Hey, i`ve never touched any horn in my entire life. i`ve decided to learn to play trombone. I can play Bass Guitar...any chance of self teaching trombone? I really want to play, i havent even bought a t-bone yet...but i like ska...i know that`s a horrible reason to start playing..but i like ska...

--Jamin

Take band, and get private lessons.
sktdude591

Hey! Great to hear you taking up a brasswind!

I`m a 50 year old comeback trumpet player. I recently stumbled onto a friends trombone that we`re fixing up to sell...I admire anyone who get play a trombone. Lots of tonal recognition. Trumpet is relatively easy. Valves.

Anyway, have fun!

TIm

I`m too old for band...i`m 19 and in college now. Highschool is over...but i guess i have no choice but to get lessons then...:-\

Well, actually that`s not a dire necessity. I started trumpet on my own. And I learned by playing by ear.

I would think that you could learn the basic slide positions on your own.

Of course you want to avoid forming bad habits...so you definitely want some input. I`m not throwing out the value of lessons...just thinking that just maybe you could pick up some of it on your own and have someone tell you what to avoid.

For whatever its worth for encouragement, there is a girl at our church who was interested in my trumpet. So, I ended up giving her my Olds Ambassador which I got on Ebay to save my good horn from getting banged up till I was comfortable playing again. She`s doing pretty well, even on her own.

Take care,

Tim

Well best is to join a school band, if you`re still young or get a private teacher, beginners trombone and a tuner. And keep in mind whatever sounds good is good.

I was kinda` the same way. My best advice is to find a good, inexpensive trombone via E-Bay (if you want the risk) otherwise try to find one for around $150. Once then just practice. While a private instructor is the best way to learn, it is possible to learn on your own. Just practice practice practice. When I had played for only a year and a half entirely on my own I was able to hit the high C. PRACTICE! GOOD LUCK! PICK IT UP PICK IT UP PICK IT UP!

A:thank you everyone for the advice...i think i might see what i can learn on my own, and talk to my friend who`s been playing the trumpet forever to see if he can teach me anything. also greg....your pimp "pick it up pick it up pick it up" niceee

If you have a keyboard or can get to one, buy your trombone and buy a trombone book with the slide positions in it. Take the book and your trombone to the keyboard and practice with both to learn what each note sounds like.

...and if anyone gives you grief about not running to a teacher...just ask `em who the first tbone player went to!

tim

hey, remember that a lot of the early jazz musicians learned to play themselves. According to legend, Charlie Parker learned to play one note until it sounded good, and then he moved on to another.

That being said, something to look into would be playing in the marching band, if you have time. The thing I would recomend most though is to find a community band.

well thats cool ,becos bass and trombone have the same music for a start and a similar range soyou wont have to learn bass clef from the start!!!