[Trombone-l] Tuning the F attachment.

[sabutin]

Y'all mean that you can TUNE an F attachment?

Well, I'll be danged!!!

Every time I try to tune one, things get all...complicated.

Seriously, folks...

The horn locks progressively less well as you go down into the lower 
ranges. You can only lip a 5th partial note down about a half step, 
but the second partial? More like a major third.

And it gets even MORE unstable as you get lower. ESPECIALLY for 
dedicated tenor players who are playing in the trigger and 
sub-trigger ranges. We all have shifts of some sort, and many of 
those shifts pitch the instrument slightly differently.

So for single trigger players and dependent double valve systems, I 
strongly recommend tuning the low F in 1st position on the F valve 
slightly extended if you are going to have any real use for it in 
positional matters. This allows you to adjust that F up if 
circumstances demand.  For example if there are sharp players in the 
ensemble with whom you must play and/or you do not not have such a 
good setting down there after staying in the higher ranges for an 
appreciable period of time and/or if you have been sitting for 10 
minutes and your horn is unexpectedly flat as a result. This means 
that the low C will be relatively unavailable on the F valve unless 
you retune, but there it is...

I mean...how many times do you have to use the F valve as a position 
shortener as opposed to using it to play a good low C ?

The ratio is about 40 to 1. If that.

For independent double valves? (F and Gb being the most common 
tuning.) It depends on you. I mean...you HAVE a good C in double 
trigger 3rd position, right?

Do you really need one in F trigger 6th?

On the other hand...you also have a good F in Gb trigger 2nd.

Choose your weapons.

Tuning at ten paces.

I personally prefer to use all kinds of Gb and F valve options on my 
independent bass in order to stay in the middle positions as much as 
possible. The same way I approach the upper ranges. The closer you 
get to the end of the slide, the fewer positional options you have.

Low F, E and Eb on the Gb valve, plus middle of the bass clef C, B 
and Bb are VERY useful. Even A in Gb trigger 5th on occasion.

As are F trigger middle of the bass clef Bb, A and Ab.

How facile am I with these options?

Not very, yet. But when I get a chance to practice them (Tenor 
player/bass doubler that i am...) they begin to work just fine.

AND...they eliminate much of the need for ANY compromise in tuning 
the F valve. Tune it wherever you want to tune it and use the Gb 
valve to ameliorate whatever problems inevitably arise from your 
choice.

It's ALL a compromise...

Have fun.

Later...

S.