[Trombone-l] Trombone is cool because it is simple

[Adrian Drover]

> From: Howard Spindel
> 
> In regard to the subject line:  I'd say that trombone is cool because
> it's *mechanically* simple.  But the mechanical simplicity throws
> more onto the shoulders of the player, so I don't think playing the
> trombone is simpler than other instruments.


True, Howard.  It might be mechanically simple, but it certainly ain't
acoustically simple.  If you were to use just the first 9 harmonics to their
full advantage, you would have 9 x 7 = 63 positions to learn (even octaves
can be in slightly different positions).  Add an F attachment and you have
another possible 54 positions.  Yet another 54 with a second (Gb) attachment
and another 45 when you use both valves simultaneously.  The two sense
organs on each side of your head and the grey stuff in between are
invaluable for detecting and memorizing discrepancies in tuning.  The
advantage of playing the trombone is that you have the mechanical means to
correct such discrepancies.  No other wind instrument has.  Nor do they have
as many alternative ways of producing the same pitch.

I guess that's why I like playing the trombone.  It's primitively perfect.

A.