How To Play Trombone: Tonguing and Articulation

[@Ejeby]

2:18 first exercise 3:10 second exercise

[@EdwardYemilRosario]

I'm a beginner and I've been doing tonguing wrong. Specially, I have a problem with the first of a series of tongued notes. It seems I can't get started unless I lower my tongue and touch where my front teeth meet. I know this is incorrect, but I can't do a first tongued note otherwise. This video helped with that. Thanks.

[@carölusrex.1648]

I have been playing trombone for 5 years. I’m in 9th grade but I never properly learned to tongue so my articulation was just separation of air with my lungs. When I touch behind my teeth with my tongue, it does nothing. I can’t figure it out.

[@ShawnBellMusic]

Try a few things while blowing through a straw. Start with no straw and say the word "too" with a more emphasized than normal "T" syllable. Almost feel like you are holding the "T" for a moment while your air trys to escape. Your tongue should be containing the air in your oral cavity, and you should feel a very slight pressure build up behind your tongue. Your tongue may need to be more on the roof of your mouth than right behind your teeth. Everyone's mouth is different so you may need to experiment. The only thing you should be wary of is your tongue getting in between your teeth. That tends to give a spitty, unfocused attack. Once you have this feeling, put the straw in between your lips and blow air through the straw. While you are blowing your air, let your tongue touch the roof of your mouth like you did when you were thinking "too". The tongue will close the airway for a moment, then let it move out of the way so the air can flow through the straw. When your tongue is out of the way it may feel like the "oo" portion of the word "too". Try all of this a few times while you are blowing the entire time. This will help you get in touch with how your tongue should work like a valve that controls your air. You should feel like you are always blowing for this exercise even when your tongue has close your airway. I hope that gets you going in the right direction!

[@carölusrex.1648]

@@ShawnBellMusic Thank you! I will try it.

[@ImRavenNow]

I'm a freshman and I've played trumpet for what is my 4th year now and I've been thinking on picking up trombone it seems like a fun thing to learn I just don't really know what to get if I even can get one, any recommendations for what would be a good and affordable option?

[@ShawnBellMusic]

Look for used horns from the major brands (king, conn, yamaha, bach) on a local selling platofrm like craigslist or something similar. You can often find student level used horns from these makers that are around $300. They might have a few cosmetic condition issues, but as long as there are no large dents in the bell section and the slide still moves freely and smoothly, they will still play great. This is better option than buying a new "cheap" horn. Inexpensive instruments tend to be difficult to play in tune on, and it can be challenging to find the different partials.