Chapter 5:  The Slide

  • At last, hero, the time has come for you to use that which makes the trombone the greatest of instruments:  The Slide!
  • If your slide does not move smoothly, please look here for a solution.
  • For your quest, you will need to learn six positions.  Legends also speak of a mystical seventh position.  Perhaps someday you will discover it!  
  • Look at each picture below and try to find that position!  It helps to look at the position of the brace you are holding with your fingers!  (Thumb and two fingers only!)

1st Position: The slide is all the way in.
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1st Position: The Slide is all the way in.

2nd Position:  The slide is slightly out.  One third of the way to 3rd position.
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2nd Position: Slide is slightly out, one third of the way out to 3rd position.

3rd Position:  The brace is just slightly above the rim of the bell.
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3rd Position: The brace is just slightly above the rim of the bell.

4th Position: The brace is slightly below the rim of the bell.
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4th Position: The brace is below the rim of the bell.

5th Position:  Half way between 4th and 6th position.
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5th Position: Half way between 4th and 6th position.

6th Position: Your arm is comfortably extended all the way. 

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6th Position: Your arm is comfortably extended all the way.
  • Go over the slide positions until you feel you know them fairly well.
  • Listen to the audio below.  Listen and play along.    Do it two or three times for practice.
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These are the slide positions for the exercise used in the audio clip below! Keep your air moving as you move from position to position!
  • Next we are going to focus on timing how you move the slide with your air and tongue. 
  • Listen and play along to the audio clip below.
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Is your trombone making a "gurgling" sound when you play?  You probably need to empty your water.  Find out how by clicking the sign on the left!

To earn your fourth Gem of Mastery:

The following audio clip asks you to play a series of five notes.  These five notes are shown below with the name of the note on top and their slide position underneath.  Move your slide quickly from position to position.  Use your tongue to give each note a crisp beginning by saying "too".  If you can play this series of notes so that they sound similar to the audio, you will have mastered this skill!

When you have mastered the skill, click below: