Here’s an interactive chart of the bass trombone showing all of the slide positions required for play each note in the standard range of that instrument. To play and explore the chart, simply click on the note grid using your mouse or play the notes using keys of your computer keyboard.
It include the option to play notes using either both valves and the F attachment (on a double-valve instrument), plus all the plain slide positions. Because of this it is a helpful reference chart for practicing and sight-reading, showing the pitches in bass clef at concert pitch.
How to Use the Bass Trombone Chart
A series of buttons appears on screen in a grid representing every single note playable from low B1 to high Bb4. Each button show you the note’s name and its corresponding slide position. Buttons for notes played using just the slide is shown without highlighting. Those needing both valves or the F attachment are highlighted so they can be distinguished from slide-only notes.
Clicking on any one of the buttons choose that note. The note sounds out through your speakers and the slide diagram animation illustrates the correct position for playing the note.
The widget works in a conventional way for keyboard players too. The Tab key move focus around the note grid. When a note is highlighted, pressing the Space bar or Enter will sound that note. This means you can practice playing arpeggios or scales by simply running through them without picking up the mouse, which is particularly helpful if you are teaching your fingers to coordinate with slides on instrument. It also makes transcribing exercises onto the instrument easierer.
You can see a graphical display of the trombone slide above the note grid. When a note is selected, the diagram will move in real-time based off where the note is on the instrument. You’ll see tick marks from one to seven and what valves needs to be engaged for that particular note. You’ll also notice if you’re in plain slide mode, using the F trigger, or both triggers. This type of visual feedback will help you learn how much physical extension there need to be for any given pitch.
At the top left-hand side there are two primary controls. The first is a Play all button, which automatically plays every note in the instrument from lowest to highest. This provides a handy way to check your knowledge of the complete layout. It also provides a fast way of listening back to the notes. If pressed again the run-through of notes stop.
The How to play button toggles a help panel that explains the mechanics of slide positions and valve usage. Press this if you want to remind yourself of the effect the F attachment has on the length of tubing.
To the right of the title is the Fullscreen button. When expanded into full screen the note grid have some space. That allows for a better reading of the note positions and names on small screen, as well as when projected on a larger screen.
The volume slider lets you control how loud the playback is. That way you can make sure the playback is at a comfortabley level for what you’re listening to and don’t have to adjust the volume on your system.
As you’re practicing, concentrate on switching from F attachment notes to plain slide notes. That’s when the chart will visually identify those transitions. To get an idea of how continuous the range is, click the Play all button and listen. Or just select any song you know well, and step through it yourself while listening to see if your slides is in the right place.
It’s a dynamic widget that provides both visual and audio clues as you go along. A fast way to check where your slide should be on the bass trombone. This eliminates having to use printed charts that don’t give you sound or visual indication. This widget can helps confirm difficult position markings or to discover what low range extensions is available with the valves. As an added bonus it includes animated diagrams, keyboard interaction, and clickable notes to make this useful for many types of learners.
To begin, try some simple scales to orient yourself to the layout. As you extend the slides listen out for the drop in pitch that occurs as you do so. With the F attachment you can explore what’s possible at the lower end than too. Try using the keyboard to navigate your way around as it will increase both speed and accuracy. It’s a tool that would of helped with both the sound and the physical playing of the bass trombone.