Meet the Trombone | Omaha Symphony Virtual Instruments

Learn about the trombone from Justin Brown, trombone player for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. The trombone is like other brass, made up of curved tubing with a mouthpiece where air goes in and a flared bell where sound comes out. You loosen or tighten your lips as you blow, but instead of pressing keys to open and close valves, you slide a curved tube forward or backward to change notes. The name trombone comes from the Italian word “tromba,” which means trumpet. The first trombone dates from around the 15th century. The modern day trombone has not changed very much from its older counterparts.

There are two very different ends of the spectrum when considering the types of trombones in common use today—jazz trombones on one end and symphony trombones (for playing in an orchestra) on the other. Some of the parts on these two kinds of instruments vary. Especially noticeable is the size of the bell. Jazz trombones feature a smaller bell, thinner walls, and a narrower slide gap, enhancing mobility for quick note transitions. Conversely, symphony trombones are larger, producing a more powerful sound necessary for reaching distant audience members in a large orchestra, making them among the loudest instruments in such settings. The first composer to create a symphony trombone part was Beethoven, who included it in his famous “Fifth Symphony.”