Trombone

A trombone is a type of musical instrument and, along with the trumpet, is a member of the brass family. Sounds are produced in the same way as a trumpet by vibrating the mouthpiece. Unlike the trumpet which uses a series of hand operated valves to change the pitch, the trombone uses a long slide to vary the note played. This gives the instrument the ability to "slide" between notes and makes for an expressive sound that can be likened to the human voice. Despite the apparent simplicity, tromboning can be difficult to master due to the combination of repetative arm work and continuous blowing. An experienced tromboner is a popular addition to many bands though and can contribute to an explosive finale.

The trombone is suited to a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, big band and marching bands. Military bands often contain one or more tromboners.