[Trombone-l] alto trombone

[Wayne Dyess]

On Dec 27, 2006, at 11:27 AM, Marguerite Dallas wrote:
> I am renting an alto trombone- can anyone tell me which notes are  
> in which
> positions, as my metzhod won't arrive for another 2 weeks. Many  
> thanks.


Howdy from Texas, Marguerite.

I had an alto way back when, but never did have a method book.

Pretty sure you have an Eb alto, right?

Think of the Eb as your fundamental, and it FEELS just like low Bb on  
your regular tenor.  The overtone series is the same.

Pedal Eb is the fundamental pitch, so just transpose what you already  
know to Eb and you have it wired.

1st position tenor:

Bb, Bb, F, Bb, D, F, Ab (ugh), and Bb.

and on the Eb alto:

Eb, Eb, Bb, Eb, G, Bb, Db (ugh), and Eb.

It ain't rocket science, right?  It's just a trombone.

got that much, yes?

Then take your slide into its 7 positions.

Bb Tenor:  Bb, A, Ab, G, Gb. F, E

Eb Alto:  Eb, D, Db, C, B, Bb, A

Once you have those nights learned, you can set the world on fire.   
Go back to your 8 note overtone series and learn each position.
The tuning tendencies are relatively the same.

Now -- consider the source.  My alto was stolen around 1985 and I  
have only played a borrowed one ONCE since that time.
But that was the way I learned it.  I just picked up my Bordogni/ 
Rochut and started playing etudes.  Then scales.  Even some Remington.

Getting a sound that was pleasing to me was the most difficult part.   
All it takes is practice and patience.  Patience and practice.

Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.

Then repeat.

:-)
Wayne

P.S. -- REAL brass players play exercises.  Horn players (and  
woodwinds) play "etudes."