The adventures into Bass Trombone..

[Richardrichard9]

I walked into my band directors room today, and he asked me to learn Bass trombone Over the summer for Jazz band (instead of the Valve trombone). I agreed. There was no mouthpiece in the case, and I am just a bit confused if I use a tuba mouthpiece or if I have to buy a special bass trombone mouthpiece, my trombone piece won't fit.

I also have some trombone books, but I don't know how to hold the bass bone and use the second trigger, if anyone has any online references that will help, I will be grateful!!

[MartyNeilan]

I walked into my band directors room today, and he asked me to learn Bass trombone Over the summer for Jazz band (instead of the Valve trombone). I agreed. There was no mouthpiece in the case, and I am just a bit confused if I use a tuba mouthpiece or if I have to buy a special bass trombone mouthpiece, my trombone piece won't fit.

I also have some trombone books, but I don't know how to hold the bass bone and use the second trigger, if anyone has any online references that will help, I will be grateful!!

No offense, but no online help will substitute for a real trombone teacher. I never got straightened out on bass trombone until spending a couple of years on it incollege with the local symphony pro.

[The Jackson]

You know the last three fingers on your left hand that are just laying there when you have one trigger? Use maybe your middle and ring finger to operate the second trigger. That's how I did it.

Definitely get a bass trombone mouthpiece. Some companies label bass bone pieces as "Bass trombone", but other label them "Large shank". They are both "large shank", which will fit into the horn's reciever.

My bass bone mouthpiece is a Kelly 1-1/2G. It was cheap, and a "kinda more than medium" size, especially for bass bone. It doesn't feel to great on me, though (feels too small). I'm doing pretty fine on my friend's Bach 1G, though. That's a pretty big one, though.

If possible, try whatever mouthpiece you are looking into. A "big" tuba mouthpiece (like my Marc. H2) isn't a really big deal from something a big smaller, but I've found that a "big" trombone mouthpiece really does make a difference from a smaller one. I felt it big when I switched from the 1-1/2G to the 1G.

Ultimately, play the horn everyday. It's not something you are going to be instantly amazing at because your play tuba. Just keep at it. Good luck!

[tuba_hacker]

You don't say if you've ever played trombone before. Are you familiar with playing with a slide?

If at all possible, try to play the horn as if it was a single trigger bass trombone, otherwise you're going to confuse yourself with a second trigger and the myriad of trigger/slide positions (especially if it's an independent). There's also the ergonomic issue of two triggers, and the setup may or may not be optimal for your hand. For both double-valve trombones I've owned, I've needed to use a supplemental brace.

As for mouthpieces, tuba player or not, you won't go wrong starting off with a 1 1/2G size. That is the optimal starting mouthpiece for most bass trombonists, and if it's not, it should be.

And finally, Marty's right...if you can, get some professional instruction by a trombone player.

[Richardrichard9]

Professional instruction right now isn't possible. I will be taking lessons now and then with my band director however.

The only Problem I have found is Holding the darned thing. It is very top heavy and gets uncomfortable after a while...

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Just a crazy idea from left field, but...

Have you considered telling your band director you don't want to play bass trombone? As I recall, you want to be a music major and just bought a new C tuba. Maybe it would be better for your career if you concentrated on becoming a better tuba player.

Just my thoughts...do what you feel is best. I can tell you I wish I had concentrated intensely on tuba earlier in my career.

And you're probably not doing anything wrong...a double-trigger is heavy and uncomfortable to hold up for extended periods of time. If you are doing something wrong with your hand position, your instructor should be able to see it. Otherwise, it's kind of like weight training...it hurts for a while until you build up certain muscle groups. Any chance you could get a single trigger bass trombone (assuming, for the moment, that you disregard my advice and continue learning bass trombone)?

[WoodSheddin]

I learned to play Bass Trombone in high school. I believe it was during band camp so I could play in the jazz band. I then also played it in the Kansas City Youth Symphony because the tuba chair was already filled when I approached them mid season to join. The bass trombone chair was empty though. Next year's audition I am pretty darn sure I should have won but the director chose 2 tubas. Me and last years. He also mentioned at that time that we would share the tuba book, but the bass trombone spot was again unfilled. I took the hint and played bass trombone again that year.

In my high school I played lead tenor in the jazz band my senior year. I was horrible at it, but we had a small school. I remember getting some judges comments back from a jazz contest our band went to. The judges commented that I didn't follow changes at all and seemed to be lost most of the time on the improved stuff. No kidding?

I could play louder than anyone else on the tenor and was the best trombone player in that band, which says very very very little of how good our high school band was at that particular school. I attended another high school which did have some good trombone players. One or two even made All-State Band with me. Of course I was not playing trombone there.

Also distinctly remember asking to play trombone during marching season because I detested the Sousaphone so much. That worked out pretty well, eh?

[tbn.al]

The only Problem I have found is Holding the darned thing. It is very top heavy and gets uncomfortable after a while...

"Welcome To My World" The longer I play, the more ibuprophen I take. Seriously though, PM me the make and model of the horn and I'll try to give you some options that may help the pain in your left wrist.

[George]

I also have some trombone books, but I don't know how to hold the bass bone and use the second trigger, if anyone has any online references that will help, I will be grateful!!

Your thumb should be on the first trigger, your index finger should be on the mouthpiece receiver, and you middle finger should be on the second trigger.

Here's a picture of what your index finger should be doing, it's awkward at first, but you get used to it.

[MaryAnn]

Although that's the standard way of holding the instrument, it is not necessary for the index finger to be up there where it is; it can be down in the fist.

MA

[Richardrichard9]

I do hold my index down in the fist position. I cannot stand it being near the mouthpiece right now..

As far as telling my band director I don't want to do it: I do want to do it. I don't think it takes anything away from my tuba playing. I have all summer to learn it and don't practice it all the time. The tuba i play about an hour a day. I have already learned my college audition rep. and am now just going through etudes and such. I am just learning the bass trombone basics for September-not planing on getting too in depth.

[tbn.al]

Hey guys, you are asking questions that probably cannot be answered on a forum. PM me and I'll try to help, but it's going to involve getting someone to take pictures you can send. A much better way to fix it is to get some up close and personal help, they are called private lessons.

[Richardrichard9]

Oh, That's interesting.. never seen anything like that... I think I might get one..

I have actually become accustomed to putting my index finger near the mouthpiece. Like George said.. it was awkward at first, but now I have gotten quite used to it!- Thanks!!

[Nick Pierce]

This is my giant hand with my double valve 1062. What horn are you playing on Rich?

A contra mp CAN work too, especially if your only interest on bass trombone is to honk around every now and then. I had a 2A for a while, but I bet a JK 3C would be awesome for you. Nice comfortable rim, and not too deep.
http://hornguys.com/tbnmps.htm#Josef%20 ... outhpieces" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

If I remember correctly from the phone call, they have a (more than one?) 2B and 3C, but no 2C. I'm not sure why it's listed that way.

Pringles, yummy!

[Richardrichard9]

I am playing a Holton TR181 Double valved bass trombone.

[The Jackson]

After seeing me play the 'bone at summer camp, my director said he would let me in jazz band on bass bone (score). He also told me that I would be using a brand new school horn, but didn't mention the brand.

Over the summer, I borrowed another player's Bach 1G, and I like that one a whole lot. I'll need to be buying my own bass bone mouthpiece soon (if the piece that comes with the horn isn't that good), so that's what I'll be looking at (I probably won't have the coin to buy something new, though).