Trombones are awesome! I`m trying to improve my range right now as well...the only trouble is I need to find position charts to go any higher. The stupid book I have only goes up to the B flat above the one resting on the top line. I can play high C too...and I`m sure I could figure out higer ones eventually just by messing around...I just want to be sure. So if anyone knows of a site that could help me, that would be cool

A little tip. Practise with a silent mute, that helps you get the real nice crispy clear tone in your horn. Practise the deep tones.. eksample, play the deep Bb on first position, and bend it a quarter octave down, without using the slide. and then from 2. position.. It will really open up your range both ways.. practise high notes with a lot of sound,,, increase the volum to the break of the horn, and play as rough and nasty as you can,, then you will get a much stronger lip, and you will have the breathing power for it.
Download Carla bley with : The lord is listening to ya, hallelulja.. search for the cd.. the trombone players name is Gary valente,, a tru livin legend

well, i personally wouldn`t go to a trumpet necessary, although I have heard good things...-_-

I am going to be a junior in HS...I hit B flat...(two octaves higher then tuning note B flat). I mean, it seems very unreal, a junior being able to go that high...but then again,I only got it once..-_-

There are a lot of methods of developing range. What I found very helpful were several things: Long tones in Petal Tone notes(ask a trombone teacher about the petal tones), lip slurs (keeping it in low B flat to F above the staff), and just playing music.

1: Petal Tones...this will really help you to relax in the upper and lower registers. If you read all the posts in this thread, you will see one thing in common "RELAX!!!!" That is one of the key components of developing range. THe Petal Tone can develop several things, if done correctly: Tone Quality, endurance of your chops, more clarity on lower notes, and having a relaxed feeling for the upper registers. God, I wish I could post MIDI files or something...the lack of a trombone example is killing me right now....-_-

2: I think I have mentioned slurs?? Slurs also develop your endurance of your chops, which is important. Also, when you first begin with slurring (lets say, low B flat to tuning note B flat), it is commonly said that "Use the air-stream and the appachure to get higher and lower, not your tongue" Notice, air-stream and appachure. Of course, I`m just repeating rudimentary knowledge, but for range development, rudimentary knowledge is the best tool anyone has. also, as a bonus, slurs can also develop the lip trill...pretty niffy thing if you know it...xDD (You flutes and clarinets arent the only ones that can trill!!! mwha!! xD)

and finally, just years upon years of playing always helps....

Ah, high register on the trombone. I remember struggling with this so much back in my freshman year. The way I finally got it was conceptually. You have
imagine your lips making a small hole, but then you shooting massives amout of air through it. What makes it hard is the fact that its hard to hold. The air seems to break the hole, and thats why, sometimes you can hold a note, but then you fall off of it. Muscle is the key.

Now in my senior year of highschool, I can easily hit a high B flat. And, on occasion hit the f above that.
That is the same f on the fifth line of treble cleff.

I`m an eighth grader and it`s my third year and I can hit a a an octave above the staff but its quality is shaky. Our dirictor(t-bone player) told us to practice low to help build air support for your higher notes.

I`m an 8th grader and this is my second year. I`m trying REALLY hard to get C scale 2 octave but i can only get the B. I can play some petal notes and even the B has a really good tone but I just can`t seem to get the C. I played for something like four hours yesterday working on it and it just won`t come.. Any suggestions?

umm more air, and more practice, and a sidenote, just because the B sounds good to you doesnt mean it sounds good, remember you`re behind the bell so you dont really hear it as it really sounds.

the trick to playing the high notes is to be able to open your airway by moving your tounge out of the way. If you don`t believe me, try whistling and just slur up as high as you can, see what your tounge naturally does. You can also test this while singing. if you move your tounge like this while playing the high notes, it makes it easier. The proffesionals who can hit extremely high do not neccesarily have large amounts of muscle, they can just control their air flow and it allows them to hit higher.

air + relaxation = easy to play the horn.


everybody squeezes for the upper register. its the cats who squeeze the least who have the chops..

dont believe me, watch GOOD lead trumpets. I see charlie davis(trumpet) play all the time and its always awesome to watch him play high because it looks sooo easy.

i`ve been playing trombone for 2 1/2 years now and i`m in the Mountlake Terrace Jazz Ensemble 1 (if you don`t know us check out the jazz at licoln center`s results for last years Essentially Ellington competition). I am now able to play up to an F (6 ledger lines above the staff) normally, but have pooped out a G once or twice. I did a lot of glisses (upward slurs) starting in fifth position going up to first in each partial until i couldn`t go any higher. that really is why i can play this high.

i have been playing the trombon for three years and my teacher is always bragging on how good i play it`s cool an all but it`s starting to get old oh i am in 8th grade i`ve played w/ highschool bands at times i like low notes and i like high notes my lowest note is low low b and my highest note is high high c high notes are easier especially since i bought a trigger horn

to play high i call it a control blast basicly a bunch of air forcfully blown through your mouth ang for low notes it takes tons more air once you get to the note you want it gets easier from there

5th year playing trombone for me and I practice quite a bit. I can hit 6 line below the staff and 10 above on a good day, practicing range is my most frequent activity. I use a regular tenor trombone for Jazz band, and an F attachment trombone for concert-type band songs. Im trying to figure out how to use vibrato, anyone have any tips that might help out please?

Hi, you just need to, as someone said, play all the notes, from lower to higher pitch in every position (as high as you can) but remember also to give importance to the lower registry since being able to play in the higher registry won`t excersise your lip correctly. The thing about putting your lip lower in the mouthpice, and I ask everyone`s indulgence, is pure crap. That`s not the way of creating a healthy lip, you should be able to change from one registry to another without moving your mouth out, in, or to any side of the mouthpice, good luck,

TRBD

Wow Sam, you can play the double pedal Bb (only possible on a double trigger bass) (apperently without using a bass) all the way up to the double G, two octaves and 6th above tuning Bb? That`s incredible. You`ll have to excuse me if I don`t believe you.

Especially since you apperently can play notes not many, if any, human can play on trombone, but you don`t know how to use vibrato...