The study of various trombone methods aims to make the most of the instrument’s versatile features and to provide the musician and his listeners with the most enjoyment possible. The trombone’s music is written to highlight the instrument’s best qualities and produce high-quality music. As a result, good trombone methods make full use of the instrument’s ability to produce pleasing effects. These techniques include legato playing, glissando effects, trills, and tremolos, among others. Trombone players can also change the character of the sound by using different sizes and shapes of mute when necessary.
Changes in pitch are created by a slide that changes the length of the tube producing the note, which is one of the trombone’s most noticeable features. As a result, basic legato playing on the trombone is more difficult than on a valved instrument like the trumpet. Legato playing, on the other hand, is a part of trombone technique that only a dedicated trombonist can master. The slide can also be used to create a glissando effect by continuously introducing air into the tube while moving the slide, which can be used for an atmospheric or humorous effect. The player can also make a so-called cuivre or brassy sound, which is louder than the instrument’s normal sound.
Some trombone methods are very straightforward, such as the command to point the trombone’s bell in a specific direction. Others are more difficult to create for a player. The vibrato sound, which is caused by pitch undulations, can be created by either skillful slide manipulation or movement of the player’s lips. Trills, which are rapid movements between two alternate, usually high-pitched notes, are also caused by lip movement. Tremolo is an effect that occurs when a tone alternates between notes that are more than one tone apart in pitch.
The use of various types of mute is also a part of trombone techniques. A straight mute made of metal or wood, or a mute shaped like a cup, may be used by the trombonist. Mutes can be held in place with the hand or fitted over the instrument’s bell. Bucket mutes are attached to the bell and produce a muffled, softer tone than the sound produced without one. The player can also use a hand-held mute to cover a larger or smaller area of the bell, creating a sound that has been described as “wah-wah.”