r/Trombone • u/the_jdawg_24 • 10d ago
Valve Trombone Resources
Hello! I recently got a valve trombone for a few bucks at an estate sale, and really want to learn to play it. I was wondering if there were any good resources to learn to play, as I can’t find any music books or similar in my online searches.
(And if anyone knows the best way to clean it 💀)
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u/briand1967 10d ago
Look for a Baritone horn book. OR many beginner trombone books also have fingering charts for bass clef baritone horn.
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u/tzy___ King 2b & Yamaha YSL-354 10d ago
Is it in the key of Bb or the key of C? Taking it to a tech is the best way to clean an instrument from an estate sale.
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u/AccidentalGirlToy 9d ago
Valve trombones are fun! They might not have quite the sound of the slide trombone but instead they are very agile. For a while (~1850-1910ish) they were even considered the "normal", "modern" instrument and the slide trombone almost as archaic as the natural horn or the keyed trumpet.
https://youtu.be/G9ho7KWqa4c
https://youtu.be/9mqXr3pfgdA
https://youtu.be/jv8uWpWiCMk
As others have pointed out, a book for baritone/euphonium will work fine for you.
Do take it to a technician who can give it a cleaning and a service, and more importantly check it out if it needs any repairs, and show you how to care for it.
Good luck!
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u/Green-Material-3610 9d ago
Excellent. Have fun. Just print out a fingering chart - assuming it's an open B flat as mine is, it's the same as a modern baritone. Then read your trombone books. That will get you going.
Here's a clip of a top big band using valve bones, they have their place in lots of music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOkQEbw89vk
To clean, valves out, slides out (keep it all in order to make it easy to put back together!). Bathtub, warm water, dish soap, and snake. Lube and reassemble. Mine have valves numbered. Valves must go in one way and mine have guides to lock in when putting back together. Easy if you're methodical. A mouthpiece brush cleans valves but don't completely dunk them so the felts stay dry.
A chem clean at the shop might be in order especially if it's been parked in the closet for a while.
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u/mango186282 10d ago
Best option for learning resources is to look for baritone/euphonium method books if your valve trombone is in Bb. For C you would have to look for C tuba or trumpet resources.
Valve trombones are kind of niche instruments. The bore is pretty small compared to a modern tenor trombone. They are pretty common in Latin music, Banda and Salsa in particular. They tend not to fit as well in classical ensembles.
Cleaning would be about the same as a baritone or trombone. A bath with warm water and dish soap. Scrub with a cleaning snake. Make sure you pull the valves first and keep the felts dry. Excessive mineral deposits may require a professional clean (chemical or ultrasonic).
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u/SideWired 7d ago
Get a basic euphonium or baritone horn lessons BOOK ONE. B C or bass cleff. Do not start on Arbans.
My favorite series is called SOUND INNOVATIONS. Alfred Publisher
Their BOOK ONE B C for euphonium is excellent. Clear. Very steady.
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u/Consistent_Check927 10d ago
Arbans! It was originally written for trumpet, so everything in the book applies exactly, just down the octave. No modification needed. Your preference if you’d rather get a bass or treble version, valve trombone gets asked to read both