What Are the Notes on a Trigger Trombone?
A straight slide trombone has a chromatic range of E below the bass clef to B-flat above middle C. The addition of a trigger valve increases the range and flexibility of the instrument.
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History
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The trombone wasn't used in orchestral music until the 18th century. Beethoven was the first prominent composer to use the instrument in his 5th Symphony.
Innovation
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A German instrument maker named Christian Friedrich Sattler invented the trigger mechanism in 1839.
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The trigger mechanism
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The most commonly used valve on a trigger trombone is a rotary valve with a thumb-operated trigger. When actuated, the valve diverts the airflow to the instrument's auxiliary wrap.
Open wrap and closed wrap
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Two types of auxiliary wraps are used to achieve the lower-range notes. A closed wrap keeps the auxiliary wrap within the instrument's traditional profile by coiling the excess tubing within the trombone's primary bend. An open wrap extends beyond the trombone's traditional profile and offers less resistance than a closed wrap.
Extended Range
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Activating the trigger mechanism allows the musician to increase the true chromatic lower range of the trombone by a fifth, from E below the bass clef to low C. The lower range of E below low C is still the lower instrument's lower limit. However, the B-natural below low C will be a false tone.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jason Scragz
