Brass · Trombone family
Bass Trombone
The same basic tube length as the tenor trombone, but with a wider bore, a larger bell and usually two valves, giving a powerful, dark low register.
- Section
- Brass
- Family
- Trombone family
- Classification
- Aerophone · lip-vibrated
- Transposition
- None (concert pitch)
- Clefs
- Bass
- Sounding range
- B♭0 – B♭4
Parts of the bass trombone
A bass trombone with two rotary valves. Photo: Yamaha Corporation, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Labels added by Musicians Tools.
Range
C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8
B♭0 and the notes just above it are pedal notes; the valves make the low register continuous. Playback uses a neutral tone, not the instrument's own sound.
Writing for the bass trombone
- Reads bass clef at concert pitch.
- Its speciality is the register from about C2 down into the pedal notes, which tenor trombones cannot play reliably.
- Often doubles the tuba or completes trombone chords from below.
- Needs a lot of air; give rests after long, loud low passages.
History
Early bass trombones were pitched lower than the tenor, in F or G. The modern B♭/F bass trombone with one or two valves became the standard in the 20th century.
Listen
Key works featuring the bass trombone. Each link opens a YouTube search, so you can pick the recording you like.
- Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique, March to the Scaffold
- Brahms – Symphony No. 1, Finale (chorale)
- Mahler – Symphony No. 3, 1st movement
Useful tools
Trombone family
Also in the family (pages coming):Alto tromboneContrabass trombone
Ancestors:Sackbut