[Trombone-l] Contra question

[emrose79@sonic.net]

Everyone: Thanks for your thoughts. My contra is, I think, "standard" 
F/C/Db/A (or is that F/CC/DDb/AA), so I guess I'll get by without the 
handle. The problem I could see is that the handle is loose enough to 
hit the slide if I'm not careful (not that I'm EVER not careful!) Being 
a two-axis joint, it swings quite a bit. My "other" problem is that "I'm 
still learning" (I use that line often).

Ed










Eric Swanson wrote:
> On May 20, 2009, at 5:13 PM, emrose79 at sonic.net wrote:
> 
>> Listers: Has anyone of you that plays an F contra (or a G bass)  
>> used the
>> handle? Any problems?  I can barely reach 6th position, but I just  
>> can't
>> get used to the handle (on the contra). Fortunately, the double valves
>> almost eliminate the need, but...
>>
> 
> 
> Ed,
> 
> In school at UNT, I played a couple semesters on the F bass sackbut  
> which had no valves and did have a handle to reach 7th position.  I  
> don't recommend using the handle if you can avoid it.  Once you smack  
> yourself in the chops a few times coming back into first position  
> using the handle you'll see why.  It hurts like hell.
> 
> I am learning to play the F "contra" now using a horn with two  
> valves.  If the valves are pitched correctly, you shouldn't have to  
> go past 5th position so you shouldn't need a handle.  The possible  
> exception, I guess, is if your slide is long enough to have 7  
> positions, you could play the Bartok gliss.  You'd probably need the  
> handle to reach the low B without using valves.
> 
> I got the play the Kanstul contra out at Ferguson's two weeks ago.   
> The horn is pitched in F/C/Db/A and low Gb was reachable in an easy  
> 5th-ish position with no handle (it doesn't have a handle).
> 
> I say loose the handle except for playing those B to F glisses.
> 
> Eric Swanson
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