The essentials
- Age
- Never too late, at 30, 50 or 70.
- Instrument
- A tenor trombone in Bb, no F attachment needed.
- Practice
- 15 to 20 minutes at first, five days a week.
- First song
- One or two notes with a band, after ten minutes.
What adults bring to the trombone
- Reach is on your side. Children often have to stretch for the far slide positions; with an adult arm, 6th and 7th position are usually within reach.
- Melodies you know. Familiar tunes are a starting point for hearing small pitch differences, and on the trombone that listening guides your slide.
- You have a goal. Swing, a brass band or the songs you grew up with: a clear goal keeps you going when a note will not come out yet.
What you need to start
- A tenor trombone. If yours has spent years in its case, check that the slide still moves freely.
- A mouthpiece. Most trombones come with one, and it is usually fine for the first months.
- Slide care. Slide cream with a small water spray bottle, or slide oil, keeps the slide gliding.
- A phone or tablet: iPhone or iPad with iOS 15 or later, or an Android phone with Android 8 or later and at least 4 GB of memory.
How it starts
- Your first song
You join a real song with a band and play one or two notes along. Ten minutes, and your first song is done.
- A steady tone in 1st position
In 1st position, air and embouchure work together to move between Bb2 and F3. This is where your sound takes shape.
- New positions, new songs
Each new slide position brings new notes and new songs. Full tempo can wait until the notes sit.
Easy songs to start with
51 easy trombone songs wait for you in tonestro, such as:
Staying with it day to day
- Keep it ready. A trombone on a stand tends to get played more often than one in a case. Lock the slide whenever you set it down.
- Rest as much as you play. Your lip muscles tire quickly at first. Short breaks between songs keep your tone clear for longer.
- Empty the water key. Water collects in the slide as you play; when the sound gurgles, let it out through the water key.
Questions adults ask
Am I too old to start the trombone at 50 or 60?
No. Breathing, embouchure and slide technique can be trained at any age; see Too old to learn an instrument?
Which trombone should an adult beginner get?
A tenor trombone in Bb. Without an F attachment it is lighter and still covers every beginner note.
Do I need to read bass clef?
No, you need no bass clef knowledge to start. tonestro writes trombone music in bass clef; treble clef readers may mix the two up at first.
Do I need a teacher to learn trombone?
No. tonestro checks every note for pitch and rhythm; for posture and embouchure, use a mirror or a short video of yourself. More in Teach yourself trombone.
When will I play real songs on the trombone?
As a rough guide, simple songs with a few notes come in your first weeks; full pieces at original tempo take longer. Here is a realistic trombone timeline.
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