the trigger, I never considered it a "bass" trombone. Could someone please clarify what`s up??? I am a little embarrassed to talk to the conductor about this unless I know I am certain. I told them I can play so I hate to go whining that the music is too low for me or whatever.

Thanks a ton!
Gary

Hey Gary
Yes, you are correct in that the "bass trombone" part or 3rd trombone part should be played by a larger bore instrument. I play bass trombone in an intermediate level band at college and I can tell you that having a good full tone on low notes is difficult regardless, and I imagine having a smaller bore trombone isn`t helping. With some work I`m sure you could play the notes in your part though, my friend in high school played the bass part in jazz band on a small bore trombone and sounded ok. My advice would be to play down to a low D in the music and if you have notes below that just take them up an octave if they aren`t coming out well. It`s nothing to be ashamed of, most instruments only have to worry about one set range of notes for their music but 3rd and 4th bone parts have to go just as high as the other trombones at times but have to also play twice as low. It will take practice but you can do it on your horn if you try. There are a couple other forum strings on this site that have some good practice advice for low notes, check it out.

Travis

Wow, I just looked at the date on your post and I guess my reply at this point was probably kinda pointless, haha sorry

Travis