A piston trombone is a trombone that creates notes with piston valves rather than a slide. Despite the fact that the piston trombone is technically only one of several types of valve trombones, the terms are frequently interchanged, with most references to a valve trombone referring to a piston trombone. This trombone is less common than the slide trombone, especially in English-speaking countries, but it is still used around the world.
A slide trombone player lengthens and shortens a long metal slide moving it back and forth. The player adjusts the size of the air column inside the instrument doing so, lowering and raising the pitch of the sound emanating from it. The player can produce a wide range of notes combining this with the position of the mouth.
The piston trombone, like the slide trombone, produces varying pitches changing the size of the instrument’s tube. The piston trombone, unlike the slide trombone, does not change the size of the tube physically extending or contracting it; instead, it uses Perinet valves to cut off the flow of air in certain parts of the trombone. To activate the valve, the player depresses a key, which pushes a piston down into it. The valve arrangement is similar to that of a trumpet. Piston trombones are similar to traditional trombones but lack the movable slide and have a small bank of keys similar to a trumpet.
When compared to the slide trombone, the piston trombone has some advantages and disadvantages. Because depressing and releasing a valve takes much less time than moving the slide, some trombonists believe that piston valves make it easier to play fast passages. Valve trombones are used in orchestral scores that call for quick successions of short notes from the trombone. Valves are also simple to play while marching or mounted, which is a big plus for trombonists in military and civic bands. This style of band was popular during the 19th century, when the piston trombone was first introduced.
In most orchestras, the slide trombone is still preferred over the valve or piston trombone. This enduring popularity can be attributed to a number of factors. The smooth transitions of a slide trombone are much more difficult to achieve on a valve trombone, so many pieces written for trombone lose this effect when played on a valve trombone. Many trombonists prefer the tone of the slide trombone over that of the piston trombone, which is said to be more open.