Chapter 4: Your First Notes
IN THIS LESSON:
Learn three more notes on the Trombone! (G, A, and the upper register B-flat).
Work up to our first scale, the B-flat major scale
This lesson will extend our notes slightly into the upper register. While this is still intended for newer Trombone players, true beginners may struggle with these higher notes at first!
G:
Let’s learn the note “G” which will get us one step closer to building our first Major Scale! Remember to utilize the steps covered in the previous lesson for starting a note with clarity. Take a deep, low breath each time you play to get your best possible sound!
TIP #1: Use the audio sample to the right to hear what this note should sound like.
TIP #2: These notes are getting close to the upper register - don’t “squeeze or push” to try and get these notes. Instead, use a cold and fast air stream. Try blowing cold air onto your hand first, then try to match that on your trombone. You can also try the sing-buzz-play method!
Practice this note until you are able to match the example 4 times in a row!
A:
Let’s learn the note “A” which is the last “new” before we learn our first Major Scale! Remember to utilize the steps covered in the previous lesson for starting a note with clarity. Take a deep, low breath each time you play to get your best possible sound!
TIP #1: Use the audio sample to the right to hear what this note should sound like. If it does not sound quite right, adjust your slide position a little bit.
TIP #2: These notes are getting close to the upper register - don’t “squeeze or push” to try and get these notes. Instead, use a cold and fast air stream. Try blowing cold air onto your hand first, then try to match that on your trombone. You can also try the sing-buzz-play method!
Practice this note until you are able to match the example 4 times in a row!
High B-flat:
You already know the low B-flat, so now let’s learn the high B-flat! It is the same note, however they are an octave apart. The high B-flat is just that; "higher” than the low version! Since the slide position is the same, think about using cold, fast air to reach this note.
TIP #1: Use the audio sample to the right to hear what this note should sound like.
TIP #2: These notes are getting close to the upper register - don’t “squeeze or push” to try and get these notes. Instead, use a cold and fast air stream. Try blowing cold air onto your hand first, then try to match that on your trombone. You can also try the sing-buzz-play method!
Practice this note until you are able to match the example 4 times in a row!
Let’s get familiar with these three notes first before we learn our B-flat Major Scale. Use this short exercise to work up your confidence on G, A and high B-flat.
B-flat Major Scale
Now that we have learned enough notes, it is time to learn our first scale! The B-flat Major scale only uses notes that you now know. Try to work on learning the note names with your slide positions. While playing, try to think “this note = this slide position” - example: “E-flat is 3rd position”.
Remember to utilize the play along track and to always take a full, low breath and start your sound with a clear “tooh” syllable. Breath when you need to and aim for your best possible sound at all times!
Once you feel comfortable with your first five notes, continue on to learn a few new notes, as well as notes that you already know the position for, but are an octave higher! At the end of this lesson we will try our first Major Scale!