[Trombone-l] Contra question

[emrose79@sonic.net]

I guess it depends on how long your arm is!  (LOL)...  I haven't seen 
the Thein or Kanstul, but the Haag's 5th position is about the same arm 
length as 7th on a "regular" trombone.
Which brings up an "old" subject. Wouldn't the instrument have to be a 
certain length to be in a certain key? so, if the slide were not long 
enough, then the length would be made up some where else.. but then I 
guess you would lose some notes, (at least in theory).

i.e. my double valve bass has 7 positions (not withstanding those 51 
positions); with the F valve in use, there are only 6-ish positions, and 
with the D valve, only 5-ish.
That's something I was taught awhile ago. Rather than the note being in 
"flat 2nd", 2nd position is in a different place relative to the Bb 
horn. (of course I still think of it as "flat 2nd"!)

Ed




Walter Barrett wrote:
> The Alexander is the only one I can think of with a slide long enough  
> to need a handle.