A note about slide positions:

For you trumpet players who haven`t yet figured out all your slide positions, here is an easy method:

You probably are unaware of this, but like the trombone, the trumpet is a 7-position instrument. Each of the seven positions corresponds exactly.

Ignoring that the trombone is a non-transposing instrument (because I`m assuming that you`re going to approach playing the soprano trombone as a transposing Bb instrument like the trumpet), what I`m about to post is the trombone in Bb as a transposing instrument like the trumpet.

First off, here is a table of the positions as played on trumpet:

Position 1 = open
Position 2 = 2nd valve
Position 3 = 1st valve
Position 4 = 1st & 2nd valves
Position 5 = 2nd & 3rd valves
Position 6 = 1st & 3rd valves
Position 7 = 1st, 2nd & 3rd valves

Each of these positions corresponds exactly to the trombone.

Here is how they stack up, note-wise:

Starting from low F# (usually low E, but remember, we`re treating the trombone as a transposing instrument like the trumpet, here:

Trumpet Trombone

Low F#: 1-2-3 = 7th position
G 1 & 3 = 6th position
Ab 2 & 3 = 5th position
A 1 & 2 = 4th position
Bb 1 = 3rd position
B 2 = 2nd position
C 0 = 1st position
C# 1-2-3 = 7th position
D 1 & 3 = 6th position
Eb 2 & 3 = 5th position
E 1 & 2 = 4th position
F 1 = 3rd position
F# 2 = 2rd position
G 0 = 1st position
Ab 2 & 3 = 5th position
A 1 & 2 = 4th position
Bb 1 = 3rd position
B 2 = 2nd position
C 0 = 1st position
C# 1 & 2 = 4th position
D 1 = 3rd position
Eb 2 = 2nd position
E 0 = 1st position
F 1 = 1st position
F# 2 = 2nd position
G 0 = 1st position
Ab 2 & 3 = 5th position
A 1 & 2 = 4th position
Bb 1 = 3rd position
B 2 = 2nd position
High C 0 = 1st position

Notice how these positions reflect exactly the previous table.

This does not include alternate positions, but the rule of using alternate positions on a trombone is very simple:

As often as you can, keep the slide going in one direction.

Sorry- fifth line F should on up should have read:

- -Trumpet/Trombone

F 1 = 3rd position
F# 2 = 2nd position
G 0 = 1st position
Ab 2 & 3 = 5th position
A 1 & 2 = 4th position
Bb 1 = 3rd position
B 2 = 2nd position
High C = 1st position

Never work on something when your brain is still asleep!

Hello,
Does anyone know if I can play a trombone part on a slide trumpet(jupiter 314L)? Will it sound correctly and will the slide positions match?


Thank you

Jean-Eric from Paris

Hi, Jean-Eric.

First off, the Jupiter is a soprano trombone, not a slide trumpet. The slide trumpet is a Baroque instrument with a slide that lowers the pitch only a tone or semitone. Different instrument, different underlying principle.

Secondly, the positions for trombones are universal, excepting instruments with shorter slides that do not have a full 7 positions, and instruments with longer slides that have over the usual 7 positions.

The Jupiter has a full 7 positions and is played like any trombone, whether it be a piccolo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bass or contrabass.

Thanks Greg for the answer.....Jean-Eric Are you a trombone player or a trumpet player?

I`m a valveless-trumpet player, former trombone player and I live in Paris, let me know if you need help with that instrument.

My instrument is now built with a modified slide of the jupiter soprano trombone and a Doc Severinsen trumpet bell. (Hi Greg, yes, Dick Akright in Oakland assembled a new slide for me: it works great.)

this is my page; you can see and hear.

http://www.lucabonvini.net/mystictrumpeter

Hi, Luca! How was your trip?

So what does this new horn of yours look like? Does it have more of a trombone slide this time, or is it more like the valve-slide variety like before?

Hello Greg,

the new horn has the same shape as before: if I change the distance between the sliding tubes with a larger curver of course I would have to change also the bell and make it shorter than the standard trumpet bell, which I don`t want; I think it has a great look and sound this way.
Actually the Jupiter seems to be the horn with the longer slide, so now I also have an abundant seventh position.
But have you tried the Miraphone soprano trombone? It has a double bore, which are quite small but seems to have a warm and deep sound; may be I should try a slide made that way!


greetings,

L.

Bon Jovi, Luca!

(Bon Jovi is actually a Canadian pop band. They just sound like a Southwest European greeting).

I own a Miraphone, which I play with a Schilke model 24 mouthpiece, or sometimes a Bach 1.

Something I find interesting about both my sopranos is that trumpet players who play them always make them sound like trumpets, but most trombone players make them sound like trombones.

We`ve been trying to figure out why this should be so. We`re assuming it has something to do with the set of the embouchure and/or tongue position and how the air is used.

It`s also amusing how easily trombone players are able to switch, while trumpet players make such a struggle of the slide, fighting it to play in tune.

What`s actually happening, with the trumpet players, is that they`re used to lipping and blowing themselves in tune, and this just doesn`t work in conjunction with the slide. They`ve got to learn to play in tune with a centred tone and let the slide and the ear do the rest. Trying to lip and blow in tune at the same time just throws everything off, makes them overcompensate all over the place.

Which is fun and funny to watch, in a Three Stooges kind of way.

Hi, Luca. Thought you might like to see this. Here`s a photo of a slide trumpet like yours, made back in 1958:

http://www.horn-u-copia.net/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1132156959/0

It`s called a Sporty slide trumpet.

As a trumpet player you are used to playing a concert Bb scale and know that is the key of C on the trumpet. On the slide trumpet or soprano trombone the closed or 1st position is the same as open on the trumpet, 2nd posision is equal to 2nd valve, 3rd position is 1st valve, 4th is 1&2, 5th is 2&3, 6th is 1&3, and 7th is 1,2,& 3. Learn the positions by playing C and going down chromatically tuning each position by ear. I myself started out playing trombone and I now play the trumpet also. If you have promblems email me.

Thank you all for the great discussions about soprano trombones, etc... I've ordered a Miraphone Soprano trombone and I'm looking forward to experimenting with it. Btw, wasn't there a time when Miraphone was spelled Mirafone?

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could answer a basic question about the alto trombone ( as I'm considering ordering one ). What kind of mouthpiece does it take? The alto horn mouthpiece or something else? Thanks

Michael

how is the miraphone?

Hi,

I cancelled my order ( for the Soprano ) about 2 weeks ago. I had ordered it a good while back from WWBW and I kept on getting rescheduled arrival dates. Even now, when I check, they don't have them in stock. The same goes for the Alto Trombone as well.. but the arrival date has been set to August 1st for a good while.. we'll see if they do come in.

In the meantime, I'm focusing on trumpet. I did buy a couple of tenor trombones, but will work with them a bit later. One of the tenor trombones is a Olds Opera made around 1964 or so. I like the Dennis Wick mouthpieces so far.

Michael