[Trombone-l] how do I get that blaring edgy sound?

Fri May 1 17:09:34 CDT 2009

Hi Peter, 

Welcome to the Trombone-L. The sound you describe can be gotten several ways. It will be much easier to get on a small bore horn with a small cup mouthpiece. This edgy sound usually results when you put a very large amount of air through the horn and play quite loud in the medium and upper registers. This can be rather difficult for people who have just come to the instrument, because you don't have the control yet to keep from going over into a badly distorted sound. I think most teachers would not recommend going for this sound until you have mastered how to get a good "normal" sound on the instrument. One risk of going for this sound too early would be that you never learn what a "good" trombone sound is, and so you never develop an acceptable normal sound. I have heard people who can only play this way and it can be very annoying when you have to play a regular gig in a section with them. This edgy sound rarely blends with other players unless they are doing it too.   

I realize that this approach to sound can be very exciting, and I can see why it would be appealing to people who are big fans of Latin music. Big jazz band lead players like Dick Shearer also do this very effectively. I think, however, that you would be wise to think of this style as being only one of the "irons" in your golf bag of sound effects. Try to develop a good "normal" sound as well as a good "ballad" sound, a good "legit" sound, and so on. The more styles you can play, the more you will work, if that is a priority for you.   

There are a lot of great players and teachers on the Trombone-L who can give you good advice on this question. Let's hear from them to get their opinions. 

I live in the Chicago area. E-mail me any time. 

Best of luck, 

Bill Dinwiddie 

billdin at comcast.net 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Beck" <6beck at jmls.edu> 
To: "trombone-l at samford.edu" <trombone-l at samford.edu> 
Sent: Friday, May 1, 2009 2:15:27 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: [Trombone-l] how do I get that blaring edgy sound? 

Hello, I'm a relative beginner on the trombone and this is my first posting to the listserv. 

There's a particular tone I've heard some players get, but I haven't been able to figure out how to do it on my own. The tone has an edge to it, a bright and somewhat raspy quality that brings to mind words like "blare" and "burr." 

It seems to be a feature of some players in salsa and Latin jazz bands- I've heard recordings of Willie Colon and Barry Rogers where they're doing it big-time- and as far as I can tell, the lead players in trombone shout bands do it constantly. 

I'd like to know what this technique is called, and who originated it, and who the most noteworthy practitioners are, but that's all secondary to my primary wish, which is to be able to do it myself. If you know how, and can explain it, I'll be greatly obliged. 

Bright moments- 

PB 

Peter Beck 
Publications Coordinator 
The John Marshall Law School 
312.987.2353 
6beck at jmls.edu 

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